During the leasing season, students may wonder if moving into an apartment or into a house would be the right choice. Having a better idea of what the advantages and disadvantages of each can make this decision just a little bit easier.
Marci Tempel, the leasing agent at the Advantage Properties C-U, talked about the type of people who usually seek out houses.
“People with families usually live at houses,” Tempel said. “It varies, but a lot of graduate students consider living at houses. Some people who want to have their own property and have a more private space do consider living at houses.”
Advantage Properties C-U owns both houses and apartments.
“For the apartments (at Advantage Properties), students are provided with internet services,” Tempel said. “Houses are usually quite old but apartments are new to students and it is a good place for students to live close by friends.”
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The two main differences between apartments and houses are rent and capacity of spaces.
Richard Kim, a 2011 University alumnus, suggests living in an apartment close to classes.
“I would also recommend living by yourself. If you want it messy, you could keep it messy and keep it clean if you want to leave it clean,” Kim said.
Most houses located on campus offer a cheaper price and private property such as the lawn.
Oleg Mishalov, sophomore in LAS, said responsibility is an important quality to have for students who decide to live in a house.
“It is definitely a lot more work to keep it clean,” Mishalov said. “Paying bills is kind of annoying especially on study weeks, ‘cause I would use a lot of electricity during those periods. I also find that I don’t have time to cook or I don’t feel like cooking.”
Mishalov added that students should also be cautious about picking a roommate.
“Being in a house is really a lot of fun,” Mishalov said. “But you need to make sure about the people you are picking as a roommate. You may feel close to them but it is hard to judge if they could be the right roommate. You need to make sure about the commitment you are making.”
