Renting A Furnished vs Unfurnished Property
Renting A Furnished vs Unfurnished Property
Renting a furnished property will be more expensive on the front end, but you'll save money in the long run.
When you go for a fully furnished rental, you're paying for the convenience of having all of your necessities ready to go when you arrive. This can be a great option if you're short on time or if you don't want to spend time shopping for furniture and setting everything up.
The downside to renting a furnished unit is that it will be more expensive on the front end. You'll also be limited in terms of what you can do with the space since the furniture is usually leased along with the property.
Be careful about what exactly is included in the furnished unit. If your lease includes terms like "semi-furnished rental" make sure you know what that means. The price difference between a fully furnished apartment and one that's only semi-furnished can be substantial. A semi-furnished apartments' rent might be alluring but just be informed. If you plan on cooking on your first night in, make sure you packed some kitchen utensils.
Higher rent for a furnished rental with all the furniture makes sense. Still, between furnished and unfurnished, the price difference can be a deal-breaker.
Unfurnished properties are cheaper to rent and you can furnish them as your taste dictates
If you're on a tight budget, it's usually cheaper to rent an unfurnished place and furnish it yourself. This gives you more flexibility to choose the furniture that best suits your needs. Plus, it's more economical to buy your furniture than to rent someone else's in the long term.
Another thing to consider with renting a furnished property is whether you will be allowed to make changes or redecorate. If the lease agreement prohibits significant changes, you could end up having to pay for expensive repairs when you leave if you decide to change the paint colour or add new furniture.
Furnished rentals tend to have much more severe rules when it comes to what you can do and unfurnished units - especially in the long run - allow you to live in a space that accommodates both your needs and your tastes.
You'll have to do all of the work of furnishing an unfurnished property yourself
Purchasing furniture, bedding, kitchenware and so on is just the first part. Bringing furnishings inside, without causing property damage and losing your security deposit, might require hiring people to help you if you are in a new city away from friends and family that may help.
What you also have to consider is how you would remove things like a dining room table from a dining area when you're moving out.
Furniture rental companies offer affordable solutions
A nice compromise in the debate of furnished vs unfurnished rentals is furniture rental. It may be a more economical way of living in an unfurnished apartment while not having to deal with the cost and responsibility of disposing or moving furniture at the end of your lease. It also means less management since many furniture rental companies will offer to move the furniture themselves on top of providing furnishings.
This may be ideal for short-term tenants who can't buy or bring their furnishings but want to live comfortably with furnishings that fit their personal preferences. The downside would be how to deal with multiple security deposits, one for the unfurnished apartment and one for the furniture.
These companies can also be used if you live in a semi-furnished apartment to make up for some gaps in your needs.
If you're looking for a short-term rental then it's probably worth renting a furnished property, as most unfurnished properties require a minimum lease term of six months
Costs vary greatly so do your circumstances. It may even be a personal preference. Think of the rental properties you're looking at and the difference in price between unfurnished rental properties and furnished units.
To rent fully furnished apartments means less pressure upfront and allows you to get started with your life right away but the increased cost and inability to redecorate may make it unsuitable for long-term stays.
You can choose to have a unit furnished with rental furniture for a great compromise but your options may be limited depending on where you're living.
What if you have pets?
If you have pets then it's important to consider whether the property is furnished or unfurnished, as many furnished properties have severe pet restrictions.
Aside from the usual accidents that happen, pets leave fur all over the place which can trigger allergic reactions. It's not always about landlords not liking pets, it can be a health risk for future tenants.
If you do have pets, it's best to be upfront with the landlord and see if they might have furnished apartments or unfurnished apartments that would be good for you to lease. Of course, landlords are expected to clean units between tenants but some damage like scratched chairs or stained rugs can add up.
Based on that, you'll usually have to pay a higher deposit for a fully furnished unit since everything inside belongs to the landlord and will be returned in the condition it was when you move out, whereas an unfurnished property comes with a lower security deposit as there is less at stake.
If you're a frequent traveller, furnished or semi-furnished is better but there is another option.
If you live in different cities throughout the year and stay mobile, it makes sense to rent furnished rentals instead of unfurnished apartments. Usually, this is what services like Airbnb offer.
When going through the service, you should get in touch with the property owners if anything in the listing is vague. For example, if there is a photo from the living room but nothing of the bedroom, make sure you ask about it.
Check out reviews and the other properties that the property managers are renting out before making a decision.
The short version.
The presence of a coffee table is not going to make or break your decision, at the need of the day you need to weigh how much time you will be living in the apartment compared to the rent you're willing to pay. More rent, more convenience but also less space for personalization.
Take stock of all your options and your future timeline before you move in.
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