One of the decisions you may need to make when looking for an apartment, condo or home is whether or not you want your new home to come already furnished. The majority of apartments are not furnished when you move in, but there are some advantages and disadvantages to consider if the apartment you are looking at is furnished.

Advantages:

Cost savings

If you don’t have any furniture at all, furnishing a whole apartment can cost thousands of dollars. Renting a furnished apartment can be a much less expensive alternative. You have the option of renting a furnished apartment that may be decorated with pieces that you normally would not be able to afford but still have the luxury of living with throughout your lease.

Great for a short-term stay

The great thing about furnished apartments is that they are ideal for a short-term stay. If you are renting for more than a month but less than a year, a furnished apartment means minimizing the hassle of moving and a lot less organization before moving in. You also have the advantage of not having to decide where everything is going to go or how to decorate each room.

Disadvantages:

Security deposit & liability for damages

When moving into a furnished apartment, you may be asked to put down a security deposit in case of damage to decor or furniture. This can sometimes cause an inconvenience depending on the amount if you do not have the available funds. Make sure that you take pictures of the current state of all furniture when you move into a furnished apartment so that if part or all of your security deposit is claimed at the end of the lease you have proof of previous damages or can understand the reasons for the claim.

Less freedom to decorate

When moving into a furnished apartment, you give up your decorative rights. Most landlords will ask you to make minimal or no changes to furniture placement and you may not have the right to paint or change decor. Just make sure that when you move in, you are happy with the apartment “as is”, because you may not be able to make any changes.