When renting an apartment, a significant part of your lifestyle and comfort in the apartment is having furniture that is equally functional and aesthetically appealing. Hauling your own furniture and large belongings to a new apartment can be a bit of a difficult process, which can be drastically altered by opting for a furnished apartment instead.
Before you decide on renting a furnished apartment, ask these five questions to make the most well-rounded decision.
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Questions to Ask Before You Rent a Furnished Apartment
1. What is a Furnished Apartment? There are two types of furnished apartments: fully furnished and semi-furnished. A fully furnished apartment typically means that each room already comes outfitted with appropriate furniture. This essentially means that the necessary furniture like seating, bed frames and mattresses, tables, lamps, and more are included in the apartment. Semi-furnished, on the other hand, isn’t filled with as much furniture as a fully-furnished apartment, however, it will typically include some things like curtain rods, blinds, lighting, and appliances to make it inhabitable but essentially bare.
2. What Furniture is Included With the Apartment? The excitement of potentially getting a furnished apartment can be blinding, and you may be willing to sign a lease before knowing exactly what you’re getting. Before you make any kind of commitment, ask for a detailed list of the furnishings that will be included in the apartment. Landlords and property managers have different definitions of what a furnished apartment is (and what it should include), so it’s important to clarify what comes in the package before you take a leap of faith. Some apartments may be fully furnished, and include couches and other seating, beds with mattresses, tables, lamps, etc. Others may only include appliances and simplistic furnishings like curtains or lamps. In each scenario, know exactly what you are getting so you can determine if it is a good fit for you and what furniture you need to get yourself.
3. Is the Furniture Included in the Rent? A simple question that can sometimes be muddled is, “Is furniture included in the rent?” The answer would seem obvious to many, but in some cases, property managers and landlords can be a bit misleading about the costs of rent. In most cases, the furniture is included in the overall cost of rent, but there can be occasions where property managers and landlords will charge a specific price for the rent, and tack on an additional furniture rental cost on top of your monthly rent bill. Because of this, be sure to ask if the furniture is included in the rent price, or if there will be a separate charge. The last thing you want is a surprise cost when rent is due!
4. Is There an Additional Security Deposit for the Furniture? For landlords and property managers, there is a certain risk that comes with renting out a furnished apartment. There is a greater chance that furniture could be damaged or destroyed, and this increased liability will often be reflected in a security deposit. Whether or not a landlord or property manager has a separate security deposit for the apartment furnishings is typically up to his/her own discretion, but it is nonetheless important to understand if there is going to be a separate security deposit for the furniture or if everything will be included in a singular deposit. With a security deposit in mind, if you do move forward with the apartment and sign the lease, be sure to document the state of the furniture upon moving in by taking pictures and recording videos, just to be safe.
5. Can I Choose the Furniture? When it comes to moving into an apartment, it is completely normal to want to have your personality, preferences, and taste reflected in the apartment’s interior design, ranging from artwork to furnishings. Some apartments will have furniture picked out by the landlord or property manager, which doesn’t leave much room for any creative freedom to decorate with pieces you like. Other units and property managers/landlords may be more flexible about choosing apartment furniture and will allow you to pick out specific items, like living room seating or lighting. Understand the freedom and limits of choosing your own furniture before you make the commitment to the apartment in consideration.
Making the decision to rent a furnished apartment unit does not come overnight, as there are a number of questions to ask and a few different factors to weigh in the process. Ultimately, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to, consider all the factors, and take your time in evaluating what option is best for you!
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