Short-term sublets: furnished or unfurnished?

We are considering making a offer on a ground-floor unit in a newish luxury condo in the East Village. We would not be able to move in until June 2014, and our broker suggested we sublet the apartment between closing and move-in. For a six-month lease, does it make more sense to rent the apartment furnished? Is there a market for high-end unfurnished short-term rentals? I'm not sure if this makes... [more]

We are considering making a offer on a ground-floor unit in a newish luxury condo in the East Village. We would not be able to move in until June 2014, and our broker suggested we sublet the apartment between closing and move-in. For a six-month lease, does it make more sense to rent the apartment furnished? Is there a market for high-end unfurnished short-term rentals? I'm not sure if this makes a difference, but the layout is rather unique. The upper level is identical to other apartments in the line (2BR/2bath, 1165 sf, open kitchen/dining/living area) except for the 500 sf terrace extending the length of the apartment. The lower level is an open 700 sq foot area with sliding doors halving the room, plus a half bath and a small patio. I have no idea how any of this affects market value. It is the largest unit in the building, and other 2BR and 3BR units in the building are renting for $6.50-$7.50/square foot for 1100-1450 sf. 1BR units are more like $5.50-$6/sf (all unfurnished). Based on the unique attributes of this unit, is it reasonable to expect to rent it for a similar price per square foot? How much more could I ask per month with mid- to high-end furnishings? [less]