You might be a remote worker, or a traveling nurse. Maybe your family is moving to a new city, or maybe you just like to live wherever the wind takes you. When you need a home for more than a few days, monthly rentals are your perfect option. We were built for stays of 30 days or more, so you get the flexibility to live and work how you need to. With Furnished Finder, you connect directly with landlords, so you can search, book, and feel in control of every move you make.
So how does the process work? We’ll walk you through it, step by step, so that finding your home away from home is the easiest part of your job.
1. Search
You’ve come to the right place. Furnished Finder is the leader in monthly rentals, with over 300,000 fully furnished properties across the United States. We’re here to help you find a rental that fits all your needs. Here’s how you start:
Download our app [here] or just go to
Follow the prompts to create your free tenant account with your email, Google, or Facebook login
Simply enter your destination, dates, and budget
Use our filters to customize your search so that your stay has everything you need
Pro tip: New listings are added every day, so search often!
2. Connect
Ok, you searched and found a property you love! The next step is to get in touch with the landlord. Furnished Finder has several options for reaching out. What’s the best option? Don’t worry, we’ll help you find the one that works best for you.
Send a Booking Inquiry (Preferred)
This is the fastest way to get the conversation going. It’s not a commitment, and you won’t be charged anything. A Booking Inquiry is simply a message to the landlord letting them know you’re interested in renting their place.
Sending a Booking Inquiry is the preferred and best method for communication.
It signals genuine interest to landlords, and you’ll usually get the quickest response this way.
In your message, share simple details so that landlords can learn more about you. Include things like your move-in date, length of stay, and a little background about your housing needs.
It’s great to have backups! Consider sending Booking Inquiries for other properties as well. It will increase your likelihood of getting a rental you love, especially if you’re on a tight timeline.
Pro tip: If you haven’t heard back in 24 hours, it’s probably good to start sending those backup Booking Inquiries
Message Landlord
This option is best when you have a question or need a little bit of info on the property. Want to know if the property is close to your work? Or if the backyard is fully fenced? The Message Landlord button is the way to go. If you decide you’d like to book the property, just let the landlord know and go ahead and send a Booking Request.
Persistence is key
Landlords can receive multiple requests a day for their property, so it's a good idea to message the landlord after you send a Booking Request to make sure you get in touch.
If you prefer to call, you’ll find a “Call Landlord” button on property listing pages with the landlord’s contact information. Don’t forget to mention you found them on Furnished Finder.
Housing Request
Housing Requests let landlords come to you! It’s a great option when you haven’t quite found the right fit yet. A Housing Request allows you to send one message with your housing needs to all the landlords in that area. Landlords that meet your criteria will connect with you by phone, text or Furnished Finder messaging.
Keep in mind: this process takes a bit more time. Because your request goes out broadly, you may receive a high volume of responses to sort through. You’ll just want to be prepared to manage multiple landlord conversations at once.
Best Practices
Use the Furnished Finder app! You’ll get instant notifications when landlords respond to messages, and it’s faster than email.
Don’t hesitate to negotiate! Landlords sometimes offer flexibility for things like rental rates, move-in date, length of stay, pet allowances, number of tenants, and more.
3. Communicate
Staying on top of your communications is the key to finding and securing the property you want. With Furnished Finder you have a central Dashboard to manage all your landlord interactions, so you never lose track of important details.
Your Dashboard
New landlord messages, Booking Request updates, and Housing Request replies all appear in your Dashboard. Checking your messages regularly helps you stay on top of things and shows you’re a serious potential tenant.
You can find your Dashboard by visiting FurnishedFinder.com (opens in new tab) and clicking “Log in” in the top right corner.
Covering key topics
Before you commit to your rental, there are a few things you’ll want to confirm with the landlord first. Unsure about what to cover exactly? We’ll help walk you through it here.
Talk through the lease terms
What is the length of stay?
Is there a lease extension option in case you need to stay longer than originally planned?
What happens if your plans change and you need to move-out early?
Get clarity on the vetting process
Is there a background check & application fee that might be required?
Don’t worry, this is nothing to lose sleep over. This is a totally normal part of the process.
Confirm all the pricing details
What is the monthly rent?
Are there any security or damage deposits?
Are utilities included or not?
Are there any additional fees the landlord may charge?
Ask about the furnishings & amenities
Make sure, if there’s something you need, that you confirm the property has it.
Understand the house rules
Are there policies on pets, guests, smoking, and noise?
Get the reviews
Ask about reviews from prior tenants.
They can help you feel comfortable that you’ve made the right call
Figure out the move-in logistics
How keys are exchanged?
What’s the check-in process?
Are there any maintenance contacts?
4. Finalize and Sign
Great work so far! You’ve connected with the landlord, and you feel good about all the details. This part of the process is where you actually put pen to paper to ensure both you and the landlord feel confident with the rental agreement.
Tenant Screening
Many landlords will ask you to complete a tenant screening. This is just your standard stuff like a background check, eviction history, and a soft credit check. Again, totally normal. And don’t worry, it won’t have any effect on your credit score.
It’s normal for the tenant to cover the cost of the screening.
If tenant screenings are done through our partner, Transunion, the cost is just $45.
Pro Tip: Transunion tenant screenings can be reused for up to 30 days, so if it doesn’t work out with a particular landlord – no worries! You can send it to other landlords without having to pay again or start the process over.
Lease
This is exciting! You and the landlord have decided to move forward with your rental relationship. The next step is to sign a lease. You’ll typically sign a lease directly with the landlord.
Just like you would with any contract, make sure and read it carefully to make sure you’re aligned with the length of stay, deposit, utilities, and any house rules included before signing.
Insurance
Coverage. We all need it, and it's good to have, just in case.
Some landlords may require that you get renter’s insurance. Even if not required, it’s a smart safeguard for you and your belongings.
Furnished Finder is
partnered with Sure (opens in new tab)
to provide this service. You can get a free quote at any time, and your coverage can start as soon as the next day.
Payments
Make sure your payment is on-time and in the right place.
Your rent is paid directly to the landlord, and they’ll let you know their preferred payment method.
The most popular method is via online credit card payments. But some landlords may prefer check, cash, or Venmo or Zelle.
You’ll want to make sure you clarify preferred payment methods and due dates before move-in.
Close the loop
Congrats! You’ve secured the perfect place for your stay. Now let those other landlords down easy.
It’s good practice once you’ve signed your lease, to notify any other landlords that you’ve been talking to. Just sending a quick message like, “Thanks for your time, I’ve found another property,” shows professionalism and respect.
Doing things like this keeps the Furnished Finder community strong, and ensures landlords can manage their calendars effectively.
5. Your stay
Booking is just the beginning of this beautiful relationship. Here are a few tips, tricks and insights to follow throughout your stay. They’ll help make your move-in smooth, help you enjoy your stay, and have a positive experience when it's all said and done.
Before your stay
Do a quick double check. It’s good to just confirm your lease terms, move-in date, and payment schedule.
Get prepared by arranging your travel, securing renter’s insurance, and planning for deposits and/or utilities.
Stay connected by exchanging phone numbers and best contact methods with the landlord ahead of arrival.
During your stay
Good communication builds trust. Use messaging, phone, or email to stay in touch with your landlord for things like questions, maintenance, or extensions.
After your stay
Reviews help future tenants and build trust across our community. Positive experiences also give landlords more reason to rent to traveling professionals again. So after your stay, leave honest feedback for the landlord and property.
Ready to find a place that fits your life? Start your search today (opens in new tab) and discover monthly rentals that feel just right.