Choosing a house or apartment

As first semester goes on, MSU students are beginning to ask the inescapable question — where should I live next school year?

East Lansing provides students with many options when it comes to transportation, food and housing. Students who choose to live off campus may have a difficult time choosing between an apartment and a house.

House or apartment?

Animal science senior Scott Perugia has experienced the benefits of living in both a house and an apartment.

Perugia lived in Chandler Crossings before moving to his house on Ardson Road.

Like Perugia, physiology senior Joe Wider also has lived in both a house and an apartment complex. Wider moved from Eden Roc Apartments to his current residence in a duplex on Stoddard Avenue.

Wider prefers his duplex to living in an apartment complex because of the extra space. He also enjoys having his own room. Although there are added costs that go along with living in a house, like Internet and cable, it’s worth it, Wider said.

The biggest difference between an apartment and a house is that with an apartment there is no lawn care and maintenance is taken care of, Perugia said.

“A house is a lot more responsibility,” Perugia said.

The parking problem

Another reason why Perugia found his apartment more convenient has to do with parking.

There were always plenty of spots available at the apartment complex, he said.

Perugia’s house on Ardson Road has enough room for him and each of his roommates to park their cars. However, it is not easy to find parking when they have visitors.

“If we have guests they have to park around campus,” Perugia said.

Eden Roc provided two parking spaces for the three people living in Wider’s apartment. Living in the duplex, Wider and his two roommates have ten parking spaces they share.

Getting it furnished

Moving from a furnished apartment to an unfurnished house was not a big deal for Perugia and his housemates.

“We all had furniture … and we got some of our parents’ hand-me-downs,” Perugia said.

Chandler Crossings also was more convenient for Perugia because maintenance was taken care of. They also provided students with a washer and dryer.

“We don’t even use the washer and dryer (in our house) ... because it’s so old,” Perugia said.

Unlike Perugia, Wider is making the most of his washer and dryer.

“My old apartment didn’t include a washer and dryer so I had to do my laundry at the dorms,” Wider said.

Worth the work

After living in Haslett Arms two years ago, communication senior Kacey Dittmer moved to her current location — a house on Orchard Street.

Like Perugia and Wider, Dittmer enjoys the extra space and privacy that comes with living in a house. The living room is bigger, she has a nice backyard and more parking spaces, Dittmer said.

While Dittmer and her roommates are not responsible for lawn care like Perugia, they are expected to shovel the snow during the winter.

Perugia, Wider and Dittmer agree the extra costs and responsibilities of living in a house are worth the overall experience.

“I prefer a house because you can get away from your neighbors, and you don’t have to deal with paper-thin walls,” Perugia said.