Moving to an off- campus apartment in Boston can be quite a big step in life. It can certainly be a great experience that will help you become even more responsible and take on additional responsibilities. However, you shouldn’t go about moving into a Boston apartment without knowing a few things first. The following information will guide you through the mechanics of the apartment rental process. You will be able to see how to best approach and acquire that incredible off-campus apartment in Boston that you’ve always wanted!
You will learn about the various neighborhoods of Boston. How to find the best apartment based on your needs and budget, and everything else there is to know about the lease process. All of the information is presented in an easy to read and understand step-by-step format. So, without further ado, here are the things you should know before renting an off-campus apartment in Boston.
Step 1: Learn About Boston’s Various Neighborhoods
Most students try to find apartments close to campus grounds. Time is money, and less time driving can mean additional time doing other things that you need to do. That being said, the city of Boston offers a variety of transportation options. That way you can still get to campus quickly even if you live in a different neighborhood. Every year we are seeing an ever increasing number of students fanning out into more neighborhoods that aren’t typically preferred. By and large, there are a few regions where many students live and others that are just now becoming more popular among the student population in Boston.
Step 2: Consider These Factors Before Beginning Your Apartment Search
There are a great deal of factors that you need to think about before you start the search for your new apartment. Otherwise, you will end up wasting your time and effort by touring a bunch of places that do not fit your lifestyle and or your budget. Keep in mind optimal location, budget, size, proximity to public transportation, and any other amenities essential to your lifestyle in the city.
Step 3: Start Your Apartment Search
It’s time to start searching for your new apartment! This is by far the most fun part of the process. There are many online marketplaces out there to browse from. The key is to find dedicated apartment sites that focus on the Boston real estate market. Not all websites have the same amount of apartment listings or real time data. You want to make sure you are looking at real estate listings that are actually available. If you call an agent or two from the same website and you get the response of “that apartment is not available anymore but we have another one”- RUN! Not all real estate websites in Boston have curated data or people to make sure that there are only available apartments.
Start your inquiry online to allow your fingers to do the strolling. A significant number of the public land sites are claimed by a similar organization and they show precisely the same postings over various sites. There two or three public players that attempt to swarm the main page of google all together square nearby Boston loft sites from getting found on the principal page of indexed lists.
Step 4: Sign Your Lease
Once you have been approved for the perfect off-campus apartment in Boston, you will need to sign a Lease Agreement. The lease is a binding and legal contract between you and your co-signer and the landlord who owns or operates the property. It defines the exact terms of the rental agreement. If you happen to violate any of the conditions as stated in the lease, the landlord may attempt to terminate/end the lease.
For example, if you fail to pay the monthly rent, your landlord will attempt to evict you. Your landlord may also attempt to recuperate the money that you owe by suing you in a court of law. You have a contract and an obligation to pay, so make sure you read and understand all terms and conditions.
Before you sign any apartment lease, it is important that you read it thoroughly. You have to fully understand exactly what you are signing. That means you need to ensure that you comprehend all of the terminology. Ask for an explanation on anything that you don’t fully understand.
Here are a few more things that you need to know before signing the lease agreement.
YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PAY PROMPTLY
The reason there’s a lease is to ensure both the occupant and the property manager know their respective terms and conditions. For instance,paying rent on time shields the occupant from both late charges and expulsion during the rent time frame. Boston landowners are substantially more likely to not raise your rent if you’re a diligent and clean occupant. However, in the event that a land owner needs to continually pursue you for cash they regularly will raise the price of rent over the next year.
UNDERSTAND THE SPECIFIC RULES FOR YOUR APARTMENT
There are a few key items that should be included in the lease agreement when you’re renting an apartment.
Which are:
- the name of the tenant or tenants
- the name of the landlord
- the landlord’s contact info
- the address of the apartment
- the terms of the lease including the start and end dates
- the amount of the monthly rent
- the rent due dates
- who and where to send the rent check
- the amount of the security deposit
- the contact info for any maintenance related issues, if subletting is allowed, and if the utilities are included
Take your time and read the addendum. That is where you will find a lot of specific rules regarding your apartment.
WHAT KIND OF LEASE ARE YOU SIGNING?
You need to be well aware of the typical terms of the lease for your off-campus apartment in Boston. For example, is it a yearly lease, or a tenant-at-will lease? A yearly lease means the terms are good for a 12-month period. They may or may not be renewed at the end of the lease. It also means that the monthly rent stays the same for the entire 12 months.
On the other hand, a tenant-at-will lease means you are renting the apartment on a month-to-month basis. That means the landlord can raise the rent from one month to the next, and evict you with a 30-day notice. You must provide your landlord with a 30-day notice when you plan to vacate the apartment. Very few landlords in Boston use tenant-at-will leases because it is simply too time consuming to rent properties over and over throughout a year. Most landlords prefer certainty with fixed amounts than a higher turn over apartment.
KNOW WHAT THE UPFRONT COSTS ARE
Be prepared to pay several different payments when you sign your lease. You will typically need to pay the first month’s rent, last month’s rent, a security deposit that is usually equal to 1 month’s rent, and any fees that are owed to the real estate office. Most apartments are often rented many months in advance so it is far more common for the tenant to pay the broker’s fee than the landlord in an off-campus apartment in Boston. If you find a Boston landlord that is willing to pay the broker’s fee for you, that is often a good sign.
Save money, and enjoy your new home
In conclusion, renting an off-campus apartment in Boston should be a fun and exciting time. It means that you will have a place to call your own, perhaps for the first time in your life. It also means that you will have additional responsibilities that will help you become an even more dependable adult. You should not take the process lightly, or jump into any situations without conducting the proper amount of research, and ensuring that it’s the best-case scenario for you. Apartments in Boston vary widely because of location, condition and price, so put some dedicated effort into your search. At the end of the day, if you follow a plan, you can be amazed at how much money you will save compared to on campus housing.
