Furnished or Unfurnished?

One of the biggest myths surrounding unfurnished properties is that they are much cheaper to rent. This is not true. There may be a slight price difference, but if it exists at all, it is just that – slight.

Tenants will frequently be faced with the decision of whether to choose for a furnished flat or an unfurnished flat. The majority of flats available for rent are likely to be unfurnished flats but there are a few flats which are available with furnishings. There are a few situations in which it makes sense to select a furnished flat. Likewise there are situations in which a furnished flat isn’t a good idea. This article will discuss these situations in an effort to aid the reader in determining whether or not it’s better to rent a furnished flat or an unfurnished flat.

What Does Furnished Mean?

A furnished flat may mean different things to different people. A few tenants may expect a furnished flat to have each and every room completely furnished with all possible piece of furniture. Typical furnishings may include a bed, a dresser, nightstands, alarm clock with built in radio, a television, stereo equipment, DVD player, an entertainment center, couch, coffee table, end tables, kitchen table and kitchen chairs. It may also include dining room furniture such as a dining room table, chairs and a curial cabinet. Others may assume a furnished flat includes only the necessary furnishings such as a bed, couch, kitchen table and chairs. This essentially eliminates all electrical equipment as well as furniture deemed to be decorative in nature such as a coffee table, end tables or nightstands.

When is a Furnished flat a Good Idea?

A furnished flat is a good idea for recent college graduates who lived on campus in a dorm room before graduation. These students likely have very little furniture of their own. In this case, renting a furnished flat perhaps more economical than buying enough furniture to live comfortably in the flat.

The overall price of a furnished flat perhaps higher in the long run as the tenant may pay more but those who are unable to pay a great deal of money upfront to furnish a flat might not mind paying this additional amount. For these tenants, they’re not likely to notice the impact of a slightly higher every month rent payment but they would definitely feel the impact of significant buys such as a bed, couch or dining room set.

When is an Unfurnished Apartment a Good Idea?

There are certain situations in which an unfurnished flat is a good idea. This includes a situation where the tenant has already accumulated sufficient furniture to furnish the entire flat. In this case, selecting a furnished flat wouldn’t make sense as the tenant would have to find a location to store either his own furniture or the furniture supplied by the flat complex. The price of storage may add up very quickly. Additionally, the tenant probably pays a higher rent to stay in a furnished apartment.

An unfurnished flat is also a good idea when the tenant currently doesn’t have any furniture but is looking forward to buying furniture and has already saved up enough money to make these buys. In this situation the tenant will likely select an unfurnished flat and plan on shopping for furniture almost immediately after taking possession of the rental property.

Storing Extra Furniture

Tenants who prefer for a fully furnished flat when they already have a sufficient amount of furniture have to determine what they’ll do with their furniture while they’re staying in the rental apartment. The alternatives are basically as follows:

* Sell or give away all currently owned furniture
* Store your own furniture
* Store the furniture which comes with the apartment

While each of the above choices is certainly valid, the tenant should seriously consider whether or not they would like to pay additional storage fees just to rent a furnished flat. Tenants who plan to sell or donate their current furniture don’t face this dilemma but those who plan to store one set of furniture should carefully consider the cost of storage. They should also consult with the leasing agent to determine if there are any contract items which prohibit placing furniture owned by the flat complex in an offsite storage facility. There perhaps provisions which allow for these items to be stored but require them to be stored onsite.