Moving to a New City in Africa? Here's How to Furnish Your Home for Less

Moving to a new city — whether it's Lagos to Accra, Nairobi to Abuja, or across town into your first place — comes with a furnishing bill that catches most people off guard. Buying everything new from a showroom is the most expensive way to do it. Here's a smarter approach.

1. Furnish in priority order, not all at once

You don't need a fully furnished home on day one. Prioritise, in order: a bed and mattress (sleep quality affects everything else), basic kitchen essentials (stove, a few pots, plates), a wardrobe or storage solution, then living-room furniture, then everything else — decor, extra appliances, a second seating area. Spreading purchases over your first two to three months lets you shop patiently for better deals on each item instead of overpaying out of urgency for everything at once.

2. Buy big furniture used, buy hygiene items new

Sofas, dining tables, wardrobes, shelving and bed frames hold up well used and often sell at 40–60% below retail on classifieds, especially from people relocating or upgrading who need to sell quickly. Mattresses, pillows and bedding are worth buying new for hygiene reasons — a used mattress is rarely worth the discount once you account for wear you can't see. Kitchen appliances (fridge, microwave) are generally safe to buy used if you can test them working before paying.

3. Time your search around other people's moves

The best furniture deals come from people relocating internationally, downsizing, or upgrading their home — they typically want to sell fast rather than hold out for top price, and are open to selling multiple items as a bundle at a discount. Search 247Market listings regularly rather than only when you urgently need something — the best-priced items get snapped up quickly, so a bit of ongoing browsing beats a rushed search when you're desperate.

4. Negotiate bundles, not just single items

If a seller is furnishing their whole living room or clearing out a full apartment, ask if they'll do a bundle price for multiple pieces — sellers moving house often prefer one buyer taking several items over managing separate viewings and buyers for each piece individually, and will usually discount for the convenience. This is especially effective right around the start and end of school terms and the new year, when relocation activity is highest.

5. Always inspect before you commit, especially for upholstery and electronics

For sofas and mattresses, check for stains, odours, sagging, and pest signs (small holes, dark spotting) — these are the details photos hide well. For appliances, ask to see it plugged in and running, not just sitting in a room. For wooden furniture, check joints for stability by gently rocking the piece — wobbly joints are a sign of wear that's expensive to fix versus simply choosing a sturdier piece.

6. Don't ignore delivery and transport cost in your budget

A great deal on a sofa can lose its value if delivery costs almost as much as the discount you got. Factor delivery distance into which listings you shortlist — a slightly pricier item from a seller nearby can end up cheaper overall than a bargain across town, especially for large or heavy furniture that needs a truck rather than a regular car.

7. Keep receipts and confirm condition claims match reality

For higher-value items — fridges, TVs, air conditioners — ask the seller to demonstrate the item is fully working before paying, and get a simple written note of the sale (item, price, date, both parties' names) in case anything is disputed later. It's a small step that protects you without adding real friction to an otherwise straightforward purchase.

Furnishing a new home doesn't have to mean choosing between an empty apartment and a maxed-out budget. Prioritise what actually affects daily comfort, buy strategically between new and used, and let patient, regular browsing do the work that panic-buying can't.