Home Stager · Poconos, PA · Member since 2022 · 45 posts · 30 votes
I am very familiar with short term rentals and having them fully staged for Airbnb bookings and other 2-3 night stays. This is more so targeted to the investors that have a portfolio of long term rentals. Do you guys fully furnish / stage the properties before finding tenants to rent for a year or two? Or do you typically find that there are more renters looking to bring in their own furniture?
Rental Property Investor · Toledo, OH · Member since 2018 · 309 posts · 264 votes
4y
I would say definitely don't provide furniture. 1) unnecessary expense 2) long term renters are much harder on furniture than short term renters 3) If you provide their furniture, it's much easier for them to move out leading to higher turnover, costing hundreds or thousands every year. If they have to bring their own furniture, it's a LOT more work to move out, ie getting friends/family together to move furniture, renting van, taking a whole weekend/time off work, etc.
Property Manager · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2022 · 152 posts · 118 votes
4y
When we navigate these decisions with our clients, we discuss the type of tenant they want to attract. Typically, we find that fully furnished long-term rentals attract 4-6 month leases at most (think travel nursing, students in transition, etc.) and are more successful around universities and hospitals.
A vacant property allows for tenants to "nest," making the property feel more like their own and increasing chances of lease renewal.
We will not manage a fully furnished property, also, due to liability. A vacant property is a smaller headache.
Rental Property Investor · Toledo, OH · Member since 2018 · 309 posts · 264 votes
4y
I would say definitely don't provide furniture. 1) unnecessary expense 2) long term renters are much harder on furniture than short term renters 3) If you provide their furniture, it's much easier for them to move out leading to higher turnover, costing hundreds or thousands every year. If they have to bring their own furniture, it's a LOT more work to move out, ie getting friends/family together to move furniture, renting van, taking a whole weekend/time off work, etc.
Realtor · Hanover Twp, PA · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
4y
@Tom Dempsey, I would only consider staging or furnishing a high end rental geared toward a professional. A normal working class person would not likely be able to put a large additional deposit on the furnishings.
Home Stager · Poconos, PA · Member since 2022 · 45 posts · 30 votes
4y
@Landon Bleau I would think short term renters are a bit harder on the furniture, no? Given they're only there for a few days and most likely on a vacation / getaway with their significant other - they most likely will do things they wouldn't typically do in their normal home / long term rental.
I see where you are coming from though. Definitely more of a headache to fully furnish a property than to leave it completely empty.
@Tom Dempsey, I would only consider staging or furnishing a high end rental geared toward a professional. A normal working class person would not likely be able to put a large additional deposit on the furnishings.
@Kevin Sobilo do you typically require a deposit for a furnished house? I assumed that the furnishing would just 'be included' in the rental price per month?
Realtor · Hanover Twp, PA · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
4y
@Tom Dempsey, I don't rent furnished homes, but in PA you can charge only 2 months rent for the 1st years deposit. After that 1 month is the max. So, I would have a separate deposit for the furniture if I was going to rent a furnished place because I'm limited in how much deposit money I can have for the rental unit itself.
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
4y
@Tom Dempsey for long term rentals no furniture except in closet less bedrooms we have an armoire. In modern houses nothing. For MTR 3-6 months make them furnished.