Nowadays, the apartment hunting process usually begins online. Although a major benefit of the internet is that it can help you find a lot of information in a short period of time, the high volume of search results can also be very intimidating for first time renters with little experience in the real estate market. Whether this is your first time renting or not, there are a few things that you should always consider before you start your apartment search so that you can improve your overall experience.
1. Know Your Priorities
What do you care about the most when looking for an apartment? Is it the price? Is it the location? Or something else?
Having a firm understanding of what matters to you is very important because the abundance of choices on the internet can blur your vision when you are trying to find apartments. Therefore, we suggest picking three top priorities. Once you have these three priorities in mind, you can then narrow down your search to focus on finding an apartment that has what you really want and need. On Rentwise Boston, we make this easy by allowing users to filter their searches. For example, you can choose a neighborhood, your price range, and the number of bedrooms that you are looking for, and then our site will only show you Boston apartment buildings with units matching this criteria.
2. Take a Tour of the Apartment
Taking a tour of the apartment, whether in-person or online, is the next crucial step in your apartment search. Taking a tour allows you to see what the layout looks like, so that you can see whether you like the apartment in general, as well as plan out the set-up for furniture ahead of moving in. And, if you care about the views outside of the apartment windows, now is the chance for you to take a good look. Real estate agents at RentWise Boston provide both virtual and real-life apartment tours, depending on your preference.
3. Understand the Lease & Rules
Leases agreements are legal documents that all tenants must sign before moving into an apartment. An apartment lease not only highlights the rules (e.g. quiet hours, additional fees) and financial terms (e.g. rent due date), but they also highlight what is included in the apartment/ rental contract (e.g. utilities, electricity, and gas bills). Therefore, understanding what the lease entails is important, as it illustrates what your rights are, what you are entitled to, as well as what you need to pay or be aware of. Although every lease is different based on the landlord and management companies that you use, it is important to to understand the general rules of Renting in Boston.
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Start your search on Rentwise Boston, the platform that shows buildings.