Furniture 101: Basics
During the holiday season, consumers find themselves in the shopping spirit, ready to invest in things such as appliances, accessories, and furniture. And thanks to plenty of holiday sales, the timing isn't bad at all.
Planning:
The best way to decide on the layout of your home is to plan it out. Get out the graph paper and start graphing the layout of every room, using one or two blocks per foot. Measure everything and note the measurements on your graph paper. This is especially useful when buying for small areas.
If you are on a limited budget, you will need to pick out the most important items first. Make a list of pieces you need and circle the ones you really need (like a table, bed, or chair). Browse online shops and furniture catalogs to get a general idea of what you want. Make note of prices, styles, sizes, etc. This is all part of being prepared, avoiding rip-offs, and being happy with your new pieces.
Financing:
One of the better features of large furniture retailers is their finance plans. Most will offer several months of no-interest payments in order for you to spread out the burden. Some may even offer one year of no-interest payments. It's no bad to use these at all, since you can divide a huge one-time payment into several months. Always ask if the store will offer a no-interest payment plan. Remember, to apply for these types of payment plan requires filling out applications and getting approved, so check your credit beforehand. And avoid any plans that charge interest, unless you don't have any other means to pay.
Some stores may offer layaway. This means you pay for your items but they sit in some warehouse, possibly getting damaged. Some retailers may let you take your items home during the layaway period, which is great.
Buying Furniture Online:
There are hundreds of online furniture websites on the Internet. It isn't hard to find good deals online, but the good deal turns sour when you add tax, delivery and insurance fees.
Read the site's pricing policies carefully. How much do they charge for shipping (in state, out of state, etc)? Do they charge tax? Do they charge delivery, handling or setup fees? Do they offer insurance in case the item gets damaged in transit? What is their return policy? Do they have local stores where you can examine the items personally? Any specials?
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