Furnished or unfurnished? Choosing for a 1- to 12-month stay
Checked on October 2, 2026
For stays of one to twelve months in Las Terrenas, most people look for a furnished home. But "furnished" does not mean the same thing in every listing. This guide helps you compare the two options and know what to check. It does not cover legal questions; for those, see the guide to deposits and lease agreements.
What the listings show
In our initial catalog (27 listings with a monthly rent in US dollars, seen on 2 October 2026), 9 were described as furnished and the other 18 did not say. None was explicitly presented as unfurnished. We do not have enough data to compare the rent of a furnished home with an unfurnished one. In practice: always ask exactly what the home comes with, and ask for recent photos.
Pros and cons
| Furnished | Unfurnished | |
|---|---|---|
| Moving in | You can settle in straight away | You need to buy or find furniture and appliances |
| Stay of 1 to 6 months | Usually the most practical | The cost of equipping a home weighs heavily over a short stay |
| Stay of 6 to 12 months | Comfortable, but you rely on what is already there | Can make sense if you bring or buy your own things |
| Moving out | You hand the home back against the inventory | You need to sell, store or ship the furniture |
| Watch out for | Wear on someone else's furniture, disputes over damage | Upfront spending and logistics |
What "furnished" should include: a checklist
Kitchen
- Fridge, stove (if gas: cylinder or tank?), oven or microwave.
- Pots, pans, plates, cutlery, glasses and utensils.
- A dispenser or filter for drinking water.
Bedrooms and bathrooms
- Beds with mattresses in good condition, pillows, sheets and towels (how many sets?).
- Closets or wardrobes, mosquito nets if needed.
- Hot water: check that it works.
Cooling and power
- Air conditioning (in which rooms?) and ceiling fans.
- Backup power (inverter, batteries, generator) and what it runs. Expat guides note that an inverter typically runs lights, fans and internet, but not air conditioning (anecdotal source).
Laundry and cleaning
- Washing machine, drying rack or dryer, iron and cleaning supplies.
Living and work space
- Sofa, table and chairs.
- A desk and a proper chair if you work remotely.
- Internet router and TV, if the listing mentions them.
Outdoors
- Terrace furniture and pool or garden equipment, where relevant.
The inventory
- Do a detailed inventory when you move in, with dated photos of every piece of furniture and appliance and its condition.
- Test everything: air conditioning, hot water, appliances, locks, water pump.
- Sign it with the owner or agency and keep a copy.
- Walk through again when you leave and compare with the move-in photos.
Repairs: agree them in writing
Who pays for a repair is not always obvious: normal wear, an appliance breaking down, damage caused by the tenant, the effects of a power cut or a storm. Before signing, put in writing:
- who pays for each type of repair (furniture, appliances, air conditioning, pump, inverter, pool);
- who to contact, and how quickly repairs are made;
- whether you may arrange an urgent repair yourself and deduct it from the rent, and what receipts are needed.
And, as with any rental, do not pay anything before you have viewed or verified the home.
Next steps: the guide to monthly rentals, the guide to electricity and power cuts and our long-term rentals.