Editor's note: Barry Courter has a 24-year-old son who is a college graduate and a 20-year-old daughter who is a sophomore in college.

Q: Dad, we're looking to rent a house. How is it different than renting an apartment?

A: It depends on the landlord, and the house. In any case, you need to ask a lot of questions about things like who pays utilities, who mows the grass and who is responsible for general upkeep like cleaning the gutters or fixing a leaky pipe should one develop. You can check with the utility companies to get an idea of previous monthly bills. Heating a house, especially an old one, can be a lot more expensive than heating a new apartment in a complex.