Property owners have many decisions to make when putting a rental on the market. Whether to offer<\/a> it furnished or unfurnished is just one of the questions that comes up.<\/strong><\/p>\n There are pros and cons to both options and landlords should weigh them up when deciding which way to go.<\/p>\n Finn Simpson from Belle Property in Dee Why explains that while most rental properties across the country are classified as \u201cunfurnished<\/strong>\u201d, they still come with fixed items such as cabinetry, kitchen benchtops, blinds or curtains, bathroom vanities, light coverings and fixed appliances like ovens and air-conditioning units.<\/p>\n Knowing whether to include furnishings with your rental can be a tough question to answer. Picture: realestate au<\/p>\n<\/div>\n From there, however, there\u2019s a clear distinction between a furnished<\/strong> or unfurnished property<\/strong> \u2013 and what can be charged for each. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n So, what is a furnished property<\/strong> exactly? Finn says it\u2019s a property that not only comes with fixed items like blinds and lights but also non-fixed items such as couches, beds, tables, chairs and non-fixed appliances, like washing machines, dryers and fridges.<\/p>\n What\u2019s included differs from property to property, but generally speaking, a furnished property<\/strong> has everything someone would need for everyday living.<\/p>\n Finn says some furnished properties<\/strong> also come with soft furnishings, too, which refers to rugs, cushions, bed covers, wall art and plants. Others don\u2019t.<\/p>\n Should you include bed coverings as well? Picture: realestate.com.au<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The main benefit of offering a property furnished is financial. That\u2019s because a furnished property appeals to a specific kind of tenant, which often means property owners can ask for more rent, Finn says.<\/p>\n But conversely, furniture<\/a> may have to repaired and replaced over time, as tenants may not look after it and this can be costly.<\/p>\n Furnished properties tend to appeal to a certain demographic, such as professionals on short contracts, who also look for short-term leases.<\/p>\n So, if that demographic is strong in the area, it makes sense to meet it, Finn says.<\/p>\n As the name suggests, an unfurnished property doesn\u2019t come with items required for day-to-day living, like beds and white goods.<\/p>\n The vast majority of rental properties in Australia are offered unfurnished, as the tenants in the area have their own furniture.<\/p>\n Finn says there are few risks with offering a property unfurnished, which is why it\u2019s a popular choice among property owners.<\/p>\n One con is potential damage.<\/p>\n \u201cMoving furniture in and out can cause damage to the property, like scratches to walls, floorboards and door frames,\u201d says Finn.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s nothing like the cost involved with furnished a property.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t furnish your home you won\u2019t have to worry about maintaining the furniture. Picture: realestate.com.au<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The main most reason landlords \u201cgo unfurnished\u201d is because the local market demands it, Finn says.<\/p>\n If the majority of tenants in the area are long-term renters looking for a \u201chome\u201d, unfurnished is the way to go.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, if the majority of tenants in your market prefer short-term leases or are more transient, they may show no interest in an unfurnished property and so the property could spend too long being vacant,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n For a property owner, it\u2019s much simpler to offer a property unfurnished.<\/p>\n Furniture doesn\u2019t have to be purchased and maintained, there\u2019s no need for an inventory and time-consuming condition reports after each tenancy and in most areas, unfurnished appeals to the most potential tenants.<\/p>\n The question of whether it\u2019s best to offer a property furnished or unfurnished is a complicated one. Finn says the decision depends on where the property is located and the investor\u2019s goals.<\/p>\n \u201cIn every case, the trick is to appeal to the widest cross-section of tenants in your market,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n If the property is in one of Australia\u2019s larger metropolitan or regional areas, and the goal is to have a long-term tenant, landlords will have more success offering an unfurnished property.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is because most of the tenants you are targeting will have their own furniture,\u201d says Finn.<\/p>\n He explains that furnished properties almost always go hand-in-hand with short-term leases because it doesn\u2019t make sense for a tenant to go through the hassle of moving furniture in and out for a three-month lease.<\/p>\n If a property is in a more transient location, like a CBD or an area like far-north Queensland, or the goal is only to offer a shorter-term lease, landlords should look to offer their properties furnished, Finn adds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Realestate au <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"living](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/756x567-fit%2Cprogressive\/2020\/01\/06115653\/living-room-rental.jpg?resize=756%2C567&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n3 things to know about offering furnished rentals<\/h2>\n
1. Soft furnishings can be included<\/h3>\n
![\"furnished](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/2000x1500-fit%2Cprogressive\/2020\/01\/06120353\/bedroom-copy.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n2. You can ask for higher rent<\/h3>\n
3. Certain demographics require furnishings<\/h3>\n
3 things to know about offering an unfurnished property<\/h2>\n
1. There are very few risks to the property<\/h3>\n
![\"entrance\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/1707x1280-fit%2Cprogressive\/2020\/01\/06121113\/entrance.jpg?resize=1707%2C1280&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n2. You can meet the market<\/h3>\n
3. Unfurnished homes are easier to manage<\/h3>\n
Furnished or unfurnished: Which is best?<\/h2>\n