Renting furnished vs unfurnished property

Whether you’ve first moved to the city or are just looking for new options, you’ve probably considered the merits of moving to a furnished apartment rather than an unfurnished one. Both furnished and unfurnished apartments are common in the UAE and they save you a lot of trouble.

This list will help you decide what sort of apartment is better for you.

The pros of furnished apartments

It’s easier to move
If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like putting down roots, furnished apartments are perfect for you. Renting a furnished place means you won’t own most of the bigger items, and it’ll be easier for you to pick up and move on short notice.

It’s actually cheaper
Furnished apartments may seem more expensive initially, but then when you factor in the additional expenses an unfurnished place brings with it, things start to change.

The cons of furnished apartments

More expensive rents and security deposits
The landlord has invested in furniture and white goods, and the cost is partly passed on to the renter in the form of more expensive rents. It is an investment on the landlord’s behalf. Chances are they will also demand a larger security deposit to protect from damage to their valuable furniture.

Liability
More furniture means more liabilities. In an unfurnished apartment, there is the risk that you might not get your security deposit back if your child scribbles all over the wall with crayons or if you were a bit too enthusiastic with the power drill. But in the furnished apartment, there’s a lot more to break. Torn upholsteries, scratched tables and broken chairs are all things you’ll have to carefully avoid if you want that security deposit back.

The décor isn’t yours
You’re going to have to make do with what you are given in a furnished apartment. Most furnished apartments let you hang art on the walls and add other personal touches around the place, but they won’t let you do much else. The look of the apartment is mostly determined by the landlord, so if you’re the sentimental type, it may be best to go for an unfurnished house.

No space for your stuff
You probably don’t have a lot of stuff if you’re looking at furnished apartments, but in case you do, remember you most probably won’t have a lot of spare room in a furnished home.

The above can also apply to villas for rent in Dubai as well as commercial property in Dubai that can also come fitted with a complete set of furniture ready for a company to occupy.