Homat, Furniture rental is an affordable and flexible furnishing solution for your home.
During an expatriation or a return to France, the container may arrive late. When the accommodation is available but personal furniture is still in transit, rental is the best solution. But should you rent for a few weeks, several months, or allow for a safety margin?
How long should you plan before the container arrives?
The rental period depends on how certain the arrival date of your personal furniture is. If the container is already in transit, with a confirmed delivery date, renting for a few weeks may be enough.
However, if the date is still only indicative, it is better to allow for 1 month or more to cover transport, customs formalities and final delivery to the accommodation. In the case of groupage, or a change of local carrier, a delay of a few days can turn into several weeks.
For a single person or a whole family, it is better to rent for slightly longer than to end up without a bed, table or household appliances when moving in. The right duration is therefore not the container’s arrival date at the port, but the date when the furniture will actually be delivered, unpacked and usable in the accommodation.
What should you do if the container is delayed ?
A delayed container should not force you to buy furniture in a hurry. If delivery is postponed, it is better to extend the rental period rather than rely on multiple temporary solutions. The key is to inform the provider quickly as soon as the new date is known, so the rental period can be adjusted and early collection can be avoided. This flexibility is particularly useful when the shipment still depends on the port, customs or a local carrier. The accommodation remains liveable throughout the waiting period, without disrupting everyday life.
Why rent rather than book a hotel or buy in a hurry ?
A hotel can help for a few nights, but it quickly becomes restrictive for a family, a several-week assignment or a new job start. Buying in a hurry is not always simpler. You need to choose the furniture, arrange delivery, assemble it, then deal with duplicates when your personal furniture arrives. Furniture rental allows you to live directly in the chosen accommodation, with a cost limited to the useful period. It also avoids living between two addresses, which makes school, commuting, remote work and settling into the neighbourhood easier.
How should you organise the transition with Homat ?
Once the accommodation has been confirmed, Homat needs the arrival date, address, rooms to equip and access constraints: floor, lift, parking, possible delivery times and on-site contact. The teams can then organise delivery, furniture installation and, if necessary, connection of the equipment. The rental period can be defined according to the estimated arrival date of the container, with the possibility of adjustment if the schedule changes. Once the personal furniture has been delivered, Homat organises the collection of the rented furniture.
What rental period should you choose depending on your situation ?
If the container is already close to final delivery, renting for a few weeks may be enough. If the furniture is still in transit, allow for 1 to 3 months instead. If the date remains uncertain, choose a comfortable initial rental period that can be extended. For a family, it is better to secure a complete setup for slightly longer than to spend several weeks with makeshift solutions. For a temporary assignment, the rental period can simply follow the length of the stay in France.