A lot of people who rent apartments interested in moving to a house instead and are unaware of and unprepared for the differences. If you’re considering making that move, this blog post is for you! You’ll learn about the differences between apartment living and house renting, and how it will affect your life in different ways. For example, apartment dwellers don’t need to care for their lawns or other exterior maintenance, but if you are renting a house, you are likely responsible for lawn maintenance and some exterior upkeep. That’s just one way that living in an apartment can be easier than living in a house.
Find a rental house that meets your needs
The first step for moving to a rental house is finding the perfect match. Here are some things you might want to consider:
- Is there enough space? What about parking or storage space?
- What’s your budget, and how much can you afford each month in rent?
- Does it have any amenities that appeal to you, such as a pool or fitness center?
- Is the location convenient to your job and other places you need to go on a regular basis?
- Are there any major safety concerns in the area that will affect how comfortable it is for you to live there?
- After considering these factors, if you still haven’t found a house that meets your needs, you can broaden the search to other nearby areas.
The next step is contacting the landlord or property management company and arranging a viewing of the house that interests you. Make sure you know when they are available so that it’s convenient for both parties. Many property managers and owners are using technology to allow you to schedule and view the rental property on your own by gaining access to the house via an electronic lockbox.
When viewing the home, it’s also important to bring anyone who will be living with you so that they can provide input on important factors such as the living space.
Get all of your paperwork in order – make sure you have enough money for the first month’s rent, security deposit, and any other fees
When applying to rent the house, you will need to provide your identification and possibly some credit references. You will also need to provide proof of income to show the manager that you can afford the house you want to rent. They may ask for additional information as well. Be prepared to provide any information they ask and be cooperative in the process. Most managers will not approve an uncooperative applicant.
The landlord or property management company will perform a credit and background check on you before they sign off on the rental agreement, so make sure that all of this is in order beforehand as it may take additional time for the process to be completed.
Once everything has been approved then it’s time to schedule the actual dates that you will take possession of your new house and move out of your apartment.
Pack up your apartment
Pack up all of your belongings and take pictures of the empty space before moving out. Depending upon how much stuff you have, you may want to hire a professional company rather than doing it yourself to help with this process. To save money, consider selling or donating any items you no longer need on sites like eBay or Craigslist before you move.
Be sure you check with your apartment manager regarding any special requirements on move-out. You want to be sure you follow your lease requirements in terms of cleaning and returning the apartment back to the leasing office.
Set up utilities at your new home
Most houses have their own utilities set up and all you need to do is ask the landlord if they are included in your rent or not. It is uncommon for utilities to be included in the rent for a single-family house or duplex, so be prepared to have these connected into your name. Ask your property manager what utilities service the property you are moving into. They can probably also provide you with the phone numbers to save you a few minutes looking them up! Be sure you keep the utilities on at your apartment until you are moved out and have everything cleaned up. In doing so, you may have a few days of overlapping service.
Move out of your old place and into the new one!
It’s moving day!
You’ve spent the last few weeks packing up your belongings and prepping for this day. Now that it’s finally here, it’s time to get everything into the new place. Be prepared for a lot of heavy lifting! You’ll want to pack items in boxes labeled with “fragile” or “breakables.” When moving in and out of the properties, be careful not to damage the walls or floors, as this will result in damages being billed against your account.
Now that your belongings are in place and you’re all unpacked, it’s time to take care of some more practical concerns. You’ll want to disconnect utilities at each location before changing addresses with companies like gas/electricity providers; phone service providers
Make friends with your neighbors and get involved in the community
Most rental houses are located in neighborhoods among homeowners. You will do yourself well to get to know these neighbors and become friends with a few of them. A great way to do this is to take a small gift or home-baked cookies to each home surrounding yours and introduce yourself. You will find that in the future these neighbors are happy to assist you if the need arises.
In conclusion, moving from an apartment to a house can be very rewarding. It’s a big step, but the extra space and having more than a wall between you and your neighbors can be worth it. Keep these points in mind when you start looking for a new home!