Whether you no longer need all the space your home offers, recently separated from a partner, or simply aren’t feeling ready to jump back into the housing market, there are plenty of reasons you may want to rent an apartment following the sale of your home. But after years of freedom in your own house, the thought of renting an apartment can be a little daunting. Luckily, renting an apartment comes with tons of great benefits, from saving money on repairs to sunny summer days spent poolside.
1. Downsizing Your Belongings
One of the biggest benefits of moving into an apartment post-home sale is that it gives you the perfect excuse to downsize your belongings. You likely have DVDs, books, knickknacks, counter appliances, shoes, tools, and other items you’ve held onto in case you need them one day. Moving into an apartment can help you finally get rid of all that clutter so you can have a fresh start in this new chapter of your life.
Your downsizing home checklist should include:
- Scheduling movers
- Going through your home one room at a time to take stock of what you have
- Getting the measurements for your new apartment
- Sorting all your belongings into keep, donate, sell, and toss piles
- Checking what large appliances you need (Does your new apartment come with a washer and dryer set up?)
- Creating listings for items you want to sell or hosting a garage sale
- Scheduling trash and donation pickups
You should also consider what furniture, if any, you can fit into your new space. That large sectional you had in the den might not fit into your new apartment’s living room, or your four-poster bed might take up too much space in your bedroom. If you’re ready for new furniture, consider rental furniture. Renting furniture gives you the flexibility you need while moving, and when you’re ready to move back into a home, you don’t have to worry about taking it all with you.
2. Chance to Invest the Money from Your House
When downsizing from a house to an apartment, you’ll likely have a significant chunk of change in your account from the sale of your home. Use the time you spend renting to invest your money into the stock market. This money can grow and be used for other big events in your life, whether that’s buying another home after the market has cooled or early retirement.
3. Enjoy Amazing Apartment Amenities
Downsizing to an apartment can also come with some pretty fantastic amenities. You can take a dip in the pool, get your sweat on at the fitness center, or let Fido run around the dog park. These are great ways to make new friends in your community, and your apartment might come with some other cool, unique features like smart thermostats or digital locks.
4. Opportunity to Test a New Location
Renting an apartment gives you flexibility that homeownership can’t. If you’re thinking about relocating out of town or to a new part of the city, a shorter lease can help you test the waters. Knowing if you’ll like a city or neighborhood without having lived there first is hard. The last thing you want is to commit to buying a home only to realize you hate the area. If you decide you love your new locale after renting for a few months, you can look into buying another home nearby. Need help finding an apartment that meets your needs and your budget? Give ApartmentSearch a try. You’ll be able to filter by location, budget, amenities, and more to ensure you find the perfect fit.
5. Save on Repairs, Taxes, Utilities, and More
Maybe you need some time to work on your finances, especially if you ended up short-selling your house. Renting can help. When you own your home, you’re responsible for everything that goes wrong. Whether it’s a broken A/C system or leaky pipes, you’re on the hook for repair or replacement costs. The apartment complex is responsible when you rent, which helps save your bank account.
Renting also usually has fewer costs involved than homeownership. You don’t have to worry about property taxes or HOA dues, and utilities for an apartment are generally less expensive than for a home. Plus, you might find your renter’s insurance far cheaper than homeowners’ insurance.
Embrace Apartment Life in Style with CORT Furniture Rental
Leaving your home behind and walking into a new space can be difficult, but it can also be freeing. As you enter this next phase in your journey, consider renting furniture that’s your style. At CORT Furniture Rental, you can create a furniture subscription package that’s completely unique to the color palettes, decor, and trends you love. Plus, with our included delivery, set-up, and pick-up services, you don’t have to worry about how much furniture you rent. You pick what you love, and our team will do the rest. Create your custom furniture subscription package today!