I assume that there are other people in this situation. My son and his roommate had decided to find an off-campus apartment (they’ve lived together in the Berklee dorms this year and last year) for next year. So far they’ve had a chance–before all hell broke loose–to look at only one place. They would be living with about four other people in a place with two bathrooms, and it’s not that close to campus. My son thought it could be fine, but I’ve had enough experience to know that, the fewer people you live with, the less likely it is that the living situation could be made into a nightmare by even a single sloppy or unpleasant/neurotic roommate. I feel strongly that they should try to find a place for just the two of them (they can afford about $1500/month each–it sounds as if it would be possible to find a two-bedroom for that amount).
However, now my son is home in NJ for the duration, and his roommate is home in Peru, so they can’t do any more apartment-searching.
Would it be prudent/useful to pay a real estate agent to find them a place? (I don’t know about Boston, but NY just made it illegal for RE agents to charge potential renters a big commission fee). Are there other ways to find a decent place without actually seeing it in person?
(Of course, when I moved back to NJ from FL, I bought a condo sight-unseen that I’d found on Zillow. I had my son and ex-husband look at it before I bought it, but the day I moved in was the first day I saw it in person! Fortunately, I chose pretty well, but I was lucky. I wouldn’t generally recommend it!)
P.S. I WOULD be willing to pay a broker’s fee, if necessary. But I’d prefer to do it if I could get recommendations from people in Boston about agents who are professional and trustworthy.
What is the status of the 6 person/two bathroom place already looked at? Just curious because usually apts. go fast in Boston and wondering how the virus is affecting market. Also wondering what area of town has such a large place.
I have used Chestnut Hill Realty (well-managed, no fees) in the Boston area. Students in Cambridge use Apartment Rental experts. Cambridge is a bus ride away so not that convenient. In general, there, the larger brick buildings are a good bet (CHR has those in Brookline as well).
Zillow is a good resource, and sometimes Craigslist (with caution). Most Boston area realtors do charge a fee.
You could try mainstream realtors like Caldwell Banker, Century 21, Re/max, even Sotheby’s.
I have seen smaller real estate offices in the Berklee area that seem to manage properties in that area but don’t have the names. They would probably pop up on Zillow for, say, Hemenway area.
Jamaica Plain is affordable and surprisingly close by subway but it sounds like your son’s budget doesn’t necessitate that. The Northeastern. NEC/Berklee/BoCo/Mass College of Art/Wentworth area sure does have a lot of apartments of varying quality.
I think using a realtor is a good idea but expect a full month’s fee.
(Okay–CC is incredibly helpful, but the ads are starting to drive me nuts!!)
Thanks, @compmom . I’m not entirely sure, but I THINK my son said that the other place is in Brookline (that’s stuck in my head because when I was in college I had a mad crush on someone who lived in Brookline 
).
I was looking on Zillow. There was a place (or several) on Gainsborough Street (?) that looked decent for $2700. Others on Hemenway. The one I sent my son had an in-unit washer/dryer, which would be helpful. I saw a lot of places that looked as if they might work, but it’s so hard to tell. I’m mostly concerned about safety–every time I see “Hemenway” I think of that fire last year… The agent for that particular listing was from something called Boston Heritage Realty. I suppose I can look up reviews of brokers online.
If the broker is reputable, a month’s fee would be okay. We ARE saving a bit on room and board this semester!
Maybe Sotheby’s? Is the (possibly) Brookline apartment a bird in the hand?!
There are many on here who know the current situation for rentals around Berklee better than I do and I hope someone PM’s you!
My son’s roommate is friends, I believe, with some of the people who live in that apartment. Still, I’d rather that he not have the possibility of additional distractions from his studies from a bunch of roommates coming and going, trying to get into the bathroom, etc. This semester is enough of a distraction as it is!
And I hate to be the one to even suggest this, but I was thinking that things re: Covid-19 might continue to warrant some restrictions by then. I doubt it, and I really hope not, but right now nothing seems like a sure bet. I don’t want to sign anything or write any checks until I have a better idea of what’s in store.
But for now, your suggestions and knowledge of the area can get us going in the right direction. I agree that it might be best to use one of the more “big-name,” established agencies. I’m not sure that Sotheby’s would stoop to student-style apartments, though! I could be wrong
As Mother, Sent you a pm