Finding the ideal rental home is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make. It will affect your level of comfort in everyday life, your financial budget, and your general quality of life.
Whether you are searching for your first studio, considering a duplex, or contemplating the advantages of either private living or shared living options, being aware of rental options could help you make distinctions in maintaining your lifestyle as closely to what you are accustomed to as possible.
Let's take a look at the types of rental homes available to you so you can make an informed decision and choose the home that fits your priorities and lifestyle.
How to Choose the Perfect Rental for Your Lifestyle
To find a fitting rental, you first need to determine your needs and wants on a daily basis, whether you need an extra room for the perfect home office, or two more for the kids. Here are five things to think about to help narrow it down:
- Budget: Don't just think about rent. Are utilities, parking costs, and other items important?
- Layout: Will you be happy in a small studio apartment, or do you require multiple bedrooms for the family or roommates? Don't forget about the layout from a location perspective.
- Proximity to everything: Consider how much time you want to spend on the daily commute to work, any public transportation options, and how close you may want to be to the normal locations you frequent, grocery store, gyms, etc.
- Lease terms: Will you want short-term flexibility or the security of a standard full-year lease?
- Lifestyle: Young professionals tend to be focused on apartments in downtown/convenient locations for work and play, families seek space and privacy, and university students consider their budget.
Selecting a rental that meets your needs can be a struggle, which is why people prefer contacting property managers who have access to these homes. A good property management company will connect you to the best rental options based on your assessed requirements.
What Is a Duplex? A Simple Guide for First-Time Renters
A duplex house refers to one residential building with two completely separate living units under a common roof. The two units may be arranged either side by side (with a center wall) or one on top of the other.
Each unit has its own private entrance, kitchen, bathrooms, and living room, but together, they make a single residential building. It functionally acts as a separate home but shares a building. The duplex arrangement represents a hybrid of apartment leasing and single-family homes, providing tenants with a unique form of housing.
Why Renters Choose Duplexes
When deciding between different property types, it’s helpful to understand what is a duplex and the benefits it offers. Duplexes provide renters with the best of both worlds since they offer a more economical alternative to renting a single-family home, while allowing many of the same features that people seek when renting an apartment.
- Less expensive than renting a single-family house
- Having only one shared wall means fewer neighbors than in apartment buildings
- Usually has private outdoor space, such as yards or patios
- Often has more square footage than a standard apartment
- House-like features include in-unit laundry
There is one of many reasons duplexes are suddenly a popular option for renters looking for space and value.
Potential Drawbacks
There are many benefits of living in a duplex, but renters should make themselves aware of the cons before signing a lease. These drawbacks include:
- The likelihood of noise passing through the walls or floors
- Limited parking spaces, often only 1 or 2 vehicles per unit
- Different rules on outdoor maintenance depending on the lease
- There are fewer community amenities when compared to the large apartment complex rentals
- Limitations on the number of units available in some rental markets
When renters consider these limitations, they can make informed choices and select the duplex that meets their needs.
Pros and Cons of Living in Shared vs. Private Rentals
Lifestyle and values matter when deciding whether to rent a shared home or a private home. Shared housing costs less than private housing for the sake of community and can reduce your privacy (although some houses may be more private than others).
Renting a private room in a house means you will have complete privacy, but that usually comes with a higher price. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons you need to consider when making your decision.
Shared Rentals (Roommates)
Pros:
The most visible advantage is that you will save a lot of money by sharing rooms and utilities with roommates; you can often reduce your housing costs by half or more.
Even if you didn't see any financial savings, you'd have additional built-in social opportunities, including quick chats in the kitchen or simply sharing responsibilities. The shared responsibilities can include things such as cleaning schedules, grocery shopping, etc., that can lessen your effort each day, compared to living alone.
Cons:
While it is a fantastic opportunity to save money, you may have less space for your stuff, and you will need to sort out scheduling for shared spaces. Potential differences in lifestyle can create challenges, whether it is about the small things around cleanliness, overnight company, or noise violations. All of these issues involve honest communication and respecting boundaries right from the start.
Private Rentals (Entire Unit)
Pros:
The biggest advantage is total control over your living environment as you're in charge of all aspects of the decor, warmth, and organization in the space without any compromises. You won't have to deal with the distractions of shared housing, and you'll find your home consistently quiet for work or downtime.
No more negotiating how the house gets clean, unexpected guests buzzing in and out of your space, and conflicting schedules allow you to make this your own space.
Cons:
The downside of privacy is that you will pay more each month: you will pay the whole rent payment and you will pay the full utilities, instead of splitting the costs. While you are gaining independence, budgeting is important because costs such as electricity, the internet, and streaming services that you used to share will all be paid for by you, which may lead you to scale back in other spending areas to keep your finances in check.
Final Thoughts
The property type you choose as a rental will depend on your finances & lifestyle, and priorities. Whether apartment, duplex, hybrid living, or a single-family house, you need to assess the pros and cons, check other properties, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you are a renter in Leesburg, using the services of a reputable property management company generally means you are likely to access properties in better condition and with support from these property managers.
Landlords hire these professionals to ensure their properties are well-maintained. A professional property management company in Leesburg will ensure your property is well-maintained and your tenants are satisfied.
