Should You Move Your Furniture or Buy New After the Move?

Furniture are some of the heaviest and most expensive pieces you'll have to move during a relocation. You can either move your existing furniture to your new house not considering the expense or sell them first and buy new ones after your move.

In this blog, we have highlighted an overview of few factors to consider before making the decision of whether to transfer or acquire new furniture at your new place.

Pros and Cons​ of Buying New Furniture

Pros

• Better fit in your new space: Buying new furniture can help you find pieces that custom-fit your brand-new space.

• Nothing gets broken or damaged: Lesser risk of damage to your furniture and other special items that can occur in a move.

• Change of style: If you’ve had the same bookshelf or dining room table for years, you can seize the chance to replace them with something new that matches your current decorating aesthetic.

• Saves money on international moves: Shipping old household furniture to a new country is expensive, especially if your furniture isn't high-end. You can easily purchase quality second-hand furniture in your new location if you're budget-conscious.

Cons

• Costly: Buying brand-new furniture can be pricey, compared to shipping old ones.

• Additional expenses: There can be additional shipping and assembly fees that can be anticipated while purchasing new furniture.

• Time-consuming: Going shopping and choosing new furniture can consume a lot of your time and energy.

Should You Move Your Old Furniture?

If you are still confused about whether to buy new or keep old, categorize your old furniture by looking at these 4 factors: value, function, ability to move, and budget.

#1 Value

Your old furniture may be worth a variety of things. There are three types of value: monetary, sentimental, and functional.

• Sentimental value: Getting rid of old or antique furniture may be difficult as they hold memories and have sentimental value.

• Monetary value: The actual value of the furniture you possess, to know this, check the brand, manufactured date, whether the furniture piece is a vintage item or crafted with skills.

• Comfort or functional value: Consider if the furniture provides comfort or whether it causes aches when used. If it is not comfortable then it is a wise choice to leave them behind and purchase new ones.

Ask these questions to yourself:

• Is it trendy and do you wish to keep it?

• Does it elicit pleasant memories?

• Was it pricey when you purchased it?

• Is it an antique or a collectable?

• Is it still comfortable?

• Is it strong enough to withstand the move?

• Is it worthwhile to relocate it?

#2 Function

If you're thinking of keeping a furniture piece, it should at least be in an usable condition. It makes no sense to relocate furniture that is in poor condition and requires extensive repair and cleaning.

This type of furniture is also risky and difficult to load and transport. Instead of wasting money on repairs, it is best to buy new furniture with a warranty. However, if you acquired something only a few years ago and it is in good shape, there is no necessity to buy new furniture.

Ask these questions to yourself:

• Is it in decent shape?

• Is it still functional?

• Is it in need of cleaning or repairs?

• Is it appropriate for your new home?

#3 Distance of move

When deciding whether to shift your existing furniture or buy new ones, the distance to the new location is an essential aspect to consider.

There are several risks while relocating your furniture, so make sure to assess the risk before moving your antique or valuable furniture.

Local relocation

If you are relocating within the city, it is best to move your furniture with you. Such moves are less expensive than interstate moves or international moves. Therefore relocating existing furniture might save you far more money than acquiring new ones.

Interstate move

If you are relocating to a different state or over a very long distances, the overall weight of the shipment will determine the final moving charges. As a result, the heavier the load, the more you will have to spend. Moreover, you may need to spend extra on dismantling the large furniture to ensure its safe relocation.

Therefore, rather than moving your heavy furniture, it may be more cost-effective to buy new ones after moving. 

Ask these questions to yourself:

• How far away is the new location?

• How many people are required to move it?

• Is it too fragile to withstand the move?

International move

If you're relocating across the nation, the total cost will be determined by the weight of your package. As a result, the larger and heavier an item, such as most furniture, the more it will cost to transport. So, it is more cost-effective to leave your old items behind and purchase new ones following the move.

• You can check for a few moving estimates to figure out how much it will cost to shift your furniture.

• Visit and search online for some furniture store pamphlets to get an idea of the cost of new furniture items.

• When determining the cost of replacing your furniture, remember to include the delivery fee.

#4 Budget

Before selling your furniture, consider how much it will cost to replace it and remember to prioritise the need for a particular piece of furniture if you are working on a tight budget. You can probably survive without the piano, but you won't want to go without a bed for too long. Determine the cost of moving the item you are considering selling, and then shop online for a replacement, taking into account shipping fees.

The last thing you want to do is sell all of your furniture only to discover that you can only afford to replace it later.

Conclusion

If you're facing the dilemma of whether to relocate old furniture or buy new, consider your needs and prioritize them. Analyzing several factors such as the quality of your existing furniture, your budget, and your chosen aesthetic, among others. 

Moving your furniture can save you money and allow you to save sentimental items, but it may necessitate additional labour and resources. Buying new furniture, on the other hand, may help you create a fresh new appearance for your new house, but it can be expensive. Before making a decision, analyze all the possibilities and consider your priorities.