Things to consider when you are looking for an off-campus apartment:
Budget: Do some research on how much a typical rent is in your campus area and ask yourself and/or whoever will be paying for the rent how much you can afford and set a reasonable budget. Don’t forget about utilities, security deposit, and broker’s fee. Typical upfront cost in Boston can be first month’s rent, last month’ rent, security deposit, and broker’s fee. You can refer to offcampusapartmentfinder.com to see an average rent for different size units in Symphony/Fenway/Back Bay/Mission Hill/South End area in Boston.
Size of the apartment: Do you want to live by yourself or with roommates? Then what size (Studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom or more) apartment do you want to live in?
There are apartments that are called splits (1 bed split, 2 bed splits, 3 bed splits, etc.)—1 bed room split means two private bedrooms with no living room space, so ask yourself and your roommate if a living room is a necessity or not. Also, know that some apartment will not allow two people in a studio so you will have to look for a 1 bedroom if you have a roommate and a lower budget.
Finding a roommate: Ask your friends or contact your school’s off campus housing office to see if anyone is looking for a roommate and find someone who would do the apartment search with you. Talk about all the things that are listed here to figure out what you are looking for together. Also talk about if you are okay with sharing a room or if you want separate bedrooms. Splitting your housing costs with a roommate or three can save you money each month. But if you don’t have anyone lined up, many of the rental websites like Craigslist, CrashPad, Roommates.com, and others are geared toward matching up potential roommates.
The ideal roommate you might be looking for will be someone who is respectful, responsible, clean, and any other priorities you might have.
Move-in date: Most move-in dates start on the first of the month. In Boston, most off-campus apartment leases start from September 1st. So, when you are looking for an apartment, you will have the most options if you look for an apartment for September 1st move in. If you are looking to live for less than a year, consider sublets or temporary housing.
Location: How close to campus do you need/want to be? How will you commute? Consider associated costs (T-pass, gas, parking, etc.) and see if it is worth to live far from campus or not. It is important to consider proximity to campus, your rental budget, access to public transportation and type of housing.
Also, what neighborhood do you want to live in? Boston offers a variety of neighborhoods such as Back Bay, Boston Downtown, Fenway/Kenmore, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, Roxbury, South End, and more. For more information on Boston’s neighborhoods, go to www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods
Amenities: What amenities are your priorities: close proximity to grocery stores, having laundry facilities, garbage disposal, dish washer, clean bathroom, etc.? Consider these things but don’t have a long list as it will limit your search.
Furniture: Most apartments in Boston are unfurnished. Your school might have a market place on social media where you could buy used furniture or take a trip to a furniture store in the area
Co-signer: If you are a student, make sure you have a family member or close friend who can co-sign. Our office does not require a co-signer from an international student (just VISA and I-20).
2. Now that you have a clear picture of what you are looking for, contact our office (Off Campus Apartment Finder). We will be able to offer multiple listings that are available in the area and schedule a showing for the units you are interested.
3. Use our website (offcampusapartmentfinder.com), your school’s housing data base, Zillow, Craigslist, PadMapper,Trulia, Hotpads.com, and Apartments.com, among many others to search available apartments in the area. Contact one of our listing agents or our office to confirm the availability and to schedule a visit.
4. Visit several apartments in person with one of our agents. When you find an apartment you like, ask about your next steps—application, payment methods, etc. Know that Boston apartments get rented quickly so if you like an apartment you should apply for the apartment as soon as you can after talking to your parents.
5. Have your application information on hand! When it comes to renting an apartment, the first qualified applicant gets the apartment. This means if you have your application information on hand you will be able to fill out everything on the spot.
Your next step:
- Ask about the upfront cost. How much do I have to pay now and later? Talk to your parents and get their approval.
- Fill out an application.
- Pay the deposit.
- Sign the lease.
- You have your apartment for the next year!
