Renting in Boston can be a much more difficult task than people anticipate. Throughout my time as a leasing agent, I’ve seen numerous clients fall into a situation that makes their apartment search much more difficult. Even worse, I’ve seen clients rent apartments that they didn’t truly love or found out later that it doesn’t fit what they were expecting. To help avoid this, I wanted to share 3 tips that I’ve learned during my time in this industry:

1. Choose the Right Area

The area you live in will make or break your experience living in the city. It’s important to know what your expectations are and to not be lenient on these expectations during your search. I recommend making a list of everything the area you’ll live in needs to ensure you are comfortable and happy, and sharing this list with your real estate agent. Then, do in depth research of any areas you are open to renting in to confirm they fit your requirements.

2. Choose the Right Property Type

While it may not seem important, choosing the correct type of building you’ll live in can have a large influence on you during the time of your lease. Do you want to live in an apartment building? Condo building? A multi-family? Single family? Don’t overlook this factor while searching for an apartment.

3. START SEARCHING EARLY!

This is by far the MOST important tip I can share with you. When searching for an apartment, start ASAP! Too many people put themselves in a position where they are scrambling to find any apartment that fits their criteria, and if this year was any indication, sometimes that isn’t possible! Talk to your real estate agent about when the best time to start searching would be. This way, you’ll have the time and options to find the best apartment.