Living alone can come with plenty of unexpected costs, including the cost of furnishing your apartment. You may have spent months adding to your “Dream Apartment” mood board on Pinterest, without really putting much thought into how much cost and effort would go into making that aesthetic come true. Furnishing an apartment can get expensive very quickly, no matter how good you are at budgeting. For some, renting a furnished apartment is the perfect solution as they have a space that is immediately ready without the extra effort of finding and hauling furniture for your new space.

A furnished apartment is your typical rental apartment, but with pre-installed furniture. The most simple form of basic furnished apartments will come with “base” furniture such as a bed, dresser, desk, sofa, dining table, and chairs. Some furnished apartments will come with other fixtures such as appliances, trash cans, rugs, and curtains.

With that being said, renting a furnished apartment comes with pros and cons. Keep reading for things to consider before you rent a furnished apartment.

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If you have ever been through a move yourself, you already know how much of a headache planning out a move (and executing it) can be. From packing all your belongings up in boxes to planning on how you are going to get everything from your old space to your new space, moving is hardly an easy task. When it comes to furniture, in particular, moving can get difficult if you don’t have a large enough car or enough hands to help you do the heavy lifting.

When you opt to rent a furnished apartment, you can easily avoid the hassle of having to move heavy furniture to a new space. Sure, you will still have to move around your smaller belongings, but that process will be a lot easier to handle.

The advantages of a furnished apartment will also show when it’s time to move out, as you will not have to worry about moving all your furniture out, or selling it before you make your next move when you can just leave it in the space as-is.

Pro: A Saved Upfront Cost

If you’re moving furniture from space to space, it’s going to cost you some money. If you don’t have a larger truck to haul around furniture, you are likely going to pay to rent a Uhaul or truck to help you move your belongings. Or, you may pay to enlist the help of a moving company to get your belongings to your new space.

If this is your first time moving out, or you just don’t have a lot of your own furniture already, furnishing an entire apartment can get pretty expensive fairly quickly, especially if you are buying big items like couches, bed frames, and mattresses. If you are renting a furnished apartment, you do not have to worry about buying enough furniture for a new apartment, saving you plenty of money and stress upfront.

Con: A Higher Monthly Rent 

While renting a furnished apartment may save you money upfront when you do not have to buy furniture yourself, it may cost you more money on a monthly basis when you have to pay a higher monthly rent. Depending on the rental, and the area in which you live, the higher rent may not be that much of a downer for you if the convenience outweighs a higher rental rate.

Still, it is definitely worth considering if you already have a tight monthly budget.

Con: A Lack of Personalization

One of the biggest downsides of renting a furnished apartment is that you will not get the opportunity to personalize your rental apartment the way you want to. Most furnished rental units will come with a pre-selected set of furniture that you are unable to swap out or personalize. If you are lucky, the furniture will match your personal taste and all is well. However, that likely won’t be the case for every apartment.

The furniture may not match the decor pieces you are bringing to the space, from rugs to table lamps. This may mean having a mismatched space, shelving your personal decor until your next move, or shelling out money for decor that makes the space look more cohesive.

Aesthetics aside, you may also not be getting the best quality of furniture you would buy yourself. Since the furniture is pre-selected you will not be able to check the quality of the furniture, from its sturdiness to if it's been scratched up by prior tenants. Make sure to ask your landlord about the furniture quality prior to signing a lease.

Renting a furnished apartment comes with its own disadvantages and advantages. It’s definitely not the perfect situation for everyone, but if you are looking for short-term housing without the hassle of a major move, a furnished apartment could be the perfect choice for you.