| From growing families to space concerns to | | | | in more suburban or outer-city regions. |
| parking, these are all things to consider when | | | | The Disadvantages of Renting a House: |
| making the decision between renting a house and | | | | 1. Landlords. As mentioned earlier, houses tend to |
| an apartment. For a breakdown of the benefits | | | | be rented by individual owners and while you may |
| and disadvantages of both rental arrangements, | | | | know your rights as a tenant, they may not. |
| keep reading. | | | | 2. Maintenance. Along with the space and size of a |
| The Benefits of Renting a House: | | | | house comes additional maintenance. There are |
| 1. More space, including outdoor space. Typically, a | | | | more windows to clean, more floors to vacuum, |
| house is going to provide you with more room | | | | more lawns to mow and more gardens to tend. |
| inside as well as outdoor space like a yard. If | | | | The Disadvantages of Renting an Apartment: |
| you've got pets, children or a lot of stuff, this | | | | 1. Neighbors. If you're a loud person or someone |
| could be a huge incentive. | | | | who needs a quiet environment, apartment living |
| 2. Parking. While many apartments come with a | | | | may not be for you. Remember, in many |
| parking spot, a large number of urban | | | | apartments, there are people and families living on |
| apartments, particularly older buildings, don't. If you | | | | all sides of you. |
| have a vehicle or two, you may want to look at | | | | 2. Space. From available closets to cramped |
| renting a home with parking. | | | | storage units, apartments don't usually offer a lot |
| 3. Privacy. Typically, a house is going to afford | | | | of storage space. |
| you a lot more privacy. With no neighbors listening | | | | 3. Infestation. Though you may be a clean |
| through the walls or complaining about your | | | | individual and maintain your home similarly, that is |
| footsteps in the morning, you have a lot more | | | | not necessarily the case with neighbors in an |
| freedom in a home. | | | | apartment complex. If, for example, others in the |
| The Benefits of Renting an Apartment: | | | | complex have roaches or ants invading their |
| 1. Low maintenance. Depending on your rental | | | | abode, those same pests are likely to eventually |
| agreement, renting a house may also mean taking | | | | find their way into your home as well. |
| on shoveling the walkway, mowing the lawn, | | | | Additional Considerations for Either |
| maintaining the garden and general upkeep of the | | | | Before you sign a lease for a house or an |
| house. In an apartment, the grounds and outdoor | | | | apartment, make sure you understand what is |
| maintenance are all taken care of for you. | | | | and isn't included in the space. Some include heat |
| 2. Professional management. Typically, homes are | | | | and power in the rental agreement, while others |
| rented by individual property owners while | | | | don't. Others include cable television and grounds |
| apartments are managed by a building supervisor | | | | maintenance, while others don't. It's important to |
| and a property management firm. This means | | | | know exactly what you can expect from your |
| you have on-call support that's professional, | | | | landlord and what they expect of you before you |
| business-minded and knows and follows the | | | | sign. |
| tenancy laws. | | | | You should also ask about pets, children and |
| 3. Location. If you're looking for a prime location | | | | roommates before committing to a space. Make |
| right in the downtown are, in the heart of the | | | | sure you understand whether animals, kids, or |
| city, you're most likely going to be looking at an | | | | even extended house guests are permitted on |
| apartment. Single-family dwellings are usually found | | | | the property before you sign the lease. |