Duplex layouts are ideal for families. These can be two bedroom or three bedroom with a shared wall and backyard separated by a partition. However, compared to other types of residential accommodation, there are a number of things that you should check out before renting a duplex.

Here is a list to get you started.

Location matters: Taking up an apartment in the city versus looking for a duplex to rent out and if possible also sublet or the extra income are two different things, especially when it comes to location. Consider the commute from your newly acquired duplex to work or school. Also, duplexes are generally part of a community system where there are a number of rules and regulations to be followed and be a part of the said community. This might not give you the leeway to maybe sublet your apartment unless you get an approval from the other members.

Some communities may be not part of your budget, for example beach house duplex living spaces are prime property and this will of course affect the price exclusively. The ones which do fall in your budget may not be very appealing or may not be suited for your purpose. You have to try and find something which gives you the best of both worlds, in terms of a good deal and good living space.

Renting out the extra unit: You have taken a duplex unit, and most probably will be occupying only one of the units and plan to let out the other. Again, a number of factors have to be taken into account before this can be done. For one thing, you have to check with the community and ensure that letting out the extra unit will not be an issue. Of course, the added income will be a huge advantage, which helps manage cash flow.

From a homeowner’s perspective, the plus points are the extra income from the rental unit can help with a lot of other things. Duplex are affordable, compared to other residential units. There are a number of factors which affect the price, like the community the duplex is part of, area and prime location. But the biggest advantage of renting out a duplex is that the extra unit can be given to a family member who might need constant medical attention and care to recover, which is easy to manage when you are living next door.

There are a number of options when it comes to renting a place, ranging from single bedroom apartments, to duplex, to condos, to townhouses and more. but with so many options available at attractive prices, it just might become a bit difficult to choose from.

Here are a few reasons why a duplex should be preferred over renting other residential properties.

Work from home: Duplex homes are designed in such a way that you can easily create a separate office space for yourself. Apart from spacious living spaces and communal spaces, duplex offer the flexible option to people who work from their homes or have a job that requires them to commute only a couple of times to office in any given week. The layout of a duplex helps balance both your work life and home life, keeping them separate at all times.

Rent out the extra space: If you just happen to own a duplex, you can let out he additional portion of the house for travelers and tourists searching for vacation homes. Vacation rentals are generally for a shorter duration and the occupants keep on changing, but you are free to charge good rates and people will generally prefer a full apartment to rent instead of jus renting out a single room.

Shared backyard or garden: Nowadays it is impossible to find a decent space in the city which also happens to have a decent backyard or small garden. But duplex are designed by default to have a garden space which is of course shared with your neighbor next door. This is any day better than having no garden at all, for a number of reasons.

The occasional breath of fresh air, and a nice little garden for you kids to play will be a good change form the over polluted and crowded parks and so called recreation facilities in the city. No matter how well they are maintained, public parks will always be over crowded on a nice warm sunny weekend where you kids have to wait for their turn to get on the slide. Build a small one in your backyard with a nice porch swing to go with where you can relax and have all the privacy you need, provided there is a wall which splits the shared backyard space.

Plenty of space: Compared to renting two bedroom apartments or even a nice condo in the city, duplex will always feature more space and all the power outlets you can install to make sure there is enough for the number of appliance and kitchen utilities you can install. The living space and communal areas will also be spaced out to maximize comfort and promote a cozy living.