Now that you’re vacating dorm life, a big question that will need an answer is which is the better choice for off-campus housing, an apartment or a house for rent in Athens, Ohio?
Though everybody’s mileage may differ, for many college students a house is the best option for a college student, particularly if you have a few friends to live with and are the social type. Not only will you save money by sharing a bigger space; you’ll have a lot more privacy when you host parties. Imagine (once the pandemic has run its course) inviting 60 people over to your apartment complex Room 105.
First, there’s not likely to be ample parking inside the restricted complex grounds. Plus, everyone else in the apartment complex will throw shade at you for the noise and inconvenience.
With rental houses in Athens, if your party is likely to get noisy, you can go around and distribute some nice baked goods to the neighbors, with a note of apology and your phone number (this is another post-pandemic suggestion), and implore them to please let you know if your party is getting too loud. However, also beware that the city of Athens does have a nuisance party law with real teeth. If the police show up and advise you to turn down the music or even shut down the party, you’ve got to do it. Nonetheless, you’ll still have more leeway for throwing a party in a house than an apartment, especially if your neighboring houses like to party as much as you do.
Other Desirable Features of a House
Also, a house can be more customizable to all the renters’ needs. There might be a private entrance for one, a walk-in closet for another, and so on. With an apartment, you’ll have fewer options.
Pet lovers usually get a better deal with a house, possibly even scoring a fenced yard where the critters can roam and do their business.
Living in an off-campus rental house can have downsides, however. Much of the rental housing stock in Athens is old, having survived many successive waves of OU students. Inspect the house you’re considering well, to make sure it’s not too beat up from all those hundreds of student tenants over the years. The best rental property managers, even with a well-used rental house, do update and take care of them, and make sure they’re ready for the next group of tenants.
Apartment Complex
Going with an apartment complex can be easy and convenient, but read your lease carefully before you sign, and be mindful of what fees you might owe at end of lease. Think carefully about your lifestyle and consider if a complex will cramp your style. One advantage of an apartment situation during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is that you’ll likely have fewer flat-mates (possibly even none) in an apartment than you would in a house. That means less chance of spreading or getting an infection.
And of course, there’s the middle option – an apartment that’s located in a house. With this alternative, you may both the positives and negatives of each option, rental house or apartment.