Need Advice Furnish House-Travel to NC or Local?

Friends of ours are moving back to the states from overseas. They're moving back into their house in Leesburg, but have had to "offload" most of their home furnishings. So, they're going to be buying/needing a fair amount of things. Would love some local feedback on the two scenarios below or anything else relevant.

At a minimum they will need:
New living room furniture
New familiy room furniure
New kids room furniture (8 year old girl and 5 year old boy)
New kitchen table/chairs
New king size matress

1. They're considering renting a truck and doing a run down to NC. Anyone done this?

2. What about something like Direct Buy for this? Since theyr'e buying so much, would it make sense?

Note: No matter what they do, they will need stuff fairly quickly--in other words, they prefer not to have to order it and wait 6-12 weeks for it to arrive. A week or two might be fine, but longer than that is a problem.

Thanks for the input, Broadlandians!

 

Direct Buy is a great deal, but you have to wait 4 to 6 weeks minimum for most stuff to arrive.

 

When we did a trip to NC, we had to order most of what we found. And that took 6-12 weeks for delivery. I have been able to match the type of pricing I found in NC by shopping locally (ie Belfort) then calling a retailer up to 100 miles away (ie Fredericksburg) for a better price that Belfort will match (they won't match NC). Sometimes there are deals on furniture at costco.com, but the furniture is higher quality per se so it ends up being just as expensive at normal prices for middle of the road stuff. Haven't done Direct Buy but am interested in any feedback you get.

 

They could get the bare minimums from Ikea and replace it as and when they find pieces they like.

 

Belfort Furniture. Good furniture, decent prices and their clearance warehouse is the in-stock stuff, so they could take it that day or have it delivered.

There is also craigslist...

 

When we moved in several years ago, I spent three days at Furnitureland South. I bought several rooms of furniture at once and had it delivered here. Most items arrived in 4-12 weeks. That won't do your friends much good...but if you know what you want, it may be worth the wait, instead of "settling" just because it is available. Aside from Ikea or borrowing, I think it would be unusual to have things available immediately. Everyone I came in contact with was wonderful. My salesman spent a solid two days with me, understood exactly what my tastes were and was great about coordinating pieces, fabrics, accessories and paint swatches I brought from home. They have easily 200 times the number of fabric swatches that Belfort does...think rooms of fabric. That was great because I had something in my mind and I could work backwards, finding the fabric first and then a piece to have made in it, without the Calico Corner type prices. I know I saved quite a bit of money, found some things I would not have found here and could put my eyes on items, instead of flipping through books. They delivered things as it arrived (my choice) for no additional charge. I also highly suggest the "Guardsman Plan"...totally resonable considering they paid to have our desk refinished when my two year old used it as a racetrack with a metal matchbox car and replaced the coffee table when my sons used it to lace up their rollerblades on. I know they also offer that at Belfort. Can't say enough good things about furnitureland! Tell them welcome back...having moved back from Belgium, it is a tough adjustment!
www.furniturelandsouth.com

 

We've bought some nice, quality stuff from La-Z-Boy in Sterling and was able to pick up some stuff that was in-stock. We got the stuff in a couple of days.

 

I suggest Belfort or Havertys for items that might be available either immediately or within a couple of weeks. Both stores offer reasonably good quality items.

 

Yea Belfort is a good choice for local. They have a lot in stock and you can get deals on many items. Also I would think that as soon as you walk in and show the manager your list of items... a deal can be made.

Costco would be great if you could wait. I have LOVED the furniture we purchased through Costco but the challenge is the selection can be limited by the deals but man, the quality vs the price is great.

From what other friends have told us, NC is not the easy deal that some people think. And you never know what you could get once you get there... could be a long trip for nothing.

 

I'd stay away from Haverty's there stuff isn't made very well. They can also try Greenfront Furniture in Longwood. They have warehouses of stuff. Prices all over the map. I don;t know how easy it will be nowadays to get everything in a good amount of time. the ecnomy has shuttered many fabric and furniture manufacturers.

Overall, Belfort isn't bad.

I'd suggest Old mill, which is the green building behind Carolina Brothers on Ashburn Rd. if they want solidly built furniture. They have nice dining sets for kitchen and dining room, as well as bedroom and family room furniture.

I had my office desk made there, as well as our kitchen table and Kitchen Island (which currently shows up in their ad in local magazines.) I bought a long sideboard that was in the store, some lamps, a nice Queen bedframe with a velvet headboard and footboard, and some other items.

They sell mirrors accessories, side tables, and kids room furniture, plus armoires, bookcases, if you can imagine it they have it. Diana, you may want to go there and check it out for them.

They can buy the good Stearns and Foster mattress - maybe from Sleepy's? they used to sell them at Matress Discounters, but the local place is gone. I know they can get queen mattreses at Old Mill, maybe even twins.