Iowa couple was told the home was ready for move-in. Then they stepped through the door: ‘Just saved yourself about $15K’

Tiktoker Richard Galvan III and his girlfriend arrived at their new home expecting to start a fresh chapter, only to find the entire house still packed with staging furniture. According to People, the couple was definitely not prepared for it, turning their move into a logistical headache. 

“We were beyond shocked to see the furniture still in the house,” Galvan said. “We had a final walk-through with the furniture still in the house and were under the impression that it would be out of the house by closing, along with the final cleaning. And yet that didn’t happen.”

You can imagine the confusion that followed when they unlocked the door. Galvan decided to share the experience on TikTok, where he posted a video asking his followers, “So do we get to keep it for free or what…?” The post quickly took off, racking up over 31 million views and thousands of comments from people weighing in on the legalities of the situation of their Iowa home.

It may not be what they wanted but hey, they saved the cost of set up

Some realtors in the comments section claimed the furniture might legally belong to the new owners since it was left behind after the paperwork was signed. While that sounds like a massive win for the couple, the reality is a bit more complicated. 

Staging furniture is typically handled through a contract between the seller and the staging company, meaning it does not automatically become the property of the buyer. The staging company would likely have to get permission from the new owners to enter the home, or even pursue legal action if they wanted to retrieve their items, which is a massive hassle nobody wants to deal with.

Galvan admits they had far too much going on to deal with the potential legal mess or the work of selling off someone else’s items. Their priority was simple, as Galvan noted: “get this stuff the heck out,” move in, and start fresh. 

It makes total sense, especially since they had already purchased their own furniture that matched their personal style. They wanted the house to feel like their own space, not a staged showroom. “We had too much going on in our lives to even think about selling the stuff, keeping it or dealing with legal stuff,” Galvan admits. “We never intended to keep the furniture.”

The couple just wanted a smooth transition. “It was clearly a mistake on someone’s behalf and we didn’t want someone to get in trouble because of it,” he said. “[My girlfriend] and I have been preparing for this move once our offer got accepted. We wanted what our taste is and to make it feel like our home, not a staged home.”

Fortunately, the situation was sorted out fairly quickly. Their realtor, the seller’s agent, and the staging company coordinated to clear the house, allowing the couple to officially move in with their cats and their own belongings. 

While it is a relief that they could finally settle into their new place without legal hiccups, as annoying as this was, I would imagine it was rather amusing. At least they didn’t move in only to find someone else’s baggage. Something like deeply personal letters or creepy secrets all over a house. It is a reality many renovators face when they buy their houses.