<p>I am attempting to start a business that would inspect off-campus housing prior to students moving in. The inspections would cover items in the homes, safety (mainly) items, outside inspection of property etc. The cost would not be expensive. Checklists would be filled out, and if any safety items need to be addressed that are not demanded because of building codes (smoke, CO, Photo detectors) these can be installed along with locks, etc. I just don't know if there is a market for this, and how I can reach the parents of the students at certain colleges. I had the experience that I would not wish on anyone (not that dangerous) with my own son at BC in MA, with gas leaks, detectors, tree damaging a vehicle etc. Cost me money. Could've been worse. Our most precious gifts (our kids) are shipped off and we ASSUME the housing and areas they reside are all ok. But quite the contrary, I don't think we should wait till something happens, then find out we should have done something. Please give me your feedback as parents on this idea if you would be so kind, and let's hear what each other thinks. I appreciate it very much. Thanks</p>
<p>I think this would be a great service in the Boston area.</p>
<p>I agree, living in the New England area & having a recent college grad living in the Boston area. (young professional). Over 300,000 college students in Boston when colleges are in session & there is not enough on campus housing for them.</p>
<p>To reach parents, you need to be there at freshman initiation. Dont most college require freshmen to live on campus? It sounds like an important service for young people with limited experience at solving problems that come with buildings. I am surprised at how much I have to tech the kid. When to change a furnace filter, how clean a kitchen drain. Realistically I am lucky to get her to clean the dryer lint.</p>
<p>This is a good idea.</p>
<p>I don’t know how may students would sign up for this - I’d explore working with the University to do a mailing home to parents of students – like the ones we already get for “dorm sheets”. Probably shouldn’t target freshmen since they’re likely to be in the dorm.</p>
<p>My niece went to U in our town, and husband went over and found a frayed and arcing light switch, missing smoke detector, and several windows without working locks, all of which he fixed. I think he also changed out her lock cylinder after she got the okay from the landlord – who knows how many people had copies of the prior key?</p>
<p>It’s a good business concept in a place with a lot of colleges, like Boston. In most locations, I doubt you would get enough business to make it worthwhile, and it would all be concentrated into a few weeks a year. I agree that you will need to contact the parents; no kid would think of this on his/her own, even if about to move into a firetrap.</p>
<p>The problem I see here is that landlords know they can rent to students without having to fix anything. People with nice homes in Boston don’t rent them to students. It’s a slumlord mentality, students pay relatively low rent for dive houses.</p>
<p>I think most landlords, when presented with a list of things prospective tenants want, will rent to someone else.</p>
<p>Sorry, I would not pay for this service. Concerned parents could easily visit the apartments themselves. It does not sound like you have any professional knowledge that would be a benefit. (I work with people who perform inspections as a living. It is a job that requires a lot of experience. And you would have to have insurance.)</p>
<p>I am first a Dad. Secondly, I am an Auto Tech by trade. Being a former homeowner, and someone that took care of things there for 13 years, I have experience in looking and in most cases repairing these home problems. Most parents do not know if there is a problem brewing by visiting a home. I understand and respect the fact that you work for people that do inspections. The type of inspections you would do for a home purchase IS NOT the same that would be done if you’re a renter. The purpose of my thread is to see if anyone had ideas on how to reach parents of juniors or seniors because the schools do not release names for a variety of reasons. If anyone can help out, please respond, and thanks to those that did already as it is interesting talking to diffferent people and their difference in opinions.</p>
<p>That is the reasoning behind this whole idea. And the off campus rents in Boston area are NOT CHEAP! This would give the PARENTS the opportunity to spend a few dollars to supplement the necessary additional few items to INSURE that their children are safe. What you think? (meant for 2college2college)</p>
<p>Not sure if this would be a profitable business, but worth investigating. </p>
<p>“Concerned parents could easily visit the apartments themselves” - Many parents live hundreds or thousands of miles away, so not practical to visit. But I think a list could be helpful even to students and local parents - it would allow them to not waste time on poorly rated units.</p>
<p>I would go to the websites for Boston area colleges and universities (BC, BU, Northeastern, Suffolk, Emmanuel, Wheelock, Tufts, Harvard, MIT, Simmons, UMass Boston, Wentworth, MassArt, etc) and look for the Parent Contact person. Then get in touch with that person and find out how to let parents know that you are offering this service.</p>
<p>First you’d need to set a price, draw up a list of what you would do, etc.</p>
<p>I agree that the problem with this would be that you’d have a TON of business in late August/early Sept, then no business until maybe January, and maybe again in June (summer session).</p>
<p>I am not at all worried that “concerned parents could visit apartments themselves.” At least in our area, most concerned parents wouldn’t have a clue how to do much more than plug in a carbon monoxide detector. </p>
<p>The great news is that you’re in the Boston area, because a substantial number of students going to school there also come from the greater Boston area – one way to start would be advertising in some of the wealthier burbs in July. Craigslist could also be useful. </p>
<p>Another would be to find out if CC ads are doable and linked to specific colleges or locations. A Google ad-words that includes “Boston” “rental” “college” and “safety” could be helpful as well.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t anticipate that you’d do inspections before move-in (I think landlords would tend to just find others to rent to if they’re like the ones around here.) After or concurrent with move-in checks seem more likely. I’d say that there is an opportunity for another burst of activity in fall just as heating season starts.</p>
<p>One extra service I’d pay for is documenting the status of the rental before move-in – dings, dents, gouges, …</p>
<p>You would also have to have landlords willing to let you inspect their properties. Why would they be willing to let you do that when they can rent out their property without you taking their time and disrupting their tenants? You do not have any credentials that would appeal to parents, either. Why would they trust your knowledge? If a credentialed/licensed home/apartment inspector chose to set up the business they would have a selling point. What will you do if a dissatisfied parent chooses to sue you for missing something? </p>
<p>This service sounds like something for current/immediate past student renters to be persuing. They can formalize the word of mouth reporting with organized checklists. I know my son reported that certain management companies were known to be better to deal with, more/less willing to find reasons to keep security deposits and so forth. Management can be more of an issue than just the physical apartment. How do you find out this data?</p>
<p>I think this sounds like a great idea. We are 1300 miles from our D’s college; no way could we look at apartments with her.</p>