The Pros & Cons for Furnished Apartments- I

Whether you’re renting your first apartment or just moving on up, you might ask yourself a question that many renters face: Furnished or unfurnished? Furnished apartments are far less common, but it might be the right choice for you if you’re a student, a travelling professional, or you just don’t want the hassle of buying and moving furniture.

Furnished apartments usually come equipped with furniture, basic kitchen appliances and tableware, bathroom necessities such as a shower curtain, a washer/dryer set, and possibly a few other amenities. The exact items will vary depending on the landlord and what kind of place you’re renting. Here are few pros and cons to consider before you decide if furnished or unfurnished apartment is right for you.

Furnished apartments: The pros

1. Moving will be a breeze. If you’re a frequent mover, you definitely want to keep your stuff to a minimum. Renting a furnished place means you won’t own most of the big items in your place, and it’ll be easy for you to pick up and move on short notice. Bonus: You’ll never experience the joy of moving a couch up a flight of stairs.

2. You’ll save money on buying furniture. Be careful, though – furnished apartments often cost more per month than unfurnished places, so you’ll have to do the math to see if you’re really saving money. It might pay off in the long run to just buy your own furniture and rent an unfurnished place. But if you don’t want to own furniture, this is a way to get out of buying your own stuff, but you’ll still have a place to sit.

3. They’re good in a time crunch. Ideally, if you’re searching for a new apartment, you should measure your existing furniture and then pick a place that will fit your stuff. This can be a problem if you’re relocating on short notice or if you’re moving across the country and can’t make the trip to see your new place in person before moving day. A furnished place takes the hassle out of moving in a time crunch – all you have to do is show up.

4. Sometimes you can get a shorter lease. Most furnished apartments won’t require a year-long lease, since they cater mostly to students and travelling professionals who don’t stay at one place for too long. If you’re not ready to commit to one place for too long, a furnished apartment might be for you.