10 Features to Look For in Your Boston Apartment Rental

Living in Boston is an exhilarating experience that most people would envy. If you’re fortunate enough to be in the market for a Boston apartment rental, you’ll want to examine several factors that can make your living experience the best possible. Believe me; there is a difference between an average apartment and a great living opportunity. Details matter when selecting the best apartments in Boston. Here are 10 features you might want to consider.

1. Keyless Locks

Let's be honest, nothing is worse than getting to your apartment late at night and realizing you left your keys at your friend's house. Keys are rapidly becoming a thing of the past as the technology improves. Landlords with properly equipped apartments in Boston find that having keyless remote entry for their tenants and contractors is a God send in time and frustration savings. I can tell you from personal experience that having my properties wired for keyless remote entry has saved me at least 4-6 times this year.

When you add up the time and gas savings there is nothing better. Gone are the days of me getting the 2:40am call after the Boston bars close saying “we are locked out, can you come let us in?"

2. How Close is Coffee?

If you have a coffee addiction like yours truly, it might be a key factor you might want to consider when you decide on a Greater Boston apartment. I have a Starbucks two minutes from my house and with a gas station right across the street it makes for a quick fuel up in both tanks! If you are living a busy lifestyle, every second counts when you are trying to maximum time principle (MTP) your life.

3. Lots of Closet Space

Boston has four seasons, so your wardrobe will be large simply because you’ll need to have apparel that matches appropriately. Look for a Boston apartment with lots of closet space to store bulky winter coats, sweaters, boots and other winter accessories when not in use. If you don’t have closet space; you had better hope they have good basement space and preferably with some kind of ability to lock up your storage. Smart landlords in Boston also build open storage above closets so you can put your travelling suitcase. For nearly every property I own I try to build that extra storage space so that our tenants don’t have to worry about storing their suitcase in the closet.

4. Distance to the T

So you decided that a car is way too stressful for Boston living. I hear you loud and clear. Especially with Uber around, you have a lot of options. If you’re new to Boston, you might wonder what people are talking about when they mention the “T.” Relax. It’s not another tea party. It’s short for MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority), the subway system that runs throughout the Boston area. The T has five lines, and odds are that you’ll be relying on at least one of them to bring you to work, a friend’s house or game day at Fenway Park.

One of the things you should look for in your Boston apartment is to have it be within a short distance of a T stop. You’ll appreciate this feature more and more over time, since riding the T is efficient and is highly affordable. Generally speaking, try to find an apartment with less than a 14 minute distance to the nearest T stop. You can always drop the google person on the map to get an estimate of time from your Boston apartment to the T.

5. Balcony

Boston’s population of over 673,000 is a fascinating sight to behold. Imagine enjoying your morning coffee as you sit on your balcony, overlooking the sidewalks with your friendly neighbors taking their dogs out or reading the Boston Globe on the way to work. A balcony makes a lovely addition to your living space; one where you can grow fresh herbs and flowers or simply soak up the Boston sunshine.

6. Proximity to a Farmer’s Market

Even though Boston is a bustling city, you’ll discover delectable fresh foods at any one of the many farmer’s markets dotted around the area. Ideally, you’ll want your apartment in Boston to be situated close enough to a farmer’s market where you can comfortably tote your fresh produce back to your luxury apartment in Boston. Choose from locations near the Boston Public Market, Copley Square, Dewey Square and many more.

7. Clothes Washer And Dryer In The Unit

The days of tenants wanting a laundry facility in the building are over. Now, most apartment hunters are looking for a Boston apartment that has the washer and dryer in their unit. You probably live an incredibly busy life. Do you really want to spend your time lugging dirty clothes down to the basement laundry room? There are certainly better things you can do after work and on the weekends. The laundromat can be even worse. It means more lugging and additional time. A washer and dryer in the unit is the way to go.

8. Pet Friendly Apartment

Do you currently live with a cat or dog? Perhaps you want one in the near future. If so, you’re certainly not alone. According to a recent study conducted by FIREPAW, approximately 75% of renters either have a pet or want one. So, how does this affect you if you’re searching for a Boston apartment? In the old days, the vast majority of landlords frowned upon allowing their tenants to keep pets in the apartments. However, the table is starting to turn. Now, a great deal of landlords does allow cats and even dogs. Many buildings even cater to pets. Most of the apartment listings online clearly state if they’re pet friendly. That means they allow cats and may allow dogs. However, you should always check with your real estate agent or the landlord if you own a cat or dog.

9. Heated Driveways

More and more landlords are getting tired of dealing with snow plow and snow removal issues at their multi family investment properties. We are noticing an increasing trend towards landlords putting in heated driveways at rental properties. Once you have one, its really hard to go back to waiting for the snow to be moved, or the plow truck to come, or digging out a snow drift that formed two hours after the plow truck left because the wind was blowing 30mph in one of our classic Northeaster Storms.

10. Air Conditioning

Boston certainly has its fair share of super-hot days. July and August can be brutal when there is a heat wave in the concrete jungle. Buildings often trap a lot of heat and create a mini hot zone. That’s why most renters who are searching for a Boston apartment want air conditioning. It can actually be a deal breaker because most people don’t enjoy being overly hot while spending time at home. If your apartment in Boston doesn’t have central air then it is important to ask the landlord if you can put AC’s in the windows. Keep in mind most landlords do not provide AC’s so it will be up to you to pay for them if the landlord doesn’t provide central AC.

Now that you have had a chance to think through all the great things to consider when renting an apartment; it’s time to get your apartment hunting cap on and visit our listings. To learn more about finding the perfect apartment for you, fill out our contact form to connect with an agent today! To make an appointment to see available Boston apartments, call (617) 208 2121.