3 Things to Consider when Renting a Furnished Apartment in Chicago

Relocating to a brand-new city can be a challenge. And looking for a short-term lease can be difficult, especially in a major city like Chicago with its limited housing stock. Thankfully, the city offers tons of great options for short term rentals, and finding the right apartment for you can be done as long as you know how to go about it and work with the right people. Here are a few things to consider for professionals looking for a short-term furnished apartment in Chicago.

Price

In most cases, price will be one of the most important criteria, if not the most important one, when picking an apartment. And like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. That’s why most furnished apartments will come at a premium.

If you were thinking of renting somewhere around downtown Chicago, you can expect to pay around $3000 a month – more if you want somewhere conveniently located with luxury facilities. For $3000 a month you can expect to find a property that includes utilities, furniture and even things like kitchenware and linens in some cases. And these units are usually located in luxury high rises as well.

Depending on your priorities and budget, you can find units in other parts of the city or in older units that will allow you to save.

Amenities

The other thing you’ll have to consider is amenities. You’ll have to assess what is essential to you and what you can afford. And you should also consider your lifestyle when making decisions.

While it’s nice to have a rooftop pool in the building, if that’s not something that’s important to you, then you shouldn’t pay a premium for it. You could go for a unit at a comparable price that has some other things that you need more, or a rentalin a better location. Maybe you’d prefer having access to a balcony instead? Or maybe having a dry cleaner on location isn’t that important and you’d prefer having access to a gym?

This is somewhere you’ll really need to take your time so that you can assess your needs and wants. The difference in rent between bare-bones units and amenity-rich ones can be substantial, so make sure you factor this in.

Ideally, the spot you pick should at least offer a good Wi-Fi service and widescreen TVs. The kitchen should be fully equipped as well. Make sure that the unit comes with at least a microwave, a stove, and a fridge, and make sure that they’re all up to date and working. In addition to that, make sure that the unit has proper security and ask if there will be a doorman as well.

Let’s take one of the furnished properties in Chicago from Blueground as an example. The apartment in West Loop not only has all of the above, but it also has a top-of-the-range speaker, linen and towels, AC and there’s a gym and pool on the premises. What more could you ask for?

You may already know how difficult finding parking is in the city, so you should also ask if the building has parking included. However, you’ll have to be prepared to pay a little bit extra for units like these. The upside is that you’ll save a lot of money and time on parking charges by having your own parking spot, so this is definitely something to consider.

Space

Space is also a very important aspect when picking a furnished apartment, and the way the space is organized is important. If you can’t get the dimensions for the unit, you can always ask for a floor plan to see how exactly the unit is designed. You should also make sure that you know what is included in every room. This is very important if you have a large family or are intending to entertain guests while you’re there.

Space is also very important if you were considering sharing the apartment to save on costs. Some apartment floor plans will make it easier to allow for privacy. If rooms are too close to each other, and both of your schedules are conflicting, then this might cause some issues.

You should also ask to see the unit in person to get a better feel of the living arrangements. You’ll be able to see what the rooms look like and things like what type of view you’ll be getting. You can also start looking at how you’re going to rearrange and decorate the space to fit your style.

Finding a great furnished apartment shouldn’t be too difficult once you know what to look for and what to avoid. Make sure that you take these things into consideration to make sure that you find the perfect unit for your needs.