When choosing your dream rental there are many choices to make along the way. From whether to rent a single-family home or an apartment to choosing the best neighborhood, finding your ideal rental can be tricky.
Another choice you may need to make is whether to move into a furnished or an unfurnished house. There’s no right or wrong answer here. It depends entirely on your situation and what you need from your rental.
Pro: Much More Convenient
One of the biggest advantages of renting a furnished house is the sheer convenience it offers. A furnished rental is essentially a turn-key solution and once you’ve signed the rental agreement, you can move in without worrying about buying a bed to sleep on or an oven to cook with.
As a tenant choosing a furnished single-family house, you can expect to save a lot of precious time, money, and effort. Instead of making endless shopping trips to get the basic furnishings you need to live comfortably, you can just move in, unpack your belongings, and start life in your new rental.
Con: Typically More Expensive
Of course, convenience often comes at a price and there’s no doubt that furnished homes tend to be more expensive to rent compared to unfurnished ones. For those on a tight budget, this can be a real deal-breaker.
In the long term, an unfurnished rental can save you a lot of money, as the monthly rent will continue to be lower than the monthly rent of a furnished property. For renters who plan to stay a long time in the same property, choosing unfurnished could be the way to go.
Pro: You Won’t Need To Buy Your Own Furniture
While the rent may be higher in a furnished house, you will save money by not having to buy your own furniture and appliances. The initial cost of purchasing furniture and appliances can be fairly high, easily negating the lower rent price.
Of course, if you already own furniture and appliances, you can bring them with, though this will incur moving costs.
Con: Higher Risk of Damages
Tenants are typically responsible for repairing any damage they’ve made to the furnishings or appliances during their tenancy. With a furnished house, that means there are plenty of opportunities for you to break or damage something. As such, there’s a good chance you’ll lose a chunk of your security deposit if you don’t get any damage caused by you fixed.
Of course, you’ll still need to pay for repairs and maintenance to your own furniture and appliances, but there’s no pressure to repair things you can live with. For example, if your cat claws at your armchair, you probably won’t worry too much about having it reupholstered. But, if the armchair belongs to the landlord, you’ll be obliged to have the damage repaired.
Pro: A Flexible Option
Furnished homes are an ideal option for tenants looking for flexibility from their rental. Short-term renters in particular will normally benefit from paying a little more for the convenience of a fully furnished house since they won’t have to go through the hassle of buying new furniture, and then paying to move it or store it again a few months later.
A furnished house offers the freedom of being able to move about with ease, which is ideal for renters on short-term work assignments or those who aren’t quite sure about their long-term plans yet.
Con: Less Opportunity To Put Your Stamp on the Place
The furnishings in a home have a huge impact on the overall aesthetic. So, if you’re stuck with what the landlord has chosen, your options are fairly limited when it comes to personalizing the space. It doesn’t help either that most furnishings chosen by landlords are fairly neutral.
Of course, there are ways around this. For example, a beige couch can be totally transformed with a colorful throw or vibrant cushions. However, when it comes to the layout that works best for you and your family, changing the landlord’s design can prove tricky, especially if their choice of furniture has been custom-made for the space.
Pro: Lower Moving Costs
When you move into a furnished house, you really only need to take your personal belongings with you. For many people, these things will fit comfortably in a regular car or perhaps a van, meaning there’s no need to hire a moving company to transport bulky furniture and appliances.
However, if you have to move your own furniture into an unfurnished house, you’ll probably have to pay a moving company to help. Of course, you might be able to do it yourself, but what you save in cash will be negated by having to make several trips, burning through a tank or two of fuel, and a lot of heavy lifting.
Con: Things Might Be Well Worn
Unless you’re lucky, the furniture in your furnished home is unlikely to be brand new. Indeed, it’s more likely to have seen use from at least three or four sets of tenants before you. And, in some cases, many, many more.
Your mattress may have lost its ability to support you comfortably, which can have a significant impact on those with bad backs. Meanwhile, kitchen appliances may be dated and could consume a lot more energy than newer models while the lounge furniture may give off nefarious odors. In some cases, you might regret not bringing your own furniture after all. However, this is easily avoided by viewing the property before renting it.
Before you choose between a furnished and an unfurnished home, be sure to think about what you need most from a rental. If a quick turnaround and flexibility rank high, a furnished house is probably the best choice for you. But, if you plan to stay for a long time and perhaps hope to buy your own home in the future, you could probably save money in the long run by choosing an unfurnished home.
