What are furnished apartments?

Furnished apartments in Philadelphia usually come equipped with furniture, basic kitchen appliances, silverware, bathroom necessities, a washer/dryer set, and possibly a few other amenities. The exact items will vary depending on the landlord and kind of place you are renting.

 

Difference between furnished and unfurnished apartments

If you’re looking to rent a new apartment, you will have to decide if you want a furnished or unfurnished apartment. Furnished apartments make moving easier and tend to offer shorter lease terms. Unfurnished apartments, however, let you choose your own style of decorating and tend to cost less than their furnished counterparts. Both living arrangements come with pros and cons, and only you can decide which is the best fit for you.

 

What should furnished apartments include?

‘Standard’ furnished apartments in Philadelphia should include the following:

  • The necessary furniture needed for all rooms including those in bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room. In more detail, a bedroom should have a bed, a wardrobe or a walk-in closet, nightstand, lamp or ceiling lights, and the necessary bedding such as pillows, sheets, and a comforter. Some furnished bedrooms also include a desk for personal use.
  • Soft furnishings throughout the property such as carpets/flooring and curtains/blinds are normally included. In the living room area (bedroom if it’s a studio), there should be a sofa, a coffee table, ottoman, or bookshelf, as well as electronics such as a TV or stereo system. A bathroom in a furnished apartment will include all the essentials like toilet, sink, bathtub or shower.
  • As for bathroom furnishing, there should be towels and a bath mat, plus accessories like a tissue holder, soap dispenser, wastebasket, and maybe some hygiene products.
  • The kitchen is where you will find the most variation in what a furnished apartment includes. Both furnished and unfurnished apartments will include large appliances like a refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher, while fully furnished apartments may include smaller appliances like a coffee-maker, toaster or toaster oven, blender, or food processor. The kitchen may also come equipped with cookware, bakeware, dishes, and utensils, but this is less common.

 

Pros and cons of renting furnished apartments in Philadelphia

Pros

  • Budget – A furnished apartment will cost more to rent, but you will save a significant amount of money when it comes to furniture, bedding, soft furnishings, kitchen items, and many other items that might be a hassle to buy if you don’t already own them. Unfurnished apartments are great in the long run, but furnished rentals are a better temporary living solution in the short term.
  • Flexibility – Furnished short-term rentals can provide much flexibility for people who have to relocate for business trips, students who spend less than a year in their college cities, or those who are not yet ready to commit to one place. Life can get crazy, and it will be much easier to move if you are not tied to a long-term contract and don’t have to carry furniture around.
  • Convenience – Short-term furnished rentals provide you with all the essentials you need for a short-term stay. You can move in and out easily with just a few boxes and only have to worry about how you want to stock your fridge.

Cons

  • Cost – Your rent might be higher. The money for the furniture has to come from somewhere. This isn’t a free gift for you, but money your landlord paid to make the apartment better. They will include the price of the furniture in the rent, and will most likely demand a larger security deposit to compensate for any furniture damage.
  • Liability – In an unfurnished place, you might not get your security deposit back if you accidentally put a hole in the wall or you don’t clean the wall-to-wall carpet professionally before you move out. In a furnished apartment, there are a lot more things that you may accidentally break or damage. Because the furniture is not yours, you will have to fix it yourself or pay to get it fixed if something happens. So you need to be more careful.
  • Tip: Take a video or photo inventory of everything the landlord provides in a furnished apartment before you move in. Take note of anything that’s broken. That way, you’ll have indisputable evidence if your landlord tries to charge you for something you didn’t break.

 

Why do people select us when considering furnished apartments?

  • Reliable real estate company: We manage all our short term rentals with out own team of professional who have 10+ years of experience in the field. No third party is involved. We manage many properties in the Center City area, all fully furnished, so we can ensure you can get your best choice.
  • Great service: Each of our staff members is accountable and responsible. Your satisfaction is our number one goal. We respond to customers’ needs and problems rapidly, take each customer request seriously, and greatly value your satisfaction.