- Karen Lau
Moving into an apartment is a big deal, especially if this is the first place that you’ll be living in on your own! You’ve been searching for weeks for apartments for rent, and you have finally found that perfect place. But now comes the daunting task of actually moving. You need to figure out what furniture you need. Most apartments are not furnished, which means you will have to decide whether to buy vs. rent your furniture for your new place.
One of the issues people face when they choose their first apartment is the short time window. Sometimes, you only have a few weeks to move and to find furniture for your new space.
Apartments can be on the smaller side, so when you are searching for furniture for your place, you need to keep that in mind. In addition, you need to think about your rental budget and whether or not you are going to be staying in the apartment for a year or more, or if you will be moving again shortly. All of these things come into play when you are considering whether or not to buy new furniture or to simply rent furniture for the short term.
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Consider Cost
As with everything in life, cost is one of the biggest concerns. When you are deciding whether to buy vs. rent your furniture, the cost is going to be a major factor. In many cases, the cost of renting furniture will often be cheaper for the short term. If you are planning to be in the apartment for a couple of months, renting furniture might be the best option.
However, if you are like most people you’re probably planning to be in your apartment for at least a year. In that case, buying new furniture is going to be the much better option.
Renting costs vs. buying costs
When you rent furniture, there are several additional costs you may not have thought about. First, most rental companies will charge you several types of fees.
- Deposit
- Delivery fee
- Rental fee
- Interest charges
- Service charges
- Online payment charges
- Other small monthly fees, such as insurance and cleaning percentage
This means that even if the initial rental fee seems low, the other charges will add up quickly and make renting furniture quite expensive. In addition, when you rent furniture, most companies will have a minimum amount that you have to be willing to spend. This must just be $100 a month, but when you add in all the fees it is closer to $200 a month, depending on the type of furniture you choose.
When you compare the cost of renting furniture (around $2400 for a year) to the cost of new furniture, it’s clear that buying your own furniture is the smarter way to go. Think of it this way. If you keep even just a minimum selection of your own furniture (couch, chair, lamps, bed), you could spend much less on these basics if you purchase them up front and brand new.
- Couch: $1000 or less
- Chair: $500
- Lamps: $100
- Bed: $1000
If you stick to a budget and only buy the furniture that you truly need, you are going to save money by purchasing vs. renting. You can always add furniture to your home as you go! Starting with the basics is a good way to stay on budget and get the pieces you absolutely need.
Cleaning
Need another reason to buy vs. rent your furniture? Well, if you spill something on a piece of furniture you own, you just do your best to clean it and live with it! There are no repercussions.
But if you’re renting furniture, you have to go the extra mile to keep your furniture in immaculate condition. This can be quite stressful, since home should be a place where you relax. When you are always worried about damaging your rented furniture, it can be much harder to create a stress-free home.
If you cause too much damage to your rented furniture, you’ll have to pay to repair it or clean it at the end of your rental period. You may even end up having to buy it if the damage is too extensive. Overall, if you don’t have a lifestyle that will allow you to carefully care for rented furniture, buying will be your best option for furnishing an apartment.
Moving and selling
Does moving look different if you buy vs. rent your furniture? Actually, yes! Here are the differences.
If you rent furniture and decide to move, you can call the furniture rental company to come pick everything up and you pay their fees. This can be convenient if you’re moving far away and don’t want to pay a moving company. Furniture rental agreements usually include at least one free move, or at least a cheaper fee than a moving company. However, you’ll have nothing to show for all the money you paid towards the furniture you were renting.
If you purchase new furniture, you’ll take it to your new place. On one hand, this means you have to pay for movers. But on the other hand, you won’t have to spend more money on new furniture. If you budgeted well and chose pieces that are solidly built and high quality, your furniture will last you through several moves.
And in a scenario where you decide not to take your furniture with you when you move, you can more easily recoup your money by reselling furniture you own. You can sell the pieces you don’t want and move the pieces you want to keep. This helps give you a bit of money to fund the move, or purchase new pieces for your new space.
More options
When you rent furniture, your options are limited to the company’s catalogue. There are only certain companies that will rent furniture, and they often only use certain brands or models.
But when you choose to buy furniture, your options are endless. You can set a spending budget and find pieces that match your decor style.
You can also work with an interior design (their professional knowledge is not as expensive as you might think). There are decor styles for every budget, and a good designer can help you figure it out. Many even offer a free consultation call. Once you know what you like, it can be much easier to stay on budget and get pieces you love.
Personal choice
The best part of furnishing your place is personal choice. It’s your home, and you’re free to outfit it the way you like!
When you rent furniture, you will have to live with items that don’t actually belong to you. You have to return them when you are done, even if you fall in love with them.
If you know your own taste and you want to make a good investment, then you should buy your furniture.
As you furnish your apartment, remember that you want to choose items that you enjoy. The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to buy everything all at once. Look for the basics first: a place to sit, a place to sleep, and kitchen appliances. As you live in the space for a bit, you can add your personal touches throughout.
Final thoughts
So should you buy vs. rent your furniture? Everyone’s situation is different, and there are pros and cons depending on your timeline and your budget.
But for most people, buying furniture tends to be the better investment. Buying means that you can own high-quality pieces without worrying about damaging them and incurring fees. Buying lets you have a wider selection of furniture styles. And finally, buying furniture means you keep more money in your pocket, rather than losing it on fees for items you won’t ever really own.
We’ll leave you with one last bit of advice.
If you are moving to a new place and you're looking to start fresh with a stylish, adult-looking place, then you should look for a design-and-furnish company.
Places like Furnishr have on-staff interior designers who use your exact floor plan to help you create the space of your dreams. Plus, they can get you better prices than the sticker price you’d otherwise pay, since they have special relationships with manufacturers.
Good luck with your new place!
