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Post Info TOPIC: How do you find an apt. far away?
f413


Kenneth Cole

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How do you find an apt. far away?
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I know this seems so stupid, but I am easily overwhelmed.


So i've lived in West. Mass all my life and want to move to Boston, which is a two hour drive. Do you people actually look at alot of apartments or do you seal the deal online without looking at the apt. in person?


See, if I make several appointments to look at apartments on the same day (presumably in several different Boston suburbs) I would get flustered at trying to figure out directions in a semi-foreign place and worry about making the appointments on time. I also don't want to spend every weekend apartment hunting and driving for four hours.


Do you just settle for one of the first places you see ?


                                        Sincerely, clueless



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Elle


Hermes

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Me!  I've done this!  Me!  Me!


IMO, two hours is NOTHING.  It would take up one or two entire days but the drive would be soooo worth it to see what your'e getting.  But you don't want to waste your time either, so here's what I would do:


Ask any friends/family/STers what neighborhoods/areas they would recommend (or recommend against) in Boston.


Check out www.apartments.com and www.forrent.com to find some possibilities in your preferred price range and area and with acceptable ammenities/floorplans/etc.


Put the ones you'd like to tour in a somewhat-logical geographic order (so you're not backtracking), and get mapquest directions from apartment to apartment.


Then call each apartment on the list and start making appointments (make a note of office hours when you visit the apartment websites), allowing about 30-45 minutes per tour and any necessary driving time between appointments.  Bring a printout for each apartment or a blank notebook so you can note things you like/dislike.


Bring a digital (or film) camera with you if you'll be visiting many places (they start to run together after awhile).


Before you sign anything, see if any friends/family/STers have heard/seen/been to/know about the apartments you'd be moving into - the more local info, the better.


HTH!



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To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
JSW


Nine West

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What areas are you looking for in the suburbs of Boston?  I can try and help since I'm from Boston and live in one of the suburban cities.


Some items to look for... is it near public transportation?  Looking for parking in Boston can be a headache. Also, is there parking available at the place you are reviewing.


Let me know if you have other questions.



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f413


Kenneth Cole

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LMonet-How many apartments did you/sig. other look at before deciding?


JSW-Can I private message you?



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Elle


Hermes

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f413 wrote:

LMonet-How many apartments did you/sig. other look at before deciding?
We toured 4 different apartment complexes before we settled on one.  We did make the drive, but did it in one day (12 hrs travel time, total) and could only fit in 4 apartment tours.  Had we known someone in the city that was able to point us in the right direction (or more time to look around the city for apartments) our search would have been much easier!

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To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
carmenb513


Coach

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LMonet wrote:

Me!  I've done this!  Me!  Me! IMO, two hours is NOTHING.  It would take up one or two entire days but the drive would be soooo worth it to see what your'e getting.  But you don't want to waste your time either, so here's what I would do: Ask any friends/family/STers what neighborhoods/areas they would recommend (or recommend against) in Boston. Check out www.apartments.com and www.forrent.com to find some possibilities in your preferred price range and area and with acceptable ammenities/floorplans/etc. Put the ones you'd like to tour in a somewhat-logical geographic order (so you're not backtracking), and get mapquest directions from apartment to apartment. Then call each apartment on the list and start making appointments (make a note of office hours when you visit the apartment websites), allowing about 30-45 minutes per tour and any necessary driving time between appointments.  Bring a printout for each apartment or a blank notebook so you can note things you like/dislike. Bring a digital (or film) camera with you if you'll be visiting many places (they start to run together after awhile). Before you sign anything, see if any friends/family/STers have heard/seen/been to/know about the apartments you'd be moving into - the more local info, the better. HTH!
I think this is the best way....Except that I really was long distance hunting.....Try living in Cincinnati and moving to Connecticut. Anyway after not getting into the places I wanted to I got a realtor(I didn't have to pay any fees either, as the landlord was paying this guy to find a decent tenant).I ended just having a the realtor have a billion appointments set up.I was in a time crunch, as I was living at the Amerisuites and it was getting old.


Good luck!



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f413


Kenneth Cole

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Carmen-Oh my god i'm such an idiot for not thinking of that. That's how I found my current apt., which was only twenty minutes away from my last one. YES YES YES! That would make it so easy-("duh" to self). THANK YOU!! 

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