Should You Rent A Furnished Apartment? The Pros And Cons
Posted on: 6 March 2017
If you are looking for your first apartment, or if you're planning on getting rid of all or most of your furniture when you move, then you not only have to find a new apartment to rent, but you also have the additional job of furnishing that apartment. Unless, that is, you find a furnished apartment to rent. Is a furnished apartment the best solution for your furniture shortage? Take a look at the pros and cons of renting a furnished apartment.
Pros of Renting a Furnished Apartment
Renting a furnished apartment can save you money up front. Renting a new apartment can be expensive enough, what with the security deposit and the costs of turning your utilities on. With a furnished apartment, not only do you save on the cost of buying furniture, you also save on the fees for having it delivered. In fact, without furniture to move in, you may be able to skip hiring movers or renting a truck, and just do a simple DIY move.
If interior decorating really isn't your forte, a furnished apartment can also be the solution to your home decorating woes. You get an apartment that already has curtains, curio shelves, and art on the walls without having to do any of the work involved in picking those things out. Your new apartment will look homey right away, and when you invite people over, they'll have something other than bare walls to look at.
Cons of Renting a Furnished Apartment
An apartment that you don't need to buy furniture for might cost you less up front, but it will likely cost you more in the long run. The cost of that furniture – as well as the cost of maintaining it – is probably going to be included in your rent. That means that you'll probably be paying a higher rate than you would for a comparable unfurnished apartment, and when you leave, you won't be able to take any of the furniture that you've been paying for with you.
You may also have to pay a larger security deposit, or your lease may stipulate that you'll be held responsible for replacing or repairing anything that you damage. And of course, if you do already have some furniture that you want to hold onto, you may have difficulty finding room for it in a furnished apartment. This could mean paying for storage or getting rid of items that you'd planned to keep.
In the end, whether or not a furnished apartment is worth it depends a lot on your individual situation. If you're interested in renting a furnished apartment, a good real estate agent can help you find one that's reasonably priced and offers a fair lease agreement.
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