What to Know Before Renting a House

Tired of living in an apartment, but not ready to commit to buying your own home? Or maybe, you are new to North of Boston and want to explore the towns and schools near your work before you buy. Renting a house may be a great option for you. Generally, home rentals will offer more space along with more amenities compared to renting an apartment, all without having to put down a large down payment as you would if you were buying a home. Here’s some information to keep in mind before making your choice.

Amenities and Space

Depending on what you’re looking for, renting a house may come with more amenities to fit your needs. For example, you are more likely to find a washer/dryer or dishwasher in a house versus an apartment along with larger outdoor spaces and possibly even a garage. Not to mention the fact that a house rental can offer you much more space than an apartment, meaning you may find more bedrooms, bathrooms, or even an attic or basement for storage.

Privacy

Another major benefit of renting a home is that in most cases, you won’t be sharing common areas with other people. This means that you won’t be bothered by nocturnal upstairs neighbors anymore. You’ll also have more freedom in terms of the noise you make, since you likely won’t have any neighbors sharing a wall who may complain. If you have young children, renting a home rather than an apartment can also give you peace of mind that they can be as loud as they want (or you can tolerate) or can sleep soundly without disruptions. Not to mention, many houses North of Boston come with good-sized backyards where your children can play safely.

Monthly Bills

Be prepared that in exchange for some of these great benefits and no down payment, your monthly bills may increase if you choose to rent a house. It’s important to remember that as the size of your home increases, your utilities bills will usually go up as well and you may be required to pay additional expenses like a water or gas bill. Make sure to monitor your energy usage and to budget accordingly.

Responsibilities

Keep in mind that you may be responsible for more when you rent a house versus an apartment. Many apartment buildings are managed by a building supervisor or property management company. If you are renting a house from an individual, they may not have these resources available. Make sure to discuss the procedure for reporting and repairing anything that may break in your home along with how to deal with any emergencies that may come up (think frozen pipes in the winter) with your landlord. You should also understand who is responsible for seasonal chores, like snow removal in the winter and mowing the lawn and tending the gardens in the summer. You should make sure all responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep are clearly outlined in any lease that you sign so you know what will be expected of you.

Insurance

Whether you’re renting a home or an apartment, you still need renters insurance! Even though your landlord most likely already has a homeowners insurance policy, their policy will only protect the property, not your personal belongings. Renters insurance will protect your personal property while also providing you with liability coverage, which could protect you from lawsuits resulting from bodily injury or property damage. Most renters insurance policies will also provide “Additional Living Expense” protection in case you are displaced from your home due to an emergency, such as a fire. Expenses like hotel bills can be covered by your insurance during the period of time when you are unable to live in your home. Make sure to talk to your insurance agent about your specific living situation to make sure you have the coverage you need.

Looking to make a change? Renting a home can be a great way to get many of the benefits of owning a house without all the commitment. Get in touch with Gilbert today at (781) 942-2225 learn more about our renters insurance policies.