5 TIPS TO MAKE YOUR APARTMENT SEARCH EASIER

If you have ever lived in a "college town" or have simply been a college student moving out of the dorms, you know better than anyone that September is one of the busiest months for moving. Apartment hunting ideally starts a few months in advanced so that you can find the perfect place to call home and welcome a new season. As a recent graduate, I have experienced the craziness of the real estate world and am currently in the search for my third apartment in Boston. Here are 5 takeaways and tips that I have learned that will hopefully help you with your apartment search!

1. Define and Stick to Your Budget -

First things first, establish a maximum budget that is honest and in accord with your current economic situation. Make sure that you stick with this number when you embark on your search for apartments. Realtors will always ask for this information so that they can find apartments that suit your needs but will sometimes want to push your budget limit. I know that $50 more doesn't sound like such a big increase, but on a month-to-month basis, those $50 can make a huge difference in your finances. Remember why you picked this budget and seriously stick with it!

2. Define your commute - Although I don't currently have a job prospective with a given location, I am aware that there is a certain area of Boston that I want and need to be close to. Therefore, I am picking locations that are based on my daily commute. Define whether you want to be able to walk to your work, take the subway or take a car. This will allow you to better understand how far away you can be from wherever it is you need to go during the day.

3. Be Picky - I know this might sound kind of ironic since apartment hunting does in fact involve having options. However, I have learned over time that being picky with your choices will only save you time and patience. I tend to open at least 50 tabs on my browser when looking at different options and then realize that I end up closing 40 of those tabs. Instead of doing this, I simply suggest opening and reaching out to those options that really fit all of your criteria.

4. Roommate Situation - If you are looking to save money, having one roommate or even more might be the right option for you! This is something that if you define early on in your search, will really be helpful. There are many online websites that can help you find roommates, as well as Facebook groups among other resources.

5. Don't be Pressured by Realtors or Time - This last point is really important. Realtors will most likely, if not always, tell you after a showing that you have to make a quick decision because the apartment will be quick to leave the market. Although this may be true for a few choices, it really isn't always the case. Picking the right apartment for your situation and criteria will take time and patience; so remember to not fall under the pressure of realtors or time. Start ahead of the game, stick to these tricks, build some patience and you will soon find a new place to call home!