Moving from a House to an Apartment? Perks and Challenges to Consider

There are plenty of reasons to move from a house to an apartment. Maybe you're making a corporate move, short term or long term, or you're in Houston to go back to school. Maybe you're downsizing to save money or simplify your life. Maybe, like writer Rose Nolen, you're tired of the trouble of maintaining your own house and yard, and are ready to leave your old neighborhood for a new way of life. Whatever your reason, downsizing from house to apartment is a big decision with major pros and cons. Movingtoday.com has some helpful tips for weighing the decision. If you decide that apartment living is for you, here's how to handle the main challenges, and what perks you'll enjoy:

Challenges:

• You'll probably have less room for your stuff. To help you get used to living in a smaller home, check out our past blog posts on furniture, entertaining, and the latest innovative ideas for living well in less space.

• Closer neighbors may mean more noise. Since you'll be sharing walls with other people, it's important to think about how noise will carry, both from your neighbors to you, and from you, your kids, and your pets to them. If noise is a major concern for you, consider these tips on choosing a quiet apartment.

• Pets are not welcome in all apartments. If you have pets, it's vital to find a pet-friendly apartment, plan well, and follow the rules. Let Houston Apartment Insiders know what kind of pets you have, and we'll help find an apartment that's right for you and them. This post gives further advice on pet-friendly apartment life.

Perks:

• Less space means you'll have to cut down on clutter. There's nothing like a downsizing move to get you sorting through your stuff, clearing out things that were in your way, and rediscovering the items you love most.

• You could make money off of your extra stuff. Furniture, in particular, can fetch you some extra cash. Look for a furniture consignment store in your area, and find out if they can sell your extra items. Then have a yard or garage sale before giving the last remainders to charity.

• Closer neighbors can be friendlier neighbors. Sharing facilities like fitness centers, laundry rooms, playgrounds, and dog walking spots helps you get to know more people. Some complexes even sponsor events like barbecues and movie nights to help build a community.

• Someone else does all of the repairs and yard work. This is the key selling point for many people who move from house to apartment. Repairing the roof, mowing the lawn, and even replacing that worn-out toilet flapper is no longer your problem.

• Many complexes come with amenities homeowners can't afford on their own. Look for an apartment complex with a fitness center, a swimming pool, a playground (if you have kids), or a large room you can reserve for parties.

• Save money. It's not just that rent on your apartment will likely cost you less than your monthly mortgage payment did (though it probably will). Heating, cooling, and providing electricity for a smaller space is simply cheaper. Sharing walls with your neighbors makes heating and cooling your apartment even more efficient. You could enjoy significant savings every month.