where to buy?

[teach232]

Hello... After 2 renting visits plus a lifestyle visit, we are now the proud owners of a house in Hemingway. We are back home in CT but plan on coming down later to set the house up. The house is completely unfurnished and I was wondering if anyone can give us some good advice about where to purchase furniture that won't cost us an arm and a leg. We've been to Southern Lifestyles, Showcase Direct and Sims. We also need to buy a washer and drier......Lowes the best choice? Any info would be very helpful

[jrjr729]

I closed in january and had the same questions you did so I spent weeks traveling around and checking things out. I know that there are a lot of people in the same boat so I began to write down my thoughts on the topic. I'll try to send you a copy but I do not know if it is too big to send. Please excuse the grammatical and spelling errors because it is a work in progress.

Furniture
Most of your initial time will be spent fixing up your house. Whether you have a villa or a premier home you will want to personalize it. If money is no object, or you have brought most of your belongings with you, it may only take you about a month to get organized. However, if money is tight or you are a snowbird, you will have to spend more time setting up your home.

Since Joan and I are snowbirds and because our funds are limited, we had no time to do much of anything that was Villages based until recently. However, we did manage to snag a number of very good deals on household items. Here are some of the places that we found helpful.


Bargains and Treasures: This is a consignment shop. The way it works is that individuals contract with the store to sell their furniture and home decorator items such as lamps, pictures, etc. Bargains and Treasures sends out an appraiser and sets a market price. If it is agreeable, they transport the item(s) to their show room . When sold, the seller gets fifty-five percent of the price and B&T takes forty-five percent for their part. There is a constant turnover of items. So check there often.

As a buyer, there are a few things for you to know. All of the furniture is used and prices are not negotiable, but they are very good. If you see an item that you like but are unsure about it, you can request that a hold be put on it. Holds last for twenty-four hours. If you see an item that you love but it already has a hold on it, you can put a second hold in case the first prospective purchaser decides against it. Bargains and Treasures will deliver anywhere in The Villages for $35. If you have more than one item it is still $35. We purchased a number of items from them.

Directions: Bargains and Treasures is about one mile west of The Villages off Rt. 466. It is a little tricky to find. Take 466 west and cross the railroad tracks. On your left you will note a ball field. Bargains and Treasures is located in a short strip mall just across the ball field. You will be making the first left after the ball field. Proceed to the stop sign and make another left. Bargains and Treasures is the furthest store in the strip mall on your right. If you reach Rt. 301, you have gone too far.

Southern Lifestyles: This store is owned by The Villages. It has an excellent selection of furniture. It also has free cookies, (only one to a customer, please) and coffee. As a snowbird with two homes to account for, I found their prices to be somewhat high. However, their customer service is rumored to be excellent. In addition, Villages residents get a five percent discount. Directions: Lake Sumter Landing right next to the Sales Center.

Showcase Direct: This store is also owned by The Villages. It is located in Spanish Springs in the strip mall on Rt.27/441 just off Main Street. Its furniture is not of the same quality as Southern Lifestyles and its prices reflect that. Villages get five percent off everything except clearance items. (Free cookies and coffee, too. Yum.)

Rooms to Go: Frequent TV advertiser. (That’s television not “The Villages.”) Located in Ocala on Rt. 200. It’s about a thirty-minute drive from TV (That’s “The Villages” not television.) Prices are OK if you manage to hit a sale. Our experience with their customer service was poor. We were able to get our problem resolved but it took a number of phone calls to supervisors. Although we like what we purchased we probably will look elsewhere in the future.

Kanes. In nearby Belleview about fifteen minutes north on 27/441. We bought two leather recliners for a decent price. We got good service and prompt delivery.

Babettes. Babettes has the largest showroom in the area. At least it appeared large to us. We did not purchase anything there although, we were tempted by a few pictures. Babettes is located south on Rt. 441 after the split from 27. It is near the Leesburg airport on the left of the road set back on a hill.
Furniture Emporium. This store is a really strange place. It is located in Leesburg within one block of the Embarq red and white transmission tower on your right going south on Rt.441. It has a mixed selection of new and used furniture, barstools, mattress sets, and all kinds of knick-knacks. You can find trunks full of wooden ducks, boxes of jointed frogs, schools of wooden fish and numerous pictures from the quaint to the unusual. We purchased some barstools, a chest of drawers, and a number of interesting items to decorate our home.

Palm Casual
Just off the Florida turnpike at exit (271???) on the right you will find Palm Casual. It is a factory and warehouse for PVC patio furniture. We found their prices to be reasonable and their selection good. PVC furniture is effectively indestructible. We purchased a table and four chairs for our lanai. Delivery is free to The Villages.

Centsible Furnishings. Located in Baylee Plaza on Rt 441 north just south of Rt.41, Centisble Furnishings I has very reasonable prices. All of its inventory is donated and all of its profits go to charity. Its selection is small but it is worth the occasional stop. Jon and I have found some good deals here.
Bill’s Furniture. Bill’s is a new and used furniture store. As far as I can tell it has mostly used furniture. There is a quaint fake alligator in a quaint fake cage. You may find a bureau or chest of drawers to your liking. Occasionally there is a decent dining room table. Be prepared to pay in cash to get a better price. Take a look but don’t expect much. Bill’s is located on the right side of RT441 going south toward Leesburg. It is past Furniture Emporium.

Office furniture. If you are looking for a used filing cabinet or office chair and possibly a desk there is a store a couple of doors down from Bill’s Furniture that has them available. We bought a two drawer filing cabinet and a decent office chair there.

PS there are numerous other sections dealing with everything from taxes to landscaping. Hope this helps you.

[F16 1UB]

You may want to check Bargains & Treasures south of WalMart on 466 for some slightly used/new looking furniture. Many here on TOTV have made purchases from them. Usually quality items. Washer & Dryer we always went with Kenmore. Welcome aboard. Hope we're there in TV to see you soon.

F16

[ditzyfitzy]

Welcome--I, too live in the Village of Hemingway--closed back in October. I had a VERY negative experience with Southern Lifestyles. As you look around--you will see that you can buy the identical furniture (brands) at Babette's at about 2/3 of the cost of Southern Lifestyles....
Lynn

[chuckinca]

For Kenmore, there is a Sears outlet store on 441 North of TV about 4 miles on the West side of 441. In the same strip mall as Little Joey's and the closed Isabella's. There is a small thrift store at the South end of that mall that has good prices - believe it is a charity sponsored place.

We bought some furniture on sale from JC Penney in California and had it delivered in TV at no charge. Bought a Broyhill love seat for $650, Checked the price at Southern Lifestyles and they wanted $1498. They said they couldn't match the price as they advertise because it was bought out of state. They also said that the large dept stores get special pricing from the manufacturers on limited items that furniture stores can't get. Penney's only delivers to the TV area one day each month.

[scottke]

Where is Babette's located? We're two weeks out from being permanent residents and will need dining room table and chairs. Saw one we like at Southern Lifestyles but will check Babette's. Thanks.

[teach232]

Thank you so much for doing all the 'legwork.' I've printed off your message and plan to keep it as a handy reference. Can't tell you how much this is appreciated. Maybe we will meet up someday.

[teach232]

I just KNEW that I could count on all of you wonderful Villagers!!!:bowdown:

[Campbell soup]

Wow ... thanks for all the good advice. We will be coming down also to an empty house in about 2 weeks. Moving to Duvall...
Thanks again.

[Carla B]

We bought a GE washer/dryer from Sears where we moved from. They delivered it, as arranged, and on schedule just after closing.

I agree...Babette's has been good to work with. All the salespeople (who are not on commission) are very helpful and don't escort you around unless you want them to.

[katezbox]

Had a wonderful experience with Southern Lifestyles. Their prices were equal to (or sometimes cheaper) than furniture "e-tailers." I can't comment on Babette's being a better deal as I haven't been there.

If you got to Southern Lifestyles, ask if Jenifer is available. She spent tons of time e-mailing me prices and pictures of items. She made color copies from catalogs and mailed them to us and was NEVER pushy.

k

[graciegirl]

Dear Teach.

Good to see your post. Welcome to you. I agree with anyone who mentions Bargains and Treasures. They have a PLETHORA of couches and you can pick up some neat accessories as well. At one time they told me that they pick up five truckloads a day! They have lots of things in very good condition.

I like Furniture Direct in Spanish Springs, also owned by The Villages but a little less expensive than Southern Lifestyles and we bought furniture at Babettes and were pleased with them. Also Dockside in Leesburg for accessories. Our appliances we got at Lowes and the Post Office has a ten percent off coupon that they put in the relocation package they give out. Ten percent off at Lowes. (I know, I can't figure it out either but hey...It's ten percent and they deliver free)

I loved the whole process of furnishing our home in Hadley. I think it ended up looking like a cottage at the shore with it's Shoreline Blue walls that we painted ourselves. (We did a little a time)

Good luck. I hope you will find all of the things you are looking for. I have a new very simple table and 4 chairs in my garage down there that I am trying to sell because a friend bought a furnished model and sold me her REALLY BEAUTIFUL dining room furniture to make space for a grand piano.
I will take it to Bargains and Treasures when we return in the fall.

[teach232]

Thanks again, GracieGirl and all of you that posted your helpful information.

Bargains and Treasures sounds like an interesting place to shop. The problem is, is that we need some important pieces before we come down again, such as a bed, chairs, table...etc. I also was really looking forward to having the house coordinated where everything matches for the first time in my life. Hmm.....does Babette's have a website? :shrug:


I really liked both sales people that we had met at Showcase.Direct and Southern Lifestyles. Decisions, decisions..........

[graciegirl]

I understand Teach.

Our house in Hadley is our second home for now, but it does all coordinate. I used whites, teal, pink, cream, spring green and wood tones and it is not really Florida-y nor really beachy, but sort of center of Florida, somewhat genteel, somewhat crazy older people retiring in a comfortable but pretty house ....effect.

And if you don't think THAT is hard to conceptualize and pull off, I'll eat your hat...lol.

[teach232]

GracieGirl....I love your sense of humor and style!

[CaribbeanAl]

WOW !!! Thanks for all the info-
We bought in HADLEY last Sept & furnished 90% with Southern Lifesyles
They move their floor models Aug/Sept - CHEAP !!! + 5% Villagers Discount
We'll be there Aug/Sept & will follow your direction to tweak our place

[NJblue]

One alternative is to shop where you currently live but then order from North Carolina. This allows you to see what everything looks like and coordinate everything before you even get here. We have found the prices from there (Furniture Land South) to be considerably less than anything we could find around TV. They will quote you a price plus delivery charges so you can make an apple-to-apples comparison. We ordered half of our BR furniture from them and the other half from floor models at Conways in Leesburg. The combined savings were considerable over Southern Lifestyle.

The only downside is that if the delivery gets here before you do you will have to arrange for somone to let them into your house - but there are plenty of locals who do that sort of thing ... including redwitch here on TOTV (who I'm sure would do an outstanding job of inspecting the furniture for problems.)

[teach232]

We ended up getting furniture from Showcase Direct. From doing a LOT of searching on the internet I found that Showcase had very competitive pricing for the furniture I was looking at. They also are so very accommodating. The furniture will be in the house and set up before the closing on June 18th. Because they have the house plan, I was able to tell them where I wanted everything placed. I ordered the pieces I wanted over the phone. They Fed-Exed the paper work and included a pre-paid envelope to send back the paperwork to them. We haven't bought a sofa and loveseat/chairs yet because I feel I need to sit on them before I buy. If we buy through them or Southern Lifestyle they will give us a 'loaner' sofa so that we will have something to sit on while we wait for delivery. They made everything so easy on me. I worked with Heather Perry. She was a real sweetheart! Next task......getting some mattresses!