4 Factors to Consider When Moving in to Your Boston Apartment

True to its reputation as a college town, Boston is a city with pretty regular renter turnover. For this reason, there are a number of factors to consider when moving into your Boston apartment beyond putting down a security deposit and picking up your new keys. A majority of apartments tend to empty and refill all within the same few-day period, so proper planning is essential to ensuring a smooth transition.

1. Securing Your Moving Vehicle

Many Boston leases are made to revolve around the school year,  so there are certain times of year that draw droves of movers vying for limited UHauls, street space and helping moving hands. Moving vans and trucks directly in the Boston area tend to sell out months before the most popular September 1st move-in date, so be sure to book yours toward the beginning of summer in order to avoid going deep into the North shore for your UHaul.

2. Parking Your Moving Vehicle

Few apartment buildings in the city come with sprawling lots to park your moving truck as you carry rooms worth of furniture up the stairwells, parking your vehicle requires a bit of planning as well. Many Boston neighborhoods are dominated by resident-only parking lots, so leave your vehicle here and you’ll be almost guaranteed a pricey ticket. Best way to secure yourself a space outside your new building without being slapped with violations is to obtain a street occupancy permit from the City of Boston Transportation Department. The permit essentially gives you ownership of a certain stretch of street  for a period of several hours on your moving day. Most hired moving companies require these, but purchasing one even if you’re driving a truck yourself ensures you won’t have to carry your belongings for blocks.

3. Selecting Your Route

When traveling to and fro the old and new apartment, stay on fast-moving routes like the Mass pike, I-93, Storrow Drive and Jamaicaway for as long as you can to avoid clogged residential thoroughfares. Also, be wary of the width of the streets you’re planning on traveling through. Some of the more secret side streets that could help you cut down on traffic may not be wide enough for a 17-foot moving truck.

4. Bargaining Your Moving Dates and Time

While August 31st tends to be the typical day you’re kicked out of the old place and September 1st the first day you’re allowed into the new, this isn’t set in stone. Be in touch with your new landlord about when his old tenants are moving out. If it’s before the September 1st date, try to bargain your way into moving in a bit ahead of time. That way you can avoid the limited street space, moving vans and other situations on September 1st that will sap you of your sanity. You could also move out of your old place early and pass on the blessings to your successor tenants. Once you come to a consensus with your landlord on when you’re moving out, be sure to stick to it, as they can charge you for every hour you are late in handing in your keys.