Ready-to-live-in homes: all you need is your suitcase

Moving house is generally considered one of the most stressful experiences in life, right up there with bereavement and divorce.

But one thing that can make it a little easier is to not have to worry about removal and storage, or even buying furniture yourself.

There are several reasons why a property may come with furniture included. Sometimes it's a buy-to-let or a holiday home; sometimes, the furniture has been specially designed for the property. Sometimes, the place is just so swish that it's impossible to imagine thew new owners doing anything so prosaic as furniture shopping.

We look at seven properties where you can just grab your suitcase and move in.

Belgravia, London SW1

This two-bedroom house in Belgravia has been interior-designed to within an inch of its life by Nicky Haslam, and comes with all the (bespoke) furniture included. The white stucco building is right on Eaton Square and even has parking and a small terrace, as well as access to the square. There's a massive bedroom suite and, of course, a high-end kitchen - and a hefty price tag too. Agents Rokstone are asking £3.5 million.

Warslow, Staffordshire

You actually get two detached cottages for the £290,000 price tag, each with one bedroom and an open-plan kitchen/diner. There's also a garage and small garden. It's up to you whether you keep the furniture or not - agents EweMove suggest you might want to if you're planning to use them as holiday lets. It couldn't be a bad idea; apparently between them they can make £25,000 over the best 30 weeks of the year.


Naze Marine Holiday Park, Essex

Park homes frequently come with the contents included, and the buyer of this one will get most of the furniture, which is simple, modern and clean. The lodge measures 20 by 40 feet and fits in an open plan kitchen/living room and two en suite bedrooms. It has a surprisingly large garden and is a short walk from the sea; while it would make a great little holiday home it is insulated and suitable to use all year round. It costs £80,000 through agent Stoneridge Estates.

Shawclough, Rochdale

This four-bedroom house has the feel of a hotel and comes with all of the soft furnishings and furniture: the current owner says that although she loves it all, 'it has been designed and made for the house'. There's a swish designer kitchen and three reception rooms, and all in all it's extremely grand, with a waterfall feature wall, chandeliers and even mirrored radiators. Much of the furniture is bespoke - and the brand new garden furniture is thrown in too. All this costs £700,000 through agent Bond & Co.

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Woodside, Aberdeen

The rather forbidding look of the outside of this building is a bit off-putting, but this two-bed flat inside is light and clean. There's a good-sized living room, and a good-sized floored loft that gives useful extra space. Most of the furniture's included - serviceable pine upstairs, and lots of black leather below. It costs £89,950 from Glasgow Property Agency.

Dundee

This three-bedroom flat is probably destined to remain a buy-to-let, which is the reason the furniture is included. It's near the university and let until next summer. But you could perfectly well move in yourself: it's got a nice, big kitchen/reception with some beautiful plaster cornicing on the ceiling. Agents Rockford Properties are looking for offers over £170,000.

Belgravia, London, SW1

This enormous lateral apartment just off Sloane Square has been fully refurbished and comes with all its bespoke furniture included. There's a huge drawing room with feature fireplaces, a master suite with his and hers dressing rooms and even a secondary kitchen so you don't have to get the main one in a mess. For outside space, you can choose between the balcony, the terrace and the communal garden. It costs an eye-watering £29 million through The Property Agent Online.