Last month we spoke about whether you should furnish your investment property or not. This month there seems to be some new light on the discounts customers actually think they are receiving on their furniture.
Bank Holiday Weekend
With the bank holiday weekend very nearly here, there are only two things that can be expected here in Britain, rain and a huge sale in almost every major furniture store that is on the high street. Well it seems that this bank holiday is about to change up the history books! There is said to be some sunshine this August weekend and on top of this we have just learned that the furniture sales might not be genuine after all.
Getting a Bargain
If you are planning on revamping your home or even the property that you rent out it is a good idea to ask the right questions before purchasing a sofa at what seems like a great deal. Although as the customer you shouldn’t have to be asking these questions, if you don’t want to be caught out it is essential that you do.
It has been revealed that six major furniture suppliers have been falsely advertising their sales prices. For example, if a sofa starts off at £500, this price may have been increased temporarily for one or two weeks to say £1000. Then the furniture store reduces this price back down to £500 and says that it is now 50% cheaper. Although this is true, the sofa still remains at the price the store had been asking for in the first place.
The Office for Fair Trading (OFT) have suggested that Carpetright and the ScS chains are among the six stores that are under investigation. They came to these findings as around 95% of transactions within the shops were at the lower sale price of the item, rather than what was deemed the original price which was of a higher value.
The advice given if you are looking to redecorate your homes this weekend is to ask the shops how long the item had been on the market at the higher price and how many had been sold within that amount of time. If the time the item has been sold at the reduction price is longer than the “original” higher price then this is a misrepresentation of a sale and you are not receiving a bargain.
Home Improvements
Bank holiday weekends are a great time for some home improvements especially if it is a rainy day just ensure that you are getting a great deal on the furniture you are buying and don’t be drawn in by the big red sales signs.
We have come up with some popular trends for the rest of the year if you are thinking about decorating and furnishing your rental property.
Brass is the next big thing, stairway rails, lamps, you name it, if you can get it in brass, have it in your home. Greens in furniture are also becoming more and more popular and will look great with all those brass knick-knacks you are running off to buy. Olive is a great colour for all year round but in the summer and autumn you can go a little brighter with some emerald shades.
We all know someone who has an accent wall with eccentric wallpaper. Well now you have to join them! This is a great trend and one that will only be getting bigger for the coming year. If you aren’t a fan of bold walls then there are papers available with softer colour pallets but that will still offer interest into a room.
Creams and offs whites have been a favourite for a while but now beige is making a comeback. Yes we know what you are thinking but by mixing beige, off whites and creams together you can create a soft and elegant room, especially for the quieter, less used rooms of your property. Also for a rental property this is perfect as it is clean and will entice potential tenants.
Don’t forget that if you are redecorating your rental property this probably means there are no tenants at the moment. With this in mind make sure that your landlord insurance policy covers you for an empty property, if not you may want to think about taking out additional cover.