If you’re young and you don’t have any big commitments, then renting may be ideal. However, to get the best place for you, you need to have a strategy. Continue reading to hear my top tips for those looking to rent.
How To Research A Rental Property
Renting a property is an excellent way to save money, have more flexibility with your living arrangements and to have access to amenities that you might not be able to afford otherwise.
But a lot of people overlook the importance of rental research. It can be time-consuming and difficult to conduct, but it’s important that you do it before signing a lease for an apartment or home. You want to make sure that you are getting the best place for what you can afford and that it has the amenities and features that matter most to you.
Here are some top tips:
- Contact property management companies often ask for a credit score before approving you for renting a property
- Always ask questions and do your research on any company, or person managing the property, before signing anything
Using Tools Like Zumper
There are tools that can help with your search. For example, Zumper is used by renters to find houses, rooms, condos, or apartments for rent. Inventory is updated in real-time, so you’ll always see new rentals on Zumper and properties that are available and you can filter by location or price. Alternatively, you can get a bit more granular and search for properties that have a certain number of bedrooms, for pet-friendly properties, or you can search for another amenity. You can also set an alert to get a notification when a new listing is posted.
According to Zumper, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Boston is $2,300 and there are currently 929 apartments for rent. The site also reports that over the past month, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment remained flat, but the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment increased by 4% to $2,800.
You can use the Zumper website to submit digital rental applications and credit reports. The screening service is powered by TransUnion.
Other Costs
When deciding where to live, you should also factor in other costs. The price of utilities in Boston is steadily increasing and the cost of living is on the rise.
The average monthly utility bills in Boston cost $217. That’s more than $2,000 a year! To make matters worse, the price of utility bills has been steadily increasing over the last few years. If we take a few steps back and think about how much we’re spending on utilities, we’ll realise that it’s not just something that’s nice to have, but an essential part of living in Boston. So you need to factor these costs in when you’re choosing a place to rent.
The Overall Picture
Deciding where to live does involve a level of compromise. So you need to decide what’s important to you; it may be price, it could be location, or perhaps you need somewhere pet friendly. Once you’ve worked out what your top priorates are, you’ll find it easier to negotiate the rental market. Good luck!
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