Renting furnished vs unfurnished apartments in Dubai
There are plenty of things to consider when choosing your future home: the location, the budget, the facilities, the maintenance and so on. One of the important things to factor into the decision-making process about your rental property is choosing between a furnished or unfurnished apartment. Furnished apartments are a good choice for those who don’t see themselves living in the city for the long-term, but that’s not the only reason why you should look at renting a furnished apartment in Dubai. To help you understand the benefits and things to consider when making this choice, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of renting furnished apartments in Dubai.
Pros of renting furnished apartments in Dubai
When it comes to finding the perfect apartment to live in, there are always several things to consider. If you are thinking of renting furnished apartments in Dubai, it is important to look at some of the benefits of this choice to make an informed decision.
You can save money on setting up your home
One of the biggest benefits of renting a furnished apartment in Dubai is that you don’t end up spending a lot of money to set up your home. When you rent furnished property, you have the liberty of simply packing your personal belongings and moving into a ready-to-live-in home. Furnished apartment rentals are usually more expensive than their unfurnished counterparts, so you will need to do the math carefully and see how much of a difference there is, and if the difference is actually justified. Remember to factor in all the costs associated with packing and moving to a new home in Dubai. If you feel the extra rent is a better deal than having to spend a large amount of money buying and transporting furniture and assembling it, then furnished apartments for rent in Dubai are definitely the perfect option for you.
You save time and it is more convenient
When you are moving to a new place, there is almost always a certain amount of confusion, uncertainty and last minute problems. Having a furnished flat ready to live in can considerably reduce the consternation associated with the move. You also don’t have to worry about the bed not reaching on time or the leather sofa being scratched during the transportation process. Apart from the obvious convenience of choosing furnished apartments for rent in Dubai, there is also a lot of time to be saved with this option. No endless trips to furniture stores and pouring over curtain catalogues!
You could get a shorter lease when renting furnished apartments in Dubai
Most apartments for rent in Dubai are available on a one-year lease. With furnished apartment rentals, there is a chance that you may get a short-term leasing option. If you are someone who is unsure about the longevity of your stay in the city, or someone who likes to move homes frequently, you have the luxury of being able to change homes without losing out on a hefty security deposit. You may even be able to find monthly rentals in Dubai with furnished apartments, which is often not possible with unfurnished rentals. If you are a short-term renter, you would do well to look at hotel apartments in Dubai as well.
Cons of renting furnished apartments in Dubai
As you can see, there are many benefits to renting furnished apartments in Dubai. But it’s also important to consider some of the cons of furnished properties for rent in Dubai.
You don’t have a choice about the look and feel of the apartment
If you are someone who likes your home to be a reflection of your personality, renting furnished flats may not be the best idea. You have to live with the furniture and decor provided in the apartment and you won’t be able to customise things beyond a certain point. For instance, if you have the misfortune to rent a furnished apartment with an ugly couch or a creaky armchair, there’s little you can do to change that. You can bring in your own embellishments, such as picture frames, wall hangings and other pieces of decor, but the big stuff is there to stay. This might interfere with your process of making your house into a home that is a true reflection of your tastes and interests.
Your rents may be higher
On an average, furnished apartments usually command a higher rent than their unfurnished counterparts in the emirate. While you are saving on the cost of furnishing the apartment, over time the difference may be substantial. You also may have to pay a higher security deposit for leasing furnished apartments.
You will be left with limited options
The truth is that when it comes to apartments for rent in Dubai there are far more unfurnished options than furnished. This limits your options and may lead to you ‘settling’ for what’s available and not getting to choose from a wider pool of properties.
You can’t move in your own furniture
While renting a furnished property is a good idea if you don’t have any furniture, if you do own some pieces, it will be challenging to fit them into your new home.
You may have to pay for damage to the furniture
One of the things to consider with furnished apartments for rent in Dubai is that you might be held liable for any damage. You could lose out a substantial amount of your security deposit if you end up scratching the coffee table or ripping the upholstery of the sofa.
Another important thing to consider while moving to a furnished rental is that you need to check what is actually included in the property. Technically, having a single couch and a bed could be considered as ‘furnished’. But it may not fit in with your idea of a furnished property. Make sure to consider all of these aspects before making a choice between furnished and unfurnished houses in Dubai. Whatever you choose, make sure to know your landlord responsibilities so you can question them later if they didn’t fulfil them properly.
Now that you are well informed about the pros and cons of furnished properties for rent in Dubai, what are you leaning towards? Let us know in the comments section below and don’t forget to check out the benefits and things to consider with short-term and long-term rentals in Dubai.
