The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC
Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash
New Yorkers are no strangers to moving, whether it’s because they found a new roommate, a better rent deal, or a more convenient neighborhood. Not only is furnishing your apartment expensive, but it’s also not guaranteed that the new sofa you bought will fit in your next place. As a result, many nomadic city dwellers are turning to furniture rentals to outfit their temporary abodes. Furniture rental companies offer a cheaper, more flexible, and more sustainable alternative to buying new. Plus, most companies deliver, assemble, and then remove the furniture when your rental term is up, alleviating some of that moving-related stress. Ahead, we take a look at six of the best furniture rental companies that serve New York City and break down each by the products offered, lease terms, and rent-to-buy options.
Feather
Since launching in 2017, Feather has made sustainability a focus, with the goal of reducing furniture waste. As a result, the company promises to deliver high-quality items that not only look nice but will also last many life cycles. It’s available in NYC and Jersey City, the Bay Area, LA, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Richmond, Houston, Dallas, and Austin.
What type of furniture and products are offered?
Feather offers a furniture and home decor line made up of over 200 pieces, all of which were designed to be “refurbished, repaired, and redeployed.” The furniture is tailored to city dwellers with small, or awkwardly-shaped, spaces that also want to furnish aesthetically well, but affordably. For example, appealing to the new class of remote workers, Feather last fall began offering the Herman Miller Sayl Desk Chair, which retails for nearly $600, for just $37/month.
What are the terms of the lease?
For a long-term lease, Feather has a $19/month membership program that guarantees lower prices and free delivery, assembly, and pick-up at the end of a plan. The company also has a short-term 3-month plan and a monthly plan that starts out as a one-month commitment but can be extended. There are monthly minimums renters must meet, including $1,000/month for the monthly plan, $99/month for the short-term minimum, and $29/ month for those with an annual membership.
Feather does run a soft credit check before you’re able to rent with them. Renters must have a credit score of 600 or higher to complete a transaction. If you need to end your plan early, there is a cancellation fee, which comes to 75 percent of the remaining monthly payments of the agreement. On top of that, there is a $99 pickup fee to collect your items.
What’s the delivery and setup process like?
Items can arrive in as little as seven days after you place your order, with renters given a few delivery date options. The company says it aims to choose the “greenest, most efficient route possible,” which means arrival windows aren’t as flexible. Delivery costs $99, which also includes on-site assembly and placement of the furniture by the Feather team.
Can you buy the furniture at the end of the lease?
Yes. At the end of a 12-month plan, you can renew your membership, buy your current items, or return your items. If you are an annual member or have a short-term plan, monthly furniture payments can be applied to the buyout of the piece. For members, the buyout price on any item is equivalent to 24 times their monthly payment. For short-term renters, the buyout is 7 times their monthly payment.
Brook
Founded in 1979, Brook Furniture Rental offers an easy process from start to finish, from selecting furniture to the white-glove delivery and set up. The company also serves more than 22 metro areas in the U.S., including New York and New Jersey.
What type of furniture and products are offered?
The self-described “customer-obsessed” company offers furniture, home accessories and decor, kitchen, bath, electronics, and home office items to rent, all delivered within two business days.
What are the terms of the lease?
Brook’s regular rents are based on a three-month lease, but one-month leases are available for $1,500 base rent minimum and two-month leases for $750 base rent per month. While minor tears and spills are okay, the company does charge for damages beyond the normal and wear and tear, although not before making “every attempt to refurbish and repair an item before charging for item replacement.”
What’s the delivery and setup process like?
As a result of Covid, Brook is now offering contactless delivery, with all team members wearing masks, gloves, and booties. All furniture is disinfected at the time of delivery and trucks are also cleaned at least twice throughout the day. Typically, you can get your furniture rental delivered in two days on average, with deliveries scheduled Monday through Friday. Weekend delivery is available for an additional fee.
Can you buy the furniture at the end of the lease?
No. According to their website, Brook may offer a purchasing furniture option in the future.
CasaOne
CasaOne, which launched in 2017, delivers to markets in California and in the Northeast, including New York City, The Hamptons, and New Jersey.
What type of furniture and products are offered?
The company boasts an inventory made up of over 4,000 products and furniture for every room of the house, including often overlooked spaces like the entryway and home gyms. The company offers package deals by room or individual pieces. CasaOne also sells discounted pre-owned furniture.
What are the terms of the lease?
Once you select the furniture you’d like for your apartment, you choose how long you’d like to lease the items, which could be between one month and one year. When checking out, the first month’s rent and a delivery fee will be due. CasaOne also runs a soft credit check.
The company has a minimum rental fee per month, which ranges from $249 per month for one- and two-month rental terms to $79 per month for a 12-month term. If you don’t meet the minimum rental fee, a monthly cart fulfillment fee will be charged, an amount determined by subtracting the fee of the rental term from the total cost of furniture. Keep in mind, order cancellations that are not made within 24 hours result in a fee of $199.
What’s the delivery and setup process like?
CasaOne offers two types of delivery, either White Glove, which includes delivery, installation, and assembly, or Curbside, which is exactly what it sounds like. The prices of delivery and assembly vary depending on the number of items in your order and the length of your rental term. The company promises delivery of items between 7 and 14 days from the time the order is placed. Available delivery days for renters in the New York City area are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, scheduled during a two-hour period between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Can you buy the furniture at the end of the lease?
Yes, you can buy items you rent from CasaOne. The rent already paid will go towards the final purchase, but that does not mean your subscription will be paid off after a certain time period. The company also offers products that are for sale without needing to rent them first.
Conjure
Furniture rental startup Conjure comes as part of a 2020 rebranding of the company Mobley. As described by Forbes, Conjure’s market is mostly millennial renters in the greater NYC Metro Area. The company offers items that have “mid-century and Instagram-friendly designs.”
What type of furniture and products are offered?
Conjure has a smaller inventory than other companies on our list, but every item in their catalog was selected by an interior designer. The company offers a mix of new and used items, with furniture collections inspired by iconic New York City neighborhoods, like the West Village (“old world charm meets Renaissance lover”), Soho (“for downtown life, where rules don’t matter”), the East Village (“for the unapologetically bold”), and Tribeca (“for the city-dwelling minimalist”). Conjure offers a variety of basic furniture and accessories, with the most popular items being major items like sofas and beds. Mattresses, bedding, and rugs are always brand new.
What are the terms of the lease?
Conjure offers rental terms for between three and 12 months, with the option to renew, buy, or trade at the end of the lease. There is a monthly minimum of $69. The company does run a soft credit check; a FICO score of at least 600 is required to rent from Conjure. If you don’t like how the pieces look in your space, you can return or swap the items for free within three days of delivery.
What’s the delivery and setup process like?
Conjure provides free delivery and assembly, with most orders delivered between five and seven business days after ordering. The free white-glove delivery service is only available in some neighborhoods on certain days.
Can you buy the furniture at the end of the lease?
Yes. At the end of your lease, you can either renew for another three to 12 months, buy out the items for their remaining value, trade-in your items for a credit towards your next order, or return your items and close out of your account. The latter option costs $199 as part of a pickup fee.
CORT
Cort is an established brand in the rental furniture business, with more than 45 years of experience and a service area that comprises nearly the entire United States and 80 countries. In addition to home furnishings, the company delivers items for offices and events of all shapes and sizes.
What type of furniture and products are offered?
As such a large company with a global presence, Cort offers an extensive collection of furniture for home, office, and events. You’ll be able to fully furnish almost any room in your home or apartment. The company also has move-in-ready packages, cohesive furniture handpicked by the Cort team. Student and military specials are also available.
What are the terms of the lease?
Cort has a minimum lease term of one month for both residential and workplace rentals. In addition to the lease term, the company also has a monthly minimum requirement of $150, as New York Magazine reports, but places outside of New York City could be cheaper. Furniture can be exchanged for free within one week of delivery.
What’s the delivery and setup process like?
Cort promises to deliver and set up your furniture in as little as 48 hours during the weekday. There is a delivery fee, calculated based on the address and the delivery date.
Can you buy the furniture at the end of the lease?
Yes. Once you’re original lease term expires, you can buy any items you were renting. The monthly payments you’ve made will not be deducted from the final purchase price, but Cort will sell the furniture at a discounted price.
The Everset
The Everset which launched in 2019, is a New York City-based company offering up designer-curated furniture rental packages “without the burden of ownership.” The company services all five boroughs, as well as select areas of New Jersey, Westchester, and Long Island, although a delivery and pick-up fee will be charged for locations outside of New York City.
What type of furniture and products are offered?
The company offers individual pieces or complete sets for bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms. The pieces, which are designed and manufactured specifically for The Everset, are always new or gently used.
What are the terms of the lease?
The Everset offers rental terms between three and 14 months or 24 months. They do not offer anything shorter than three months. The monthly minimum for all orders is $89 per month plus tax. If you need to cancel an order, a full refund will be issued only if the order is canceled within three days of placing it. If you want to cancel your account prior to the end of the term, you’ll owe 75 percent of the remaining balance on the account. But those with three-month rental terms will owe the full balance.
What’s the delivery and setup process like?
Orders can be expected within seven days of an order, according to the company. Customers in New York City get one free delivery and one free pickup. Walk-up apartments on floors three and four will cost $50 extra and units on floors five and six will come with an extra $75 fee. The Everset team will unload all items and assemble everything in your apartment.
Can you buy the furniture at the end of the lease?
Yes. Renters are given the option to purchase all or some of the items at the end of the rental term. Plus, all prior rental payments are applied toward the purchase price. However, the company currently does not allow customers to purchase the furniture upfront without renting first.
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