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Renting Advice: Apartments vs Homes

Should I Rent a House or an Apartment?

When looking at your rental options, is it better for you to rent a house or an apartment? With advantages and disadvantages to both, there are several points to consider when making the best choice for you and your family.

1. Amenities: Typically, an apartment or town house community will have a list of amenities offered to its residents. Some options include: swimming pool, hot tub, tennis court, racquetball courts, work-out facilities, picnic areas, nature trails, car wash areas, playgrounds, concierge services and even fax and computer facilities. This can be very advantageous when factoring the value of your rental dollars, considering all the “extras” you have to take advantage of. When renting a house, you may have some of these available to you if you’re in a subdivision with similar options - but typically you don’t have quite the array of amenities you would in an apartment community.

2. Maintenance/Upkeep: One of the major advantages to apartment living is the maintenance-free lifestyle. When renting a private home, it’s not uncommon for the renter to be responsible for general upkeep and maintenance such as lawn care and minor repairs. In an apartment community, the upkeep and maintenance is on-site, included in your monthly rental cost, and taken care of by property management. Also, if any major repairs are necessary, they are usually handled quickly, since a repair professional is always available and accessible.

3. Affordability/Expense: Renting a single family home can be comparable in price-per-square-foot to an apartment, but there are many additional expenses involved. Aside from upkeep and maintenance, by renting a home you will likely pay extra for necessities such as trash removal, water and sewer. Also, the electric bills tend to be higher in a single home, as it takes a lot less energy to heat and cool an apartment. In addition, you may be able to get better rates for cable and internet if the apartment complex has a group rate plan with the cable provider. When you add that in with the extra amenities and included maintenance, an apartment can be a great option if you’re keeping an eye on your budget.

4. Privacy: A single family home typically provides a better sense of privacy than residing in an apartment - you won’t be sharing walls and parking spaces or contending with upstairs neighbors. But “privacy” can be a relative term, and unless you’re rental home is completely secluded, it’s possible you’ll deal with nosy neighbors and noise on occasion, no matter where you live.

5. Safety: A safe place to live is obviously one of the most important features of a rental property. When looking to rent a single family home, be sure to research the neighborhood and most importantly, make sure the home itself is secure. If the home has an alarm system, find out who pays the monitoring fee and what is included with the rental agreement. Most apartment communities have on-site security, including alarm systems, cameras and even security guards – all already included as part of the rental package.

6. Space: If space is a major concern and you’re willing to pay for it, a single family home will provide you with the additional elbow-room, both inside and out. However, there are exceptions, as many apartment communities offer very large square footage residences, including spacious layouts with terraces and lanais, and even the use of storage facilities and garages.

7. Stability: What happens when the owner of the home you’re renting places the home up for sale? If you’re not in the market to buy and your lease is coming up, you may find yourself looking for a new place to live. You also may have to contend with showings and open houses in the process. Renting an apartment may provide you with a better sense of stability, allowing you to move only if and when you choose.

8. Community: With apartment or town home living you are automatically part of a “community”. Aside from the amenities and common areas, most apartment properties provide activities designed to bring the residents together. This could include holiday gatherings, weekly community events and even scheduled children’s activities. This can be a definite plus if you’re new to the area. Again, single family homes may also provide this “community”-style living if located in a subdivision or similar-type neighborhood.

9. Proximity: Often times you will see bus routes, stores and eateries located close-by to apartment or town house communities. This convenience can be a great advantage in saving you time and money.

10. Flexibility: When renting a home from a private individual you may have more flexibility when it comes to rental terms. You may be able to negotiate price or even the allowance of pets. Also, if you have financial issues such as poor credit, you may be lucky and find a landlord a little more lenient to the rental criteria. But this can also work the other way, as many landlords of single homes can be stricter and less willing to take a risk, so it really depends on the individual. Apartment rentals are designed to appease a large number of people, so the rules and criteria may be more generalized. Also, in terms of rates, apartments run seasonal “specials” and offer discounts to seniors or students, so you may find a better deal from one of these options. Either way, it doesn’t hurt to try to get the best deal overall for you and your family.

Contact Us Today

Have questions about our community?  Submit the form below and one of our leasing specialists will contact you soon. Willow Pond Apartments 875 Wilmette Ave Ormond Beach, FL 32174 2 miles east of I-95, across from Trails Shopping Center Phone: (386) 676-7727 Fax: (386) 676-0752 Toll Free: (866) 676-7746 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Sat 9am-5pm Sun 12pm-5pm

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