The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Furnished Apartments for Mid-Term Rentals
The rental market often presents a paradox where there are both limited and abundant options. This can make finding your perfect mid-term rental a daunting task. But despite the overwhelming options, research shows a clear trend of temporary living.
Whether work, family, or lifestyle changes are driving you, modern expectations have changed housing demands. And regardless of your situation, finding the best furnished apartment for your mid term stay shouldn’t be a difficult task.
Read on to learn how to find the best-furnished apartments for mid-term rentals. We have the tips and insights to make your search smooth and easy to find the best-furnished properties.
What is a Midterm Rental?
Everyone knows what it's like to book a typical 2-3 night hotel stay or sign a contract for a one-year lease. However, mid-term rentals remain a bit of a mystery to some.
To shed light on this matter, mid-term rentals refer to furnished apartments or homes rented for a period ranging from 1-12 months. These rentals offer flexible housing solutions for those needing an extended stay more than short-term rentals but less than long-term commitments.
What Are the Benefits of Midterm-Rentals?
Short and long-term rentals have their appeal, but mid-term rentals offer advantages only available with fully furnished midterm rentals. The benefits are as follows:
Flexibility
Mid-term renters enjoy flexible lease terms and accommodate various durations from one to twelve months. This presents the opportunity to live in a space with the convenience of 'feels like home' without the burden of committing to a long-term lease.
Furnished Comfort
Fully furnished apartments save time, money, and back break from buying or moving furniture. And for those looking to settle in quickly to get on with their routines, it's an unmatched convenient comfort.
Cost-Effective
Often more affordable than extended hotel stays, it's a budget-friendly solution for longer residences. Also, some platforms will reward you with a discount when you book accommodations for longer than 30 days.
Home-Like Amenities
Access to full kitchens, a living room, and other home comforts that are often lacking in short-term accommodations. While hotels and short stays are fun and comfortable, sometimes having home essentials is what lifts the burden of feeling like you're not at home.
Location Variety
Availability in multiple locations -- from urban centers to quieter suburban neighborhoods -- the flexibility to choose mid-term rentals is nearly limitless.
Who Mid-term Rentals Are Best Suited for
Considering mid-term rentals are a unique approach to settling into a temporary sanctuary, it's important to understand who can benefit most from these types of rentals. Do any of these scenarios sound like you?
Business Travelers
Mid-term rentals give business travelers the chance to live like a local while on extended assignments. These apartments are the perfect mix of function and relaxation so you can have a work-life balance while traveling. With full kitchens, large living areas, and reliable wifi, mid-term rentals mean your stay is both productive and fun.
College Students
For students, mid-term rentals are a great option for housing that goes beyond the academic year. These furnished spaces make for a seamless transition between semesters, internships, or programs abroad. With shorter lease terms and fully equipped living spaces, students can focus on their studies and have momentous experiences.
Families in Transition
If you’re going through a big change (moving or waiting for a new home to be ready), mid-term rentals are a lifesaver. These temporary havens provide a stable and comfortable space during homeownership uncertainties. With all the amenities and a sense of normality, mid-term rentals help ease the stress of the transition and lets you settle in quickly, preparing you for your next steps.
Homeowners Undergoing Renovations
In the event you need to temporarily move out of your home for renovations, mid-term rentals are the perfect solution. You can think of it like a vacation get away while your main home is being renovated. With fully furnished spaces and essential amenities, you can reduce the stress of maintaining your daily routine.
Digital Nomads
Mid-term rentals for digital nomads are a match made in heaven. It provides the perfect balance of stability and flexibility. And a quality furnished apartment will (more often than not) include amenities required for remote work. Whether it's high-speed internet or dedicated workspaces, they can get meaningful work done anywhere in the world.
Travel Nurses
Whether it's staff shortages, opportunities for career advancement, or the freedom to work in multiple locations, mid-term rentals are an easy move-in for nurses who need to focus on their jobs without the hassle of long-term commitments or lugging furniture for comfort.
Key Factors to Consider
Before you book your medium-term rental, there are some important factors to consider so that you get the most out of your stay, and don't overlook essential elements you need for your current situation. Some things you should consider are:
Location and Neighborhood
Safety always comes first, but also keep in mind (if you're commuting) the proximity to work and or school meets your scheduling expectations. Location is everything when it comes to a great daily synergy, so choose wisely.
Apartment Size and Layout
This can be tricky when you're exploring spaces via photos or virtual tours. And not everyone can gauge what square footage feels like. Visit in person if you can to get the full experience. Otherwise, it's important to check out reviews of previous rentals to gauge satisfaction rates.
Amenities and Services
Look for key amenities like in-unit laundry, a gym, and parking. It's important to be honest with yourself and know what you need to have a productive/enjoyable stay. Managing expenses is important, but knowing what will add to your daily routine is also worth noting.
Rent and Budget Considerations
Balance the costs with the benefits by setting a realistic budget. Consider all expenses -- including utilities, amenities, and gear rental and weigh them against the apartment's features and location.
Lease Terms and Lease Agreement
Understand the lease agreement thoroughly, including flexible and fixed lease options. Ask yourself whether it aligns with your stay duration and check for any clauses related to early termination or extension to retain your security deposit.
Top Tips for Finding Furnished Apartments
As exciting as it is to book a beautifully furnished mid-term stay, it can also be time-consuming and tedious. Here are some tips to speed up the process:
1. Online Rental Platforms
Check out online rental platforms like Zillow, Airbnb, and Rove Travel to see lots of options at once. These platforms have detailed listings, photos, reviews, and pricing – everything you need to compare. Don’t forget to use the search filters so you’re not trawling through hundreds of listings that aren’t for you.
2. Local Real Estate Agents
Local real estate agents are priceless when it comes to finding the perfect furnished apartment for your mid-term stay. They know the local market inside out, so it’s an exclusive experience. Plus, they can handle negotiations and paperwork, so you save time and hassle with the logistics.
3. Community Forums and Social Media
Facebook Marketplace, Reddit, and neighborhood forums often have local postings about rentals and personal experiences. Networking in these communities can lead to finding high-quality rentals that aren’t listed on mainstream websites.
4. Visit in Person
Digital tours and great photos can be convincing. But visiting in person is a timeless practice. Plus, an in-person visit gives you the chance to see the apartment, the furniture, and the neighborhood to see if it’s as good as you expected.
Best Websites and Apps for Finding Furnished Apartments
As mentioned earlier, using online platforms is a great way to quickly see deals in your desired area and get a feel for what you can book. So, we've broken down popular websites and their pros and cons so you can get a better idea of which platform sounds like your cup of tea.
Craigslist
Pros: Craigslist offers a large variety of listings, often directly from property owners, which can lead to lower prices and the possibility of negotiating terms. It's a go-to for many looking for a wide range of options.
Cons: Since Craigslist is a free platform, the quality of listings can vary, and there have been reports where scams are attempted on renters. It’s important to be cautious and put in additional effort to find a reasonable stay.
Furnished Finder
Pros: Furnished Finder is particularly popular among traveling professionals. The platform offers detailed property information, including amenities, pricing, and availability, and makes it easier to find suitable accommodations.
Cons: The selection may be more limited compared to broader rental sites, and listings can sometimes only be available in concentrated areas, depending on demand.
Rove Travel
Pros: Rove Travel focuses on high-quality, fully furnished rentals with a focus on providing a seamless booking experience. The platform features well-maintained properties in prime locations in hot spots such as NYC, L.A., and South Florida.
Cons: The premium nature of the listings can come with higher rental costs, which may not fit every budget.
Airbnb
Pros: Airbnb offers a vast selection of furnished apartments. From budget-friendly options to luxury accommodations, the platform includes comprehensive reviews and ratings. Airbnb's secure payment system and customer support also add an extra layer of reliability.
Cons: Service fees can add to the overall cost. Plus, availabilities might fluctuate during peak seasons. Some listings also (at times) have stricter cancellation policies.
Success Stories
We have a friend who decided to move to NYC from L.A. as a digital nomad/entrepreneur. While he knew he could hop on Craigslist and check daily to see if an ideal apartment would pop up, he took the road less traveled.
He thought, "I may not stay in NYC full time, but I'm also not trying to live at The Hotel Chelsea month-to-month." So he went looking for a mid-term rental with an elegant feel with a practical workspace to match.
He's your typical Goldilocks story where choosing a mid-term rental was 'just right.' He told us the flexibility was necessary as he would go back and forth from L.A., but he wanted to feel like a NYC local when he was there. "Best of both worlds," he said.
Trust is always a concern when it comes to booking a furnished apartment for a mid-term lease. That's why stories like this give us the assurance of knowing we're providing the type of lifestyle people are striving to live here at Rove Travel.
And to give you some additional insight on why mid-term rentals are having a bump in demand -- stays of 28 nights or more accounted for 21% of nights booked in 2022 and have higher satisfaction rates compared to shorter stays, according to Airbnb's global data.
We think it's because guests get to enjoy the comfort of a home-like environment and the conveniences short or long-term rentals may not offer.
Conclusion
Making the decision to find a furnished mid-term rental is an exciting one. However, it can also be tedious and cumbersome if you don't know where to look and what to keep in mind during the process. Fortunately, there are several resources you can explore to help you find the best rental that suits your needs.
And if you're looking for a luxurious experience in prime locations, at Rove Travel, we offer high-quality, fully furnished rentals that cater to professionals and families alike.
We make the booking process quick and easy so you can focus on dreaming up ways you can live your best life. Explore Rove Travel today and discover exceptional mid-term rental options that will redefine what it means to live in medium-term housing.
