There are many reasons why moving from a house to an apartment can be a good decision. However, it can be quite complicated to adjust to less space and give up comfort. Being practically, emotionally, and mentally prepared for this change is of utmost importance. Here is what to expect when choosing to change your habits and how to adjust to a completely new lifestyle.
Preparing for a different lifestyle is an essential step when relocating
No matter what your reasons to move are, whether you’re relocating for love or you simply feel like you want to move away and start over, relocating requires multiple adjustments. Not only are you going through a change of lifestyle and daily routines, but you’re also switching the surroundings and everything else you’re used to.
How Do I Adjust to Apartment Living When Moving From a House to an Apartment
Americans just love big houses and apartments! According to some research, the average American residence has 2,500 square feet and 3 bedrooms, which makes it the second-largest average home size in the world – right behind Canada. However, although we love comfort, big backyards, swimming pools, and barbecue parties with family and friends, due to the high costs of maintenance, more and more Americans are starting to think about renting as a long-term option.
If you’re considering renting too, just keep in mind that the experience of living in a flat and in a single-family residence significantly differs. Less comfort and space, less privacy, and the fact that you don’t actually own the property can make the adjustment process more difficult. Believe it or not, sometimes, adjusting to a new town is much easier than adapting to different living conditions. However, if you know in advance what to expect after moving cross-country, we’re sure that adjusting will go much more quickly and smoothly. Here are all things you need to know to answer the question: Is living in an apartment better than a house?
There are multiple pros and cons of changing your lifestyle, so make sure to know what they are
#1 Thing to Expect When Relocating to a Smaller Space – Less Time to Spend Cleaning the Home!
Smaller square footage means less time spent mopping the floors, cleaning windows, or vacuuming. Also, smaller kitchen areas, bathrooms, storage places, and everything else that crosses your mind.
Once you get all that free time at your disposal, you’ll easily notice how much of it you were actually spending cleaning your previous home. This way, you’ll be able to dedicate more time to your hobbies, partner, or kids, and the quality of your life will improve.
The greatest advantage of smaller places is less time needed to clean them up
#2 The Best Thing to Expect When Relocating to a Flat – The Opportunity to Save Money
One of the top reasons why people choose to live in a flat is related to significantly lower costs of maintenance and living. So, if your aim for the future is to boost your savings, then choosing a flat can help you fulfill that goal. Here is what you’ll not be obliged to pay when renting.
No Maintenance or Repair Costs
Since you’re not the owner of the property, all the costs of maintenance and potential repairs will be paid by the landlord. This also applies to all home renovations, improvements, appliance repairs and replacements, water installations, and everything else that needs maintenance and is not yours.
There Is No Need to Pay Real Estate Taxes
The greatest advantage of renting a property is that you won’t be obliged to pay real estate taxes, which can be a pretty high expense for all homeowners. However, since this is exclusively paid by the owner, you can cut it from your list of expenses and direct it to some other side.
Lower Utility Bills
Again, smaller square footage inevitably entails lower utility bills. Water, electricity, and heat can exceed considerable amounts in larger houses and apartments. Since rental properties are usually more compact and have a more efficient floor plan, you can expect your utility bills to be unquestionably lower.
Renters Insurance Costs Less Than Homeowners Insurance
Another benefit in terms of lower costs is related to the insurance policy. As the Insurance Information Institute suggests, on average, a renter’s policy costs $180 on a yearly basis, and it covers everything, including furniture, computers, and other valuables. For a homeowner’s policy, on the other side, you should set aside around $1,200 per year.
#3 Another Benefit of Living in a Flat Is Proximity to Downtown
Houses are mostly situated in the suburbs, and you need considerable time to reach the downtown or other amenities. On the other hand, centrally located realty will make commuting and reaching amenities much easier. Restaurants, clubs, shopping districts, parks, cinemas, theaters – everything will be within walking distance, so you will not have to spend unreasonable amounts of time or money reaching them. Also, meeting your friends will be easier. All this could tremendously boost your quality of life
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#4 A Flexible Choice of a Place to Live In
Choosing a rental property automatically means you’ll be able to leave it more easily and switch it for another one or even choose another city. This way, all your dream destinations like NYC or San Francisco, considered the most expensive cities in the U.S., will be easily accessible. Buying a residence in these areas is borderline impossible, but when it comes to rentals, the situation is quite different.
Apartments actually grant the freedom to choose your lifestyle according to your current wishes and needs. This option is most suitable for people who work remotely, freelancers, and digital nomads without a 9-5 who want to change places more often.
However, when choosing a flat, keep in mind that there will be some things you won’t be so fond of. Here are the cons of relocating from a house to a flat.
Not owning property provides you with the huge advantage of flexibility when choosing a city to live in
#5 Expect More Noise and Less Privacy
Although apartments provide significant benefits in terms of finances, flexibility, and more, there are still some cons you should consider before renting. Noise from the neighbors and traffic will be the greatest everyday challenges. On the other hand, weekend barbecue parties in the backyard, loud music, and even running around indoors – all this is absolutely acceptable when you own a single-family home. With flats, the situation is different – you’ll be sharing this space with many other people, and no one will be fond of noise, parties, or similar inconveniences.
If you’re sensitive to noise, keep in mind that in bigger cities, traffic noise can be unbearable. Check how sound-proof a property is or choose a quiet neighborhood or a side street. To find out all the ultimate tips on how to stay away from noisy traffic, take a look at the video below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB7ngQMqJHc
#6 A Major Con to Expect Is Less Room
The greatest advantage of houses – spacious rooms – is the biggest con of apartments. You’ll have to learn how to use space cleverly and make it multifunctional. The living room can also be an office and a playground if you’re relocating with kids. And if this is an open plan flat, then you can also expect that the dining room will be within the living room, too.
The best way to use the space in your flat to the fullest is to explore all small apartment ideas and get some inspiration for interior design hacks that you can implement in your home. This is the only way to create a realistic new apartment shopping list and get all the stuff you need to equip your next home.
Take all the advantages of open-plan architectural concepts to design your home
How Do I Move My House Into an Apartment? Downsize the Household and Find Reliable Cross-Country Movers
If you want to move efficiently and are searching for ways to organize your move, then you should know that there are two crucial steps to take before your ultimate checklist for relocating to a new state is done.
Downsize and Get Rid of Unnecessary Items Before You Rent a Flat
Downsizing from a house to an apartment is never easy to do since there are thousands of items in your storage to be sorted out. For that reason, having a packing strategy for relocating and downsizing is one of the best ways to pack for a move.
There are several pretty effective techniques you can use to learn how to downsize from a house to an apartment. Organizing the sorting out, going room-by-room, and selecting the things to be thrown away, donated as unwanted items, recycled, or sold in a garage sale is the fastest and easiest way to declutter. Once you get rid of all items you won’t need in the new flat and identify those you want to pack, it’s the right moment to do a home inventory and set a packing schedule.
Starting from storage areas you rarely use, like basements, attics, garages, or sheds, and then going through the residence, your clothes, kids’ stuff, and all other items is the most efficient way to organize the decluttering. Set aside all unwanted appliances, find organizations where you can donate old appliances or recycle them, and apply the same method for all other stuff unless you want to sell some of it. Also, don’t forget to check the regulations on what items movers won’t move and find an alternative way to ship them. This is especially important to do if you are relocating with pets or want to take some plants with you, so don’t let it slip your mind.
Find a Reliable Long-Distance Moving Company to Assist You With the Relocation
Finding trustworthy long-distance movers to provide you with complete cross-country moving services is definitely the surest way to organize the whole relocation process seamlessly. If a single cross-country moving company can provide you with packing services and other long-distance moving services like auto transport, as well as offer a precise cost estimate, it means you have found the right team.
Once you sort out the belongings, pack and label them properly before you hand them to professionals movers
In the End – Should I Move From a House to an Apartment?
If you’re still in a dilemma about whether to choose a flat over a house, now that you know all the pros and cons of life in both housing options, we are sure it will be much easier for you to make final decisions. Just ensure that all your needs and expectations match your budget, and always keep your plans in mind when determining the next step.
Explore the Prices of Real Estate and Decide on the Most Suitable Option in Financial Terms
Deciding on whether to buy or rent a property depends on many factors. The first and most important one is pricing. And the prices differ based on many factors like square footage, neighborhood, or city.
Getting an apartment out of state is a complex process that requires knowing what you need to rent an apartment in terms of paperwork, how to get a job in a new city, and how to properly check the property before you sign the lease. So consult a reliable real estate agent and find out what the best solution for your needs is.
