Should You Rent a House or an Apartment?

Getting a few answers before you begin looking for your new home can eliminate many of the options on the market. Learn more about it here.

Should You Rent a House or an Apartment?

1 October 2015
 Categories: Real Estate, Blog


If your lease is about up and you're looking for a new place to live, you may be wondering if you should rent a house or an apartment. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's a good idea to examine both. Here's a quick look at some of the differences between the two.

Quick Manager Access

There's often a manager onsite at an apartment complex. That means you'll have someone who can come over right away when you have an emergency. When you rent a house, you may be on your own for a little longer. If the house is managed by a property management company, you'll have access to their emergency number 24 hours a day. If the home is managed by the owner, it may take longer to get help. The owner may not even live in the same city, and while he or she would probably accept an emergency call at any time, there is no guarantee they will be near a phone when you need them.

If you think this would be a problem for you, be sure you know how to handle emergencies before you move in. You may not know how to repair a plumbing leak, but you should know how to turn off the water main to stop flooding. Other things you should know how to do include resetting a smoke detector, flipping the circuit breaker, clearing a clogged drain, and controlling the HVAC.

Outdoor Space and Yard Work

One of the best perks of renting a house is you have a private yard. Your kids can play outdoors, your dogs have a place to run, and you can grow a garden or entertain on your patio. If you love to work outdoors mowing the grass and planting flowers, you'll probably be happier in a house over an apartment. However, if you hate the thought of mowing grass, you can hire a lawn service or look for a rental home with lawn care included in the rent. If having a yard and spending time outdoors is not your thing at all, then living in an apartment might be your best bet.

Access to Amenities

One advantage to living in an upscale apartment complex is access to nice amenities. There may be an office center with a fax, copy machine, and computer so you can work easily from your apartment. There may be a pool, hot tub, exercise room, sauna, car washing station, and walking trails on the site for your convenience. If you live in a house instead, there may be amenities in your community such as a pool and walking trails, but the downside is everything is spaced farther away from where you live.

You might be able to rent a home with a pool if you love to swim. You could also buy your own exercise equipment and set up a workout room in your home. In fact, if you prefer privacy over exercising and swimming around a bunch of other residents, you may prefer accessing amenities at home over an apartment complex setting.

While there are some fundamental differences between renting a house and renting an apartment, they both offer the advantage of freedom. Responsibility for repairs and upkeep fall on the owner. Plus, you're not tied down to a rental since you can leave as soon as your lease is up. Renting has its advantages. You should look at both houses and apartments to find the ideal place for you. Contact a company like Charles L Moles Real Estate Services to get extra help.

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what is your perfect home?

What is the perfect home? What is perfect for one person may be too small or large for another? Do you want a home made of brick or do you want one made of wood? Do you want a condo or do you want a house on a nice big piece of land? Getting a few answers before you begin looking for your new home can eliminate many of the options on the market. This will help to decrease the time it takes for you to search for the home that you find perfect for yourself and your family's needs.