Renting: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Hello! I'm Anna from A Newfound Treasure Blog, and today, I'm sharing my current rental experience on Jen's fabulous blog.

Not too long ago, we happily moved from Florida to South Carolina, but we had difficulty trying to sell our home. This forced us to find renters for our FL home, as well as, search for a SC rental to move into. Now, we're on both ends of renting, which has caused me to be extra mindful of our landlord's property while still trying to create a home reflective of who we are. South Carolina is where we want to be, so we can suck it up to be in our "happy place," right?

The GOOD

Renting allows you to be flexible. Last minute moves or job changes, that perhaps cause you to move from one end of the country to the other, can (hopefully) be less stressful. (ie. Vegas to NYC) ;-) You can have a "no strings attached" approach to where you are, which can be freeing in and of itself. A rental is the perfect option for an ultra spontaneous person that could up and move at the drop of a hat.

It is also great if you're moving to an unfamiliar place, because you can really shop around for your perfect part of town without committing to an area right off the bat. The great thing about our rental is that we have an abundance of space, being that we're in a house, not an apartment. 

Also, when things need to be fixed, it doesn't come at our expense -- major perk! All of those little things add up, and it's so nice to know that if something goes wrong, our landlords are just a call away.



The BAD

There are plenty of things that aren't ideal when living in a rental. Most of what the house is probably isn't your first choice. Wall colors and light fixtures can sometimes be total eyesores, but you must remind yourself that the time and money investment to change out chandeliers and repaint the walls aren't always worth it.

Instead of focusing on the actual home, try to incorporate art, fabric, and furniture that draw your eye away from the things you dislike the most about your home. I chose to use bright colored furniture and fabric that hopefully distract you from noticing the pukey-beige walls that coat the entire downstairs of our home.


The UGLY

Gracious, I have a list of things that I would do differently if we owned this home. Why the tacky carpets? I wish more than anything that linoleum wasn't a word in my vocabulary, but it is all over this place. The kitchen, the bathrooms, the laundry room… it's hideous. Rugs have been a lifesaver for me. 

With 2 little boys running around, rugs are essential in preserving the carpet. More importantly, rugs do a great job of grounding a space while hiding that ugly carpet or linoleum!



 
If you'd like to share, the good, the bad, the ugly of living in a rental, email me your submission with 3-4 pictures of your apartment! Pls use the same format as above! 




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11 comments

  1. Another South Carolinian!!!


    Mr. Goodwill Hunting

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  2. I had to stop reading after I got to "eye-soar."

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  3. Anna has done such a wonderful job with her home! Thanks so much for sharing your tips!

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  4. Anna, your house is gorgeously decorated! Love all of the bold and colorful fabric on the pillows and that green console table is gorgeous!

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  5. I'm from South Carolina as well so I've definitely seen the good, bad, and Ugly of renting! So great to hear from another SC blogger. Great post:)

    XO Kelley
    http://www.keepsittingpretty.blogspot.com

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  6. This is a beautiful apartment! Love the green table - so fun!

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  7. Anna has done an amazing job with her home. I'd seen her home before on her blog but never realized it was a rental.

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  8. Love this series! I rented, then purchased a condo...overhauled...sold, and now am back to renting. I've seen the good, bad and ugly from all sides! LOL

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  9. I seriously LOVE this series. Not to mention, everyone's home is so creative and beautiful and inspiring...!

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  10. What a beautiful home. I think you really truly make the rental side of living in a home look amazing! Why would you ever leave sunny Florida? lol. Who am I kidding? I've been trying to leave FL for the longest and I'm still here. Blah. Thanks for sharing!

    Vonae Deyshawn
    www.myvirtueplace.com

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  11. Nice insights on renting a place, Jen. Frankly, I agree with the bad and ugly parts you wrote because I'm currently renting a place. The first time I walked into my apartment, I wasn't really comfortable with it. But as soon as I was able to change a couple of things, the place felt more like a home.

    Von Madison @Gold Team

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