What to Check Before Buying Heywood Wakefield Furniture from Strictly Hey-Wake

Strictly Hey-Wake is an online stop for Heywood Wakefield furniture and custom-made furniture, based in Hagerstown, MD. Before you buy, confirm four things: the piece is actually Heywood Wakefield (not a lookalike), its dimensions and condition match your space and expectations, whether you can inspect it in person, and how it will get to you. The site organizes inventory into Dining Rooms, Living Rooms, Bedrooms, and Custom, so most of these checks start by browsing the relevant category and then asking about the specific piece.

Confirm the piece is genuine Heywood Wakefield

The site's focus is Heywood Wakefield, but "Heywood Wakefield style" and "Heywood Wakefield" are not the same thing. Ask for:

• Branding evidence — a label, stamp, or brand mark on the underside or back.
• Model or line name — Heywood Wakefield produced many named lines over decades, and the line affects value and the correct finish.
• Era — mid-century production differs from earlier or later pieces in materials and hardware.

If a listing only says "Heywood Wakefield style," treat it as a different product category and price it accordingly.

Check dimensions, material, and condition

Furniture that looks right online can still fail at the doorway or in the room. Before committing:

For upholstered pieces, ask whether the frame or the fabric is the weak point — reupholstery cost often exceeds the price difference between two similar pieces.

Ask about availability and in-person inspection

Hagerstown, MD is a physical location, so local buyers have an option online buyers do not. Ask:

• Is the piece in stock and on the floor, or is it a photo from a past sale?
• Can I view it in person before paying? This is the single best way to catch condition issues.
• Are there additional photos of the underside, back, drawer interiors, and any damage?

If you cannot visit, request detailed photos and a short video walkaround rather than relying on the listing image alone.

Settle transport, pickup, or delivery before you pay

Shipping large furniture is where most purchases go wrong. Clarify:

• Pickup terms — address, hours, and whether staff help load.
• Delivery — whether the seller arranges it, the radius covered, and who handles damage claims.
• Packaging — who packs, and whether blanket-wrap or crating is included.
• Cost and timing — get the delivery quote in writing before finalizing the purchase.

For a dining table with leaves or a bedroom set with multiple pieces, confirm whether the quoted delivery covers all components.

Custom furniture is a separate decision

The Custom category covers made-to-order pieces rather than vintage Heywood Wakefield. For custom work, the checks shift to:

• Specifications in writing — dimensions, wood, finish, and hardware.
• Lead time — production and delivery windows.
• Deposit and cancellation terms — how much is due upfront and what happens if you cancel.
• Finish matching — if the custom piece must sit alongside existing Heywood Wakefield furniture, ask how the finish will be matched.

A quick pre-purchase checklist

1. Confirm brand, line, and era.
2. Get full dimensions and compare to your space and doorways.
3. Ask about finish originality and structural condition.
4. Request underside and damage photos if buying remotely.
5. Decide whether in-person inspection is possible.
6. Get pickup or delivery terms, cost, and timing in writing.
7. For custom orders, confirm specs, lead time, and deposit terms.

If a seller cannot answer these questions about a specific piece, that is itself useful information — it usually means the piece has not been closely examined.