Finding a place to live on its own is a challenge, but then there’s the whole other issue of furnishing your space. You want to find nice furniture for your apartment, but you also don’t want to spend a ridiculous amount of money on couches and chairs—and even secondhand furniture costs can add up. Plus, you have to move it all into and out of your apartment each time you move.
If you’re not one for buying or renting furniture and moving it each time you find a new place, you can look into a move-in-ready, or furnished, apartment, where the only thing you’ll need to worry about is bringing yourself and your personal items.
What is a furnished apartment?
A furnished apartment is a unit that comes with furniture and other household items, including plates, bowls, cups, utensils and sometimes small appliances like a blender and toaster. In essence, a furnished apartment allows the tenant to move in with just their clothing and personal living items.
Such apartments can be an effective option for people who are moving to a new city but don’t want to spend the time and money purchasing furniture. It also can be comfortable and convenient for those who are only planning to stay in a place for a short period of time and don’t want to invest in furniture and other living items.
Pros of a move-in-ready apartment
There are several benefits of renting a move-in-ready apartment. One of the main benefits is that it saves time and money. When you move into a furnished apartment, you don’t have to spend time searching for furniture and you won’t be spending so much money on it upfront. You also don’t have to worry about moving the furniture to your apartment or paying for storage if you don’t need it right away.
Another benefit of furnished apartments is that they’re often fully equipped with everything you need to live comfortably. This can include things like appliances, kitchenware, linens and even electronics, which can be incredibly convenient for people who are moving to a new city and don’t already own all of these items.
Furnished apartments also offer lots of flexibility. If you’re only planning to stay in a place for a short period of time, whether it be for work or just to test out a new environment, it may not make sense to invest so much money in furniture. In this case, a furnished apartment can be a good option because you can easily move in and have everything you need, then when you move out, you can leave the furniture behind without a second thought.
Cons of a furnished apartment
Depending on your preferences, there are also some potential drawbacks to renting a furnished apartment. One of the main cons is that you may not have as much control over the decor and style of your home. If you want a certain style of decor in your apartment or want to personalize things, a furnished apartment might not have the flair you’re looking for.
Furnished apartments can also be more expensive than unfurnished apartments if you’re looking at it in the long term. Because the landlord is providing the furniture, they may charge a higher rent to cover the cost. If you’re only living there temporarily, this usually isn’t an issue, but if you’re planning on living in an apartment for an extended period of time (a year or more), then the higher rent each month can really add up and you would probably be better off purchasing your own furniture instead of footing the bill for furniture someone else owns.
Additionally, furnished apartments may not be as flexible when it comes to making changes to the apartment. If you want to add or remove furniture or make other changes to the apartment, you may need to get permission from the landlord, along with finding a place to store the furniture you aren’t using — which can be expensive if you have to rent a storage unit.
Is move-in ready right for you?
Furnished apartments can be a great option for some people, but might not be the best choice for everyone. Overall, furnished apartments can be a convenient and practical option for people who are moving to a new city or only planning to stay in a place for a short period of time.
However, they can also be more expensive and may not offer as much flexibility in terms of decor and changes to the apartment. Look at your situation and preferences before deciding if a furnished apartment is right for you.