Hunting for an apartment in Boston is tough. If you are a musician, your livelihood can add another layer of complexity to the search. For the student new to Boston, there are a few things that are important to consider, and we thought we would share some of our more interesting experiences in the Boston apartment scene!
Know Your Legal Rights: Massachusetts has different rental laws than other parts of the country. Read up on your legalities to help you as you apartment hunt.
Fee/Half Fee/No Fee: In Boston, if you use a Realtor to hunt for your new apartment, you may be charged a fee. The fee essentially pays the Realtor for the work that she/he does for you, and is usually equal to one month's rent. Sometimes the landlord will cover half (or even three-quarters!) of the fee, particularly if the rental date is quickly approaching, or if the apartment is in less-than-ideal shape. The best way to pay no fee is to look for an apartment rented by the landlord her/himself. This makes the search more difficult, but it might be preferable to paying the fee. We like to avoid paying money, ourselves, and use Craigslist to filter our search results. This method means that you need to look every day (multiple times) and email or call right away if you see something you like.
Utilities included/not included: Some apartments in Boston, especially if they are managed by a large company or are in a large building, include heat and/or hot water in the rent. This seems completely useless as you are moving your sweaty self into the place in August, but in February you will be super thankful! Be sure to check which utilities are included before you sign a lease.
Pets: Many Boston apartments specify "no pets." Many more are cats-only, and there are a few magical apartments that allow dogs. Be sure to check your lease or call your landlord before you introduce an animal to your space.
Security Deposit: This is important. Boston landlords are required by law to put your security deposit into a savings account which accrues interest. That way, your deposit can be returned to you along with the interest if the apartment is in good shape when you move out. This is for the protection of the tenant. If the landlord will not be putting your security deposit into a separate, interest-accruing account, this is a definite red flag.
Musical Instruments: Some landlords don't want musicians in their buildings, period. Sadly, this tends to be more true for the private (no-fee) renters. Once, we sent an email inquiring about an open apartment, and the landlord called to say that she had Googled us, knew about our musician status, and wasn't going to rent to us (even if we promised never to play in the house). In our experience, the best bets are toa) move into a bedroom in an apartment where there are already musicians living.
b) move into a large building rented by a company so huge that they won't care if you are a musician.
c) don't say anything, and keep your practicing at school.
Obviously all of this gets more complicated if you have a piano.
Roommates!: If you want to live with other people, there are certain populations that swear by Craigslist roommates. You can typically find lower rent, interesting friends, and no fee by moving into an apartment that is already occupied. No guarantees implied or expressed, but we know of someone who moved into a Craigslist apartment and (four years later) is married to one of her roommates.
Transportation: If you are attending BU, you will likely be looking for an apartment on the B-Line of the Green Line subway. Keep in mind, however, that there are bus routes that also run directly to BU from Brighton and parts of Watertown. Beware of advertisements that an apartment is "steps" from the train/bus stop, as sometimes "steps" means "1298264 steps." Ask your realtor/landlord to point out the bus or train stop to you while you are looking at the apartment.
Settling: Define your apartment hunt. Write some questions down, and answer them: How much time do you have? Is your move-in date flexible? What is your budget? Do you want to live alone or with others? Are there any make-or-break considerations? Do you want a porch? Do you want utilities included (and does this affect budget)? Are you bringing a furry friend?
Once you have decided what is most important to you, you can structure your apartment hunt much more effectively. If budget is most important, things like space or location can be more flexible. If location is a must, maybe your move-in date can shift slightly.
The best part about apartment-hunting in Boston is the reward of finding a place to hang your proverbial hat in a very cool, historically rich city. Have you lived in Boston before? Do you have any tips?
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