When searching for apartments to rent online, be sure to be careful of potential scams - we've seen an increase in those specifically targeted at Boston renters. Often on Facebook Marketplace or some other social media website, someone pretending to be the landlord, or an agent or a property manager will post pictures of an amazing-looking home at a great price in a desirable neighborhood - they'll ask for money up front and promise to give you the keys so you can move in right away, and then disappear completely.
Another common pitfall is the bail-and-switch: a certain apartment will be advertised that isn't actually available or possibly not even real, with the intent of steering a potential tenant towards something else. These scams make the process frustrating at the very least. You can read more on NBC Boston.
Here is how you can avoid them:
- Ask lots of questions: find out what is close to the unit - even if it is in the listing description, if someone can't answer a question about basic landmarks, it's a huge red flag. If they refuse to let you see the home in person, you can be absolutely sure it is a scam.
- Work with an agent: it is the job of a real estate professional to do the background work for you and determine if something is real or just another scam. They'll save you time and potentially a lot of money, and work to protect you.
If you're thinking of renting, my team and I were ranked #7 in rentals in all of North America last year - we have worked with thousands of landlords, tenants and property managers, and have seen it all! Contact me to get started.
Myles Couyoumjian, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Cell: (978) 604-7055
Email: Myles.Couyoumjian@CBRealty.com
Posted by Myles Couyoumjian on
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