How to Separate Yourself From the Pack of September 1 Lease Hunters
We all know what happens on September 1st.
Many of you may still be recovering from your last move. Let’s recall a few images from September 1, 2014.
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Though it is painful to think you might have to do it again, the earlier you start looking, the better chance you have of landing the perfect place.
“I think that by mid-April you should have already started the search to feel out area and prices,’’ Pietro Coco, general manager at Boston-area Phoenix Realty Group LLC., said. “Private landlords will list earlier.’’
There are ways to make the long slog through the rental market easier, however.
Coco said it’s important not to go to a broker or realtor with no idea what you are looking for.
“People should have a realistic idea for price range, how many bedrooms and where they want to live before they come in,’’ Coco said. “Those are the most important.’’
Lee Lin, founder of RentHop.com, said making sure you look for listings at the right time of day could give you the jump on other renters.
“Most [brokers] post listings in the morning and forget about it for the day,’’ Lin said. “They post around 9, 10, or 11. The rest of the day they might be on the go, so if you want to take first crack on all the listings right around it will be around 10 or 10:30.’’
And though this is not an applicable to everyone, Lin said that looking in November and December is the best because less people are looking then — so you have more bargaining power.
Some of the seasoned apartment-movers on the Boston.com staff offered tips you might not hear from brokers.
Staff writer Eric Levenson said that he recommends subletting for a month or so and before making the move final.
“Sublet for a few months in a place that you know will have an opening come Sept. 1,’’ he said. “That way you have an easy in when the time comes to sign the lease. So, for example, sublet in a place where the person is leaving for good mid-lease, and not someone who’s just going out of town for a few weeks.’’
Adam Vaccaro, a Boston.com senior writer who has moved a few times over the last few years said he suggests getting directly in contact with a landlord, if possible.
“My current apartment and my last one were each examples in which I moved in to an apartment I knew was emptying and got put directly in touch with the landlord,’’ he said. “The two instances: 1. A friend was moving out; 2. A person was moving out from the apartment downstairs from my friend. In both cases, was a matter of talking with friends about openings rather than Craigslist and the zillion other options out there for finding a place.’’
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