Furnished Housing Options at Walk2Campus Plymouth State University

What Is Furnished Student Housing and How Does It Work?

Furnished student housing provides move-in-ready apartments and houses with all essential furniture included as part of your rental agreement. Unlike traditional unfurnished rentals where tenants must supply everything from beds to couches, furnished units come equipped with bedroom furniture (bed, desk, chair, dresser), common area furniture (couch, dining table, chairs), and major kitchen appliances. This housing model is specifically designed for college students who need temporary housing during their academic careers.

At Walk2Campus Plymouth State University, furnished housing eliminates one of the biggest challenges of moving to college: acquiring, transporting, and eventually disposing of furniture. Students can move in with just their personal belongings—clothing, laptop, bedding, and personal items—without renting moving trucks or purchasing furniture that will become obsolete after graduation. The furniture remains property of the landlord and is maintained throughout your tenancy, with repairs or replacements handled by property management rather than tenants.

Furnished housing rent is typically higher than comparable unfurnished units to account for the furniture value and maintenance, but for most students—especially those from out of state or international students—the convenience and cost savings compared to furnishing an apartment make it the more economical choice. Students avoid upfront furniture purchases (often $1,500-3,000 per bedroom), moving costs, storage fees between semesters, and the hassle of selling or disposing of furniture upon graduation.

Benefits of Furnished Housing for College Students

The primary benefit of furnished student housing is financial and logistical simplicity. Consider that furnishing a single bedroom requires at minimum a bed ($300-800), mattress ($200-600), desk ($100-300), chair ($50-150), and dresser ($150-400)—a total investment of $800-2,250 just for one bedroom, not including common area furniture. For students attending a four-year university, that furniture must then be stored over summers ($50-150/month for storage units), moved between apartments, and eventually sold or disposed of at graduation, often at a significant loss.

Furnished housing also solves major transportation and timing challenges. Students don't need to coordinate furniture delivery during the hectic move-in period, worry about furniture fitting through narrow stairwells, or wait weeks sleeping on an air mattress while ordering and assembling furniture. This is particularly valuable for out-of-state and international students who cannot easily transport furniture from home and may arrive just days before classes begin.

For Plymouth State students specifically, furnished Walk2Campus properties within walking distance of campus add the benefit of eliminating car dependency. Students save on vehicle costs (insurance, parking permits, gas, maintenance), reduce their environmental footprint, and gain time by walking to classes in 5-15 minutes rather than driving, parking, and walking from distant lots. The walkable proximity also enables easily returning to your apartment between classes, a significant quality-of-life benefit that commuters don't enjoy.

What to Expect When Renting Furnished Housing

When touring and leasing furnished housing, expect a detailed inventory of provided furniture and a move-in inspection documenting the condition of each piece. Walk2Campus conducts these inspections to protect both landlord and tenant—you won't be charged for pre-existing damage, and the landlord has documentation of furniture condition at move-in. Take photos during your inspection and note any existing wear, stains, or damage on the inspection form.

The furniture provided is student-quality—durable, functional, and maintained, but not luxury furnishings. Beds are typically standard twin XL (dorm size) or full, desks are simple but adequate for laptop work and studying, and common area furniture is selected to withstand normal student use. If you have specific needs (ergonomic desk chair, mattress topper for back support), you can typically add these items to supplement the provided furniture. Most leases prohibit removing or replacing provided furniture without permission.

Maintenance and repairs for provided furniture are the landlord's responsibility. If a desk chair breaks or a bed frame becomes unstable, report it to Walk2Campus property management for repair or replacement. This is a significant advantage over owning your own furniture, where repair costs fall on you. Response times vary but typically furniture issues are addressed within a few business days for non-emergency items.

At lease end, another inspection documents furniture condition. Normal wear and tear—minor scratches, slight fabric wear, small stains that cleaning can address—is expected and typically not charged. Significant damage beyond normal use (broken furniture, large stains or burns, missing items) may result in repair or replacement charges deducted from your security deposit. Treating provided furniture with reasonable care protects your deposit and ensures a smooth move-out process.

Furnished vs. Unfurnished: Making the Right Choice

The choice between furnished and unfurnished housing depends primarily on your situation and timeline. Furnished housing makes most sense for traditional students who will attend college for a defined period and then relocate (whether to grad school, a new city for work, or back home), students from out of state who cannot easily transport furniture, international students who arrive with minimal belongings, and students who value convenience and simplified move-in/move-out processes over customization.

Unfurnished housing may be better for local students who already own furniture or can access family furniture inexpensively, students planning to remain in the Plymouth area long-term beyond graduation, and those with very specific furniture preferences or needs (such as students with disabilities requiring specific furniture modifications). Some students also prefer unfurnished housing for creative control over their living space design and décor.

From a pure cost perspective, the calculation depends on your circumstances. If you need to purchase all new furniture, factor in purchase costs, moving/delivery fees (often $100-300), potential storage costs between semesters or over summers ($600-1,800 annually for a storage unit), and the depreciation in value when selling used furniture (often recovering only 20-40% of purchase cost). For a typical four-year college career, furnished housing's higher monthly rent (approximately $30-60 more per person per month, or $360-720 annually) often costs less than the total ownership cost of furniture when all factors are included.