Should you rent a furnished or unfurnished apartment

Moving into a new rental property in Malta is generally straightforward. You’ve decided on an area, you know your budget, and you have a basic idea of the layout and number of rooms that you want. But in addition to all of this, the decision needs to be made as to whether or not you are looking to rent a property in Malta or Gozo that comes furnished or unfurnished. You can trust the reliable and experienced real estate agents at Quicklets to guide you through this. 

You mean there’s a difference? 

 You bet there is. And the decision you make about what to go for is largely dependent on several factors. But let’s start with understanding the difference between the two. 

A furnished property for rent in Maltal generally comes with the basic necessities. You know, the bells and whistles. Things such as a fridge, table and chairs, a bed, cutlery and crockery, and maybe even a picture or two hanging on the wall, making it less “empty nest” and more “homely”. 

On the contrary, unfurnished generally implies that your Maltese rental property is more shell form. You’ve got paint on the walls and the fixed items are in, but seldom more than this. That’s not to say there aren’t exceptions to the rule, and each property is different. Some properties will come with more, and some with less and are largely dependent on either how long the property has been operating as a rental, or how generous your landlord is feeling.  

So how do you know what to choose?

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Each option comes with its own merits, with the focus being on what you are looking for as a leaseholder. 

One of the first things to consider is how long you plan to rent a property in Malta. Furnished properties are aimed at those renters looking for a more short-term stay. This is beneficial as you don’t have to fork out your hard earned euros for all of the furniture and fittings, not to mention the additional cost of moving companies, lifters (and associated permits from the local council) that come with kitting out your new pad.  

Unfurnished rentals tend to suit those house hunters looking for a more permanent or long-term stay. The benefit here is that you can really make the place your own. That antique chair found at a market, or maybe those lampshades from a deal you couldn't say no to online. These and any other large items can all be given their own space in your home, meaning you can say goodbye to having to try and cover up that old yellow futon the property owner thought would fill the space nicely.  

Counting the costs 

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 As a rule of thumb, furnished property rentals in Malta will generally cost slightly more than an unfurnished property of the same size. This is of course because you are paying for the convenience of moving into an already setup space. There is also the deposit to consider as landlords will want to protect the investment that they made in providing you with all of the comforts of home. 

Unfurnished property, whilst potentially cheaper regarding rent, generally means having to fork out for all of the furniture yourself, which can quickly get out of hand, especially if it’s your first time moving into your own place and you’re not sure on what you will need. There is a silver lining though as you can really get to put your mark on a place with your individual style. In addition to this, furniture purchased by yourself can be seen as an investment should you be looking to buy your own place further down the line. Just make sure to shop around and measure to make sure it fits the new property first! 

Find your Feng Shui 

At the end of the day, you need to take stock of what will work for you, your budget and your desires as someone renting property in Malta. Spend some time considering how long you plan to rent for, suss out some locations, but most of all, have fun with it. This is after all where you are going to call home, and you want to make a decision that will make you happy each time you walk through your front door. And of course Quicklets have offices around the islands with access to hundreds of properties to rent in Malta to make your next move, your best move.  

Main blog photo courtesy of Mart Production from Pexels