Buying a couch, or sofa

[FHA Loan]

I'm not into buying other people's furniture where you don't know what has happened on it LOL, but if you are into it, I hear Craigslist is great...

Personally, I buy my furniture new from furniture stores like Bassett, Boyles, etc. If I cannot pay cash for it then I wait until they have a "Same as Cash" 0% interest for 1-2 year type deal and finance it. I make the monthly payment and spread it out over the period of the deal, making sure to pay the entire amount by the time the "deal" is up so they cannot go back and charge me the back interest.

[PrincessPerky]

rayt - you need to use some line-breaks and/or paragraphs to make that more readable. I have ADD and am just unable to get through a rectangular blob (I have not problem reading books that look like that but....)

Sorry, just sayin'.....

ROLF! I have to agree, but hope Rayt doesn't take it to hard, think of it as someone pointing out something in your teeth, we mean well.

Which brings up a point, is the internet ruining folks attention span? I too can read a book just fine, but I can't read long winded blog posts or comments without nice simple quick breaks. I even find leader guides to be a tough sell. Of course the constant interruptions by a rug rat might be part of my problem.

[murphyc]

That's easy. Borrow a pickup truck, take some cash and a friend and check out estate sales and even garage sales. I've seen so many great deals on gently used furniture, living room and bedroom suites, lamps, tables, entertainment center pieces, even appliances at places like this that I'd truly not bother with retail stores again if I really didn't have to.

[jgerard]

I like craigslist.

Same here. I always do a craigslist sweep for people who are doing estate sales (meaning they're selling all of their furniture and appliances because they're moving). I was able to furnish an entire living room with what was essentially a brand new leather L shaped couch, an entertainment system, and a 80 inch HDTV for a fraction of the cost.

[doingitallwrong]

I have random germophobia, and knowing what's happened on my couch, there's no way I'd buy someone else's used couch. Too skeevy for me! (I have taken couches from family when they've obtained new ones, but I know the history of those!)

We have a microsuede couch in a dark sand color. It's held up fairly well to the critters (lots and lots of critters over the years!), although one cushion has some significant tears in it now (12 years later) -- had I addressed them when they were a couple of little tears, they probably wouldn't have spread. The color hides dirt and critter hair well, and it's pretty easy to clean spills off the microsuede surface. It's by no means in pristine condition, but it was intended to be 'used and abused' -- this is a 'to live on' couch, unlike some of my inherited 'to look at' furniture.

[Ashcroft]

buy the one which is cheapest !!

[kennySang]

[QUOTE=disneysteve;242229]I would start looking at ads from your local stores to get an idea of prices. Decide how much you want to spend. Visit a few stores to check the options in person. Are they comfortable? Do they look well made? Ignore the 0% until 2097 offers and instead ask about cash discounts. Most places will knock off 10% or more for a cash purchase instead of "interest-free" financing (which isn't really free).

I often do the same with you. I will get an idea of prices from local stores and the stores in the internet and then make decision

[kennySang]

nice tips. Thank for sharing !!

[murphyc]

Follow-up to my previous post...

What I'd add now regarding searching out used cheap or free furniture is check it out very well before you drag it home. I've always been a bargain hunter and never minded used goods. My niece tells me she and her hubby picked up a nice-looking dresser, took it home, and it had bedbugs. And since writing the post above, I've moved into a very old house previously rented out for years and guess what - bedbugs in the walls and baseboards that I did not discover until months later. They can lie dormant for a very long time. Old as I am (61), I'd never seen one until I moved into this place. I ended up getting rid of a bed, a couch and a recliner even though I probably didn't have to, but they were covered in dark fabric, and I'll never have dark colors again because I want to be able to see what's what. I'm on top of the problem using spray and DE consistently, but talk about gross and depressing. In my neck of the woods, it's a very common problem. So I'm extremely careful what I bring into my home now, clothing included.

[msomnipotent]

I fear bed bugs. I cringe every time we pick up an exchange student from the airport. I know bed bugs are much more common in European hotels, and all the kids stay at a hotel near the airport before coming to the US. We have been lucky so far, but one of these days...

[97guns]

nothing beats online pricing, no tax and free shipping. we just bought a new couch last year and saved $200 from buying local. shop locally, find the model you like then buy it online