Selling Your Furniture With Your Home Could Leave You With More Cash in the End

When I bought my first condo at 25, the only furniture I had was a bed, a plastic coffee table, and a lime green IKEA couch.

So when I toured the place that I would eventually buy, with its chic living room set and a four-seat dining table that fit perfectly in the kitchen, I asked if any of the furniture was for sale. 

My agent talked to the seller's agent, who talked to the seller, and together we came up with a price for the items I wanted. The seller even threw in the TV stand, which looked perfect in the media nook.

I was thrilled. The extra furniture cost me just a few hundred dollars—way below market price—and I’d get to enjoy pieces that I knew looked good in the space, and I didn’t have to worry about moving my old furniture (I gifted that IKEA couch to a fellow 20-something friend).

Including furniture in a home sale is pretty common because it can be advantageous for both the buyer and the seller, says Phil Green, the CEO for I Buy SD in San Diego. He says purchasing furniture from the seller can save buyers time and money. Plus, it's advantageous for the seller because not only can furniture serve as a negotiating tool, but keeping a few things in the house can help the seller get rid of unwanted items before a move.

For many buyers and sellers, it can be a win-win.

“I once saw a sale close faster because the seller threw in a fully furnished patio, which sealed the deal for buyers who loved to entertain,” Green says. “Sectionals, dining tables, and that case outdoor patio sets can really make a buyer fall in love with a space.”

But not every sale goes smoothly. Some buyers and sellers get caught up in haggling over furniture, and the whole sale goes bad. Jeff Lichtenstein, CEO and broker at Echo Fine Properties in Palm Beach, FL, says he's "seen fights and deals collapse because one party insists a rug or piece of art is included or excluded, and there is no paper trail other than 'all furniture included.' Even photos can’t break up he said this or that."

Clearly, furniture can play into the value of your home sale—for better or worse.

What items typically stay with the home

First thing's first: It’s important to know which items are typically already included in a home sale.

Generally, built-in furniture, window treatments, and lighting fixtures are expected to be included in the sale. But rules vary by state and some buyers may exclude certain pieces, so it’s always important to check contracts to avoid any confusion or disputes.

Spencer Lee, design expert and founder at Lakeland Furniture, based in the United Kingdom, tells sellers that if you have a beloved light or built-in piece, replace it before showing the home.

“Buyers fall in love fast, and pulling it later can sour the entire transaction,” he says.

Items that (generally) stay in a house

Built-in media centers, bookshelves, and Murphy beds

Light fixtures

Window seats

Breakfast banquette

Window shades

Heating and cooling systems

Attached mirrors

Drapes/curtains

Hard-wired alarms and security systems

Things that (generally) go with the seller

Furniture

Rugs

Free-standing appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)

Hanging artwork

Potted plants

Patio furniture

Lamps

Selling furniture to the prospective buyer

If you’re looking to sell your house, you might wonder what, if any, furniture pieces buyers might be interested in. Lee says homebuyers will take special interest in quality, practical pieces that feel tailored to the home.

“The key is this: Buyers get excited about furniture that looks effortless in that home. They’re essentially buying convenience and lifestyle, not just objects,” he says. “Outdoor dining sets on a landscaped patio, a perfectly scaled sectional in an open-plan living room, or a marble-topped island on wheels in a kitchen all carry emotional weight.”

Green agrees, adding that buyers look for pieces that fit the theme of the home. If a piece feels like it belongs in a home, the buyer might make sure it stays.

“If your home is heavy on the farmhouse decor, a farmhouse table that perfectly fits the dining room can be the cherry on top of a sale,” explains Green. “You are essentially hitting on the the 'move-in ready' factor.”

Lee recalls working with a seller who struggled to move a loft with soaring ceilings. He says the space felt cold and overwhelming—until the seller offered to include the oversized sectional and floor-to-ceiling bookcase that had been custom-made for the room.

“The buyers admitted they never would have known how to furnish the loft themselves and were relieved to inherit the solution," Lee says. "The furniture wasn’t just décor—it solved a design dilemma, which made the home more appealing.”

Lichtenstein says that if you’re a seller looking to get rid of furniture, you should price your home without the furnishings, then offer the place furnished for just a little more. If you try to sell it as a turnkey property and the best buyer doesn’t actually want the furniture, they may want to subtract money for the furniture from the list—and they usually put a big number in it, he warns.

“Having a number that is 'extra' safeguards against that. Plus, it makes it feel like a bargain," he says.

Which furniture should be sold separately?

Lee says that antiques, heirlooms, and collectors' items rarely make sense to leave in a home sale.

”Buyers may not value history or craftsmanship the way a specialist dealer or collector would," he says. "A 19th-century writing desk might fetch far more through a reputable antique store than it would tossed into a home deal as an afterthought.”

What to do with that special piece instead? Brad Stanwick, owner of The Parson’s Nose Antiques in Detroit, says online marketplaces can be a great option. However, online sales aren't always smooth: Sales may take some time, you'll have to deal directly with the buyer, and you may need to open up your home to strangers.

Alternatively, you can contact an antique dealer, though the dealer will take a cut, which often means less money in your pocket. Still, the exchange is likelier to be professional and quick.

“If you want to sell to a dealer, send pictures in an email," he advises. "If they are interested, they will tell you."

Stanwick notes that dark-wood furniture has been in demand—English pine in particular is very popular right now. He adds that 18th-century English and French and American pieces are starting to see an increase in value as well.

Many pieces, with historical significance or not, can fetch a few hundred dollars on online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. But even if you can’t get a ton of cash for your belongings, simply getting some of it out of your space will help your home show better, Lichtenstein says. This, on its own, can help you get more money.