If you are moving to a certain city for just a few months, you may wish to look into furnished apartments. This way, you do not have to waste time and money buying furniture for a space you won't be in long -- and you'll have a whole lot less to move in and out of the space. However, if you have never rented a furnished space before, there are a few tips you will want to follow in the process.

Make sure you're not overpaying.

In general, you can expect to pay $100 to $200 more for a furnished apartment than you would pay for a similar apartment without any furniture. Less-experienced landlords might overcharge for a furnished apartment because they're not aware of how the market works. To ensure you don't end up paying too much, look up prices of unfurnished apartments in the area, and get an idea of the average cost. Then, as you search for furnished apartments, focus on ones that are only $100 - $200 more than the unfurnished spaces you saw advertised.

Get a list of what is included.

Sometimes apartments come furnished, but they do not contain absolutely every piece of furniture you might need. For example, the living room might have a couch and a television stand, but no extra tables. Try to get a list of what pieces are specifically included in the apartment you're looking at so you know whether you'll have to buy some of your own supplemental furniture. Take the cost of buying such furniture into account when deciding which furnished apartment to rent.

Take photos of the furniture.

If the furniture has been used by a previous renter, it might have some stains or damage already. Make sure you take photos of each piece before you move in, and share copies with your landlord. This way, when you move out, your landlord will know what damage on the furniture was caused by you, and what was already there. You won't be billed for damage that you did not cause.

Make sure the furniture suits you.

If you're used to renting unfurnished spaces, you may have your list of standard things you check for in an apartment. This time, you need to spend a little more time assessing the furniture and making sure it is suitable. If the bed is way too hard for your taste or the dining room table is way too small, you can either mention this to the landlord and see if they can get a replacement, or you can walk away and find a different apartment.

For more information, contact companies like Alternative Real Estate.