another question

aaf10

I posted this on MM, but wanted more input replies, and hoping to hear more from people who have houses. I posted yesterday about looking for other places (for our impending move to another city). The 2bedroom townhouse  we currently have a hold on is $1050 (although it looks more like an apartment but just 4-6 units/building so we can have up-or -downstairs neighbors) and the new condos we were looking at are $1200-$1350 (pluses: a garage, a basement, more space, no downstairs/upstairs neighbors, slightly better neighborhoods, but 5 minutes further away from the current one). I never mentioned but one of the other considerations was a cute house. We actually got to peek inside since it was empty and the windows were all wide open. This house is even closer to work than all the other choices (like 5 min drive to DH work). It was reasonably priced $1200, has a full basement, 3 bedrooms, hardwood floors all over! We both fell in love with it. Cons: No garage, just a driveway. We decided to (for now) put this off the table only for the reason that we are not sure we can manage to cut the grass and shovel snow! DH works 60-90 hrs a week (depending on the service assignment for the month with all calls being at home, he will be on call some nights & takes many calls but mostly likely never ever needing to come in), he is not good with housework (I am the one who ends up fixing things around the house) and he cannot guarantee that we can make it. I said I would try my best but I myself work 65 hrs a week on average (I am in a very time demanding gradschool program). I guess I must also add, we will be living here only for 3 years and are planning on having a baby towards the end of that 2nd year. DH is just going to finish fellowship and find a job somewhere else that would be better for my career development also.So I have my questions for those with house of have rented houses:Is this reason enough to not consider the house? If we pay neighboorhood kids to cut grass occassionally when we cannot handle this, how much will this end up costing?? How often do you cut your grass. We never owned/rented a house before and therefore have no idea what the grass/snow upkeep takes. Are there other upkeeps that I have not though of besides cutting the grass and snow removal? There is a small garden but I am not sure if I actually want to do something about it.

aprillm730

I probably wouldn't take the house off of the table for reasons of cutting grass and shoveling snow. Those things can be taken care of fairly cheaply if you don't have time yourself. We bought our first house in 2010 and we do our own cutting/shoveling. But, my friend and her DH hire someone and they pay $7 per week for their grass and they pay a neighborhood kid $10 everytime there is a heavy snowfall. I would consider that affordable taking into consideration the time that it takes to do those things. But, it depends on how large your yard/driveway is I suppose.

I am trying to think hard about other expenses for a house vs. an apartment/condo, but the only things I can think of come with homeownership. So, since you will be renting, I'm sure it would just like renting anything else.

chelley599

I personally would much rather have the house....far more room.  Renters insurance may be a little more depending on your state.  As for shoveling and mowing, I started paying the neighborhood kids when I got too lazy.  We pay $20 for shoveling but we have a long driveway and they shovel all the way around the house from driveway to the front door.  It depends on your area though. 

msmerymac

Are you sure the landlord doesn't include a service? We don't have much yard or any snow fall, but our landlord comes around and does all our general maintenance. Sometimes we help out by clipped the hedges, but it's nothing unmanageable.

aaf10

we just started considering other options this past week so went driving around new year's eve before we went to see friends/family, and based on the few things we found online. We have yet to call tomorrow and find out about this, but we have a couple friends who rent and they clean their yards so it was the first thing we though of. I can barely make DH clean anything (once I start pouting he gets on to it) and he knows that. Hopefully it will in fact be covered. 

Now I do not know if we are looking too early.I am worried since two of the places (this particular house including) we drive around were vacant and ready for move in, so I doubt if they will prioritize someone who wont be moving in for 5 more months Im sure there will be more.