Boston Property Management
Bed Bug Myths Debugged
10 Need-to-Know Myths to Protect Your Boston Apartment
Your parents used to say “don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Now that you’re moving into your own Boston apartment, it’s time you give this advice another thought! As reported in the NBC New York news story, “Beware of Bed Bugs: Cases Set to Surge This Summer,” bed bug complaints in New York City apartments are up 8 percent from last year with over 13,000 bed bug complaints in 2010. Jeffrey White, a research entomologist for bed bugcentral.com anticipates worse bed bug outbreaks this year than last. Boston apartment residents are lucky that our city hasn’t shown up on the Top Ten Worst Bed Bug Infested Cities, but the bed bug problem persists even here.
You need to know the myths and facts about bed bugs in order to identify and fight these bugs. We’ve compiled a list of 10 bed bug myths to help you protect yourself and your Boston apartment from the Back Bay to the West End.
Myth 1: Bed bugs only show up in dirty apartments and on dirty people.
Bed bugs aren’t attracted to dirt; they’re attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide and heat. They feed on blood and can infest any location regardless of how clean it is. Bed bugs have been known to show up anywhere from South End to North End apartments. You can bring bed bugs home with you merely by coming into contact with a person or location contaminated with bed bugs.
Myth 2: Bed bugs only live in beds and mattresses.
Bed bugs spend 90 percent of their time hiding and can live almost anywhere: on furniture, walls, clothing, carpets, or pictures. Don’t think that just by throwing away your mattress will solve your bed bug problem because they often spread to areas around your bed as well: within the cracks of furniture, along the baseboards of walls, inside electric outlets, laptops, and even cell phones!
Myth 3: Bed bugs are too small to see.
So you’re sitting in your Brookline or Charlestown apartment; can you spot a bed bug? Adult bed bugs are relatively easy to spot; they are reddish-brown and 3mm–5mm in size. Recently hatched larvae tend to be harder to see at 1mm–2mm in size. Until the larva feed on blood, they remain a pale white.
Myth 4: I have bite marks, but my partner doesn’t. I can’t have bed bugs!
Bites can differ in size from person-to-person based on individual allergic reactions to the bites. Bites may leave no marks, small bumps, or even large welts. If your partner doesn’t have bite marks but you do, your Boston apartment could still harbor bed bugs.
Myth 5: Bed bugs are killed by the cold.
Houses heated to 70 degrees Celsius for 3 hours only kill about 78% of bed bugs on average. Cold temperature treatments don’t fare much better. In fact, bed bugs can survive for a long time in below freezing temperatures. Overall, the cold treatment is unreliable even during a Boston winter. Although hot steam treatments work, you must remember that you may not be killing all of the bugs that are hiding.
Myth 6: Bed bugs transmit diseases.
Many scientific research studies have found that luckily bed bugs don’t transmit diseases; however, scratching bed bug bites can lead to secondary infections. Make sure to get medical attention if your bites appear infected.
Myth 7: You can feel a bed bug biting you.
Bed bugs inject their saliva before feeding on blood so you won’t feel their bite. However, like a mosquito bite, bed bug bites can be itchy later based on how allergic you are to their saliva. Also, beg bugs are generally more active at night and may bite you while you are sleeping.
Myth 8: You can kill bed bugs with any insecticide.
Although bug bombs may kill a number of bed bugs, their use generally causes the bed bugs to scatter and actually make your Boston apartment’s infestation worse. Directly spraying bed bugs with insecticides may kill the ones you hit; however, you can’t count on getting all of them with a direct spraying. Also, many insecticides will not work on all the stages of the bed bug life cycle.
Myth 9: Bed bugs are resistant to all pesticides.
Not all pesticides kill bed bugs, but many pesticides do. Consult a professional exterminator to determine which methods will work best for your situation.
Myth 10: Leaving bed bugs alone in an empty house will kill them.
Adult bed bugs can live for a year or more without feeding so ignoring the problem will only make it worse.
Understanding these myths will hopefully make you more aware so that you can effectively deal with any buggy Boston real estate situation. Your best bet is to consult with a professional exterminator to prepare an integrated pest management solution, which involves a regiment of spraying, vacuuming, steaming, laundering and sealing in order to kill and prevent the infestation of bed bugs. We hope you sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite! Now, let’s hear your bed bug stories!
Possible Contingencies in Purchase and Sale Agreements
If you are looking for a home in Boston, whether you already live there or you are relocating to the city, chances are you will encounter the use of a Purchase and Sale Agreement in your contract.
A Purchase and Sale Agreements is the contract for the purchase and sale of real estate between a Buyer and Seller, in which the Seller agrees to sell and the Buyer agrees to buy under certain specific terms and conditions. When a Buyer submits a Purchase and Sale Contract or offer to the Seller for review, it will most likely contain a contingency form of some kind. Here are the most common forms and how they apply to your contract.
INSPECTION CONTINGENCY
Most home buyers won’t complete a sale without a property inspection, which is usually performed by a professional then approved and signed off on by the Buyer and Seller. If during the inspection, something is found that the Buyer won’t approve, they can terminate the deal. If the Seller can have an opportunity to fix the issue, the Buyer can continue with the sale. Basically, this contingency means if the inspection is not approved by both Buyer and Seller, the transaction cannot proceed.
FINANCING CONTINGENCY
A solid offer should be submitted with a pre-approval letter that shows that the Buyer is serious and has already done their homework on the property. A Financing Contingency is good to include just in case something goes wrong. A pre-approval letter states that at the time of application, everything was approved, but from this time until the closing of the deal something could come up that restricts the Buyer from obtaining financing. If this turns out to be the case, the deal must be terminated.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTINGENCY
This is rare, but can be useful in the right situation. If a Buyer wants to get in on a property and check out the area later, this would be the form to use. If the Buyer lives out of the area and can’t check out the neighborhood prior to making an offer or if the property is a hot commodity that the Buyer wants first crack at, a Neighborhood Contingency would allow the Buyer to take some time to investigate neighbors, crime rate, and school or community issues and information before continuing on the purchase of the home.
ADDITIONAL HOME SALE CONTINGENCY
This states that the Buyer, although interested in the property, must sell their current home before they buy the new home. In a sellers’ market, these offers are usually not accepted because there are more reasonable buyers waiting to offer non-contingent offers. However, in a buyers’ market, where there is not as much competition, the sellers may be more likely to agree on the contingent sale.
These are just a few contingency type forms; there are a number of other forms that may apply to your specific situation. Contact a qualified real estate agent for assistance when making property deals.
Questions for Your Realtor!
Before you dive into renting or buying a Boston home, you need to examine the agent that will help you find it! Finding somewhere to live is one of the most important decision you will make, whether is be a luxury Back Bay condo or your first Boston college apartment. You must make sure to adopt a set of standards for the new Realtor, and with those standards must come well thought out questions to ask before you decide on one. Here are a few important questions to get you started!
What is your average list price-to-sell price ratio? When buying, you want a Realtor that can negotiate a lower sale price than listed and has a track record to prove it!
Do you have relationships with any of the area management companies? When renting, it is good to work with someone that can vouch for you to the management companies that own the Boston apartments you will be viewing.
What is your service charge? Getting this question out of the way right off the bat will help you avoid any surprises later.
Do you have any references that I can contact? You don’t actually have to contact any of those provided if you don’t feel that it’s necessary, but ensuring that the agent has them at all is a great indicator.
The best way to ensure that you’re working with the perfect Realtor is to choose an agency that has the assurance of experience and a proven track record of success. Phoenix Realty has a team of hand picked agents that are experts in selling, buying, brokering and renting Boston condos and apartments. Contact a Phoenix agent today to set up an appointment to find your dream Boston home.
Know Your Tenant Rights!
After you make the decision to rent an apartment, there are some things you should be aware of in regards to your landlord! Sometimes new renters think that they are at the complete mercy of their landlord’s whims, and a landlord may try to take advantage of that. This is why you need to know that there are renting laws that can benefit and protect you as a tenant. Before you sign a lease, you need to know the basic tenant rights you are entitled to.
1. Renting laws restrict the amount of security deposit money a landlord can as for when you move in to your place. These laws vary state by state, but you can be sure that if you rent a Boston apartment you can only be asked to pay one month’s rent at the most. To get around this law, sometimes landlords will ask you to pay a pet deposit or a cleaning fee, but these are governed by laws of their own.The security deposit amount you are asked to pay has a limit.
2. Even if you really annoy them, your landlord can’t evict you in retaliation. This is especially important when it comes to things like asking for repairs, updates, or complaining about the apartment. If you complain constantly about a repair that hasn’t been completed, your landlord’s first instinct might just be to kick you out and save the trouble, but thankfully they can’t do anything like that. If the landlord tries to take you to court, “landlord retaliation” is a valid defense.
3. Your landlord has to keep your place livable! This may seem like a no-brainer, but just in case you don’t get along with your landlord it is important to know that laws require your apartment to be in livable condition. This means that if the pipes burst, they are required to fix it well and in a timely manner or else they get fined or worse. Most landlords care about their tenants and as such are willing to keep the apartments in good shape, but for the few that slip through – know that renting laws will keep your place in good shape.
4. Partial rent payment can stop an eviction. Because of renting laws, you can stop an eviction by paying a portion of your rent. So if you receive an eviction notice and they accept a portion of the rent due, they cannot successfully continue the eviction.
Phoenix Realty agents can help you find an apartment under the terms that best suit your needs. Contact us for help, or browse our online listings of Boston apartments and other Boston rental properties.
Boston Tenancies Explained
Understanding Boston apartments for rent is easy: there are basically two distinct types of tenancies in Massachusetts. These are a lease and a tenancy at will.
The common misconception for both parties is that leases are better for landlords and tenancies-at-will are better for tenants. However, this isn’t always the case. Which is better depends on the needs of each party in terms of stability, predictability, and flexibility, as the terms and conditions of both a lease or a tenancy-at-will can be negotiated between the tenant and leasing landlord.
(*Except in the case of units receiving state or federal subsidy, in which case the lease must be made for at least one year.)
Written Fixed Lease Differences
A lease can be:
- For a fixed term of tenancy (one year on average). A tenancy-at-will is from month to month.
- Terminated during the term determined by the lease, and only for reasons listed in the lease. A tenancy-at-will can be terminated without any reason.
- Used to define a specific fixed monthly rent, but can also allow for rent increases when it not specified in the lease. For tenant-at-will, the landlord can increase the rent upon giving notice one rental period in advance.
Basics of Tenancy at Will
A tenancy-at-will for a Boston rental property can be a written agreement, oral, or by the actions of the landlord and tenant. For example, the landlord or the landlord’s agent accepting rent from the tenant. The best method of Tenancy at will is obviously to have any rental agreement in writing.
Whatever transpires between the landlord and tenant parties creates a contract. This means that both parties have to agree on the essential terms of the contract, which includes the amount of rent to be charged / paid, the total term of the tenancy, and what items are included in the tenancy. These terms cannot be modified or changed without the consent of both the landlord and the tenant.
It is common for landlords to wrongly assume that the rent for a tenancy at will can be increased soley by action on the landlord’s part, in the form of giving a rent increase notice. But this isn’t true: as with any other contract, the tenant must agree to the changes, by either expression or action. However, if the tenant does not agree with the rent increase, the landlord could threaten to or actually terminate the tenancy.
Terms and Terminations
The term specifics of tenancies at will are usually on a month to month basis. Unlike a lease, a tenancy at will can be terminated by the Boston property management for any lawful reason. This is called a “no fault” eviction.
The period required for termination for a tenancy at will is often determined by frequency of the rental payment. If the rent payment is monthly, then both the landlord or the tenant can terminate the agreement by giving a valid thirty-day notice. If the rent is paid less frequently, like once every six months, then the required termination period will be equal to that rent payment period.
Now that you’re in the know about rental terms, contact Phoenix Realty to get started on your Boston apartment search, or to list your Boston apartment!
Read the full source article on Leases and Tenancies at Will from boston.com.
Tenancy at Will
A lease is a contract that details an agreement between a landlord and a tenant regarding certain terms, such as duration. But what happens when neither party wants to commit to a certain amount of time? Tenancy-at-will!
So, what exactly is this and how does it work? Also known as a “month-to-month” lease, tenancy-at-will is an agreement (written or verbal) that affords leniency to a landlord or tenant as to how long the living space will be rented for. Whether you’re living in an Allston apartment or a Back Bay condo, these leases allow either party to cancel the living arrangement as desired. However, that party must provide the other with a certain amount of notice, and specify the length of that notice in the initial agreement.
There are of course, pros and cons, for both tenants and landlords. Tenancy-at-will obviously is beneficial for the party that terminates the contract, and generally a hassle for the person who has to honor the terms of the agreement. This contract is definitely not for those who value predictability. Some prefer annual leases or leases with other fixed terms to ensure a smooth renting experience without any surprises.
On the other hand, the unpredictability and flexibility can also be a good thing. A tenancy-at-will agreement could potentially benefit those who are plagued by uncertainty as to where they want to be in five months.
Phoenix Realty can help you find an apartment under the terms that best suit your needs. Contact us for help, or browse our online listings of Boston apartments and other Boston rental properties.
Top 5 Biggest Mistakes of Home Sellers
In an article released today by Chris Seder, He outlines the biggest mistakes that you can make when selling your home. The following are some highlights, outlining the pitfalls to avoid if you are preparing to sell.
1. Neglecting the Fine Print in your Realtor Contract. Make sure that you go over the fine print of your contract with a real estate agent or lawyer to fully understand the conditions that you are selling your home under.
2. Jumping in with no research. For Sale by owner homes can be difficult, as you never know what to list at. Do some research, and understand what people in your area are buying homes for. The value you think your home has may not reflect in the market.
3. Failure to market your home. You really have to promote and market your property if you want it to sell – waiting for the buyers to come to you may not be the best way to go about selling.
4. Personal Home Staging. When potential buyers come to view your home, remove all personal items and family photos. You want to give the local buyers the idea that this could be their home, not that they are buying it from you. Also remove your home of clutter, as it can make your home for sale feel smaller.
5. No effort to “stand out”. If you are trying to sell in a fairly competitive housing season or market, prepare yourself by visiting other Boston homes for sale in your area. This gives you a great sense of the market, and what is being offered for what price. You can also list what you find appealing in these other homes, and try to apply something similar at your own open house.
(Read more seller “Don’ts” from the full source article here)
Understanding Boston Apartments
The language of Boston real estate and Boston rental property can be confusing. Things are not always as straightforward as having 3 roommates, and then looking for 3 bedroom apartments. Phoenix realty has a helpful rentals and sales search tool, (on the left of your screen) but if you plug in 3 beds, you will find 3 bedroom splits popping up. Do you know what this means? Or say you want to live on your own: what is the difference between a one bedroom apartment and a studio?
So, to help break down some of the mystery behind these terms, of take a look at the following terms to better understand what it means to rent what for your next apartment. We also have some great Phoenix listings of Boston apartments for rent to take a look at!
Studio
Studio apartments generally have a single, large space as their floor plan. This means that there is no closed off bedroom, as your living room, bedroom, kitchen, and dining room will share the same space. This can be a great option for one person (or one person with a significant other to share a bed) to have a free working floor plan – just be careful not to have too many items or furniture, as the space can appear cluttered. However, it is easy to re-decorate for the restless nester, and furniture of any size can easily fit in multiple places without being obstructed by walls and doors.
(#) Bedroom Apartments
1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom or more Boston apartments all mean the same thing: you have separated bedroom(s) from the rest of the living space. This will give you a lot more privacy than a studio apartment, and in some cases will give you a foyer or small living room area to entertain. This is the better option if you have more things to organize, and you do not want guests to see where you sleep if you can be on the messy side. (Phoenix listing sample of a 2 bedroom)
(#-#)Split Apartments
Split apartments are actually bedroom apartments that are further subdivided in terms of rent. This usually happens when all the rooms have doors, and one bedroom becomes a living room. So what is considered a 1/2 bedroom split is actually a 2 bedroom, but the second bedroom is used for a living room instead of having a second roommate to constitute a 2 bedroom. (This is applicable for 2/3 bedroom splits, 3/4 bedroom splits, etc.) This is a great option for those roommates who are looking to save some money on rent who don’t feel a need for a separate living room – some apartments have spacious hallways or foyers which can serve as appropriate “living room” spaces.
Condo
Apartments for purchase are referred to as condominiums. While they can be strikingly similar to rooms available in everyday apartments, the buildings they are kept in tend to be of higher quality. This occurs when a developer finds an apartment building, renovates the units, and then sells them as condos. As a result, this higher quality building can offer more conveniences, and be more expensive to rent.
Half (or Less) Bathrooms
Full bathrooms are defined as having four parts: a toilet, sink, shower, and bathtub. A 1/2 bathroom just has a sink and a toilet. A 1/4 bathroom just has a sink, while a 3/4 bathroom has a shower stall, sink, and toilet. 3/4 bathrooms do not have tubs, so you cannot take a bath.
Have a better idea of the Boston apartment you’d like to live in, or see a listing that you like? Contact us today to schedule a viewing!
Boston Real Estate: A Good Investment
According to a recent post by Daniel Amodeo, the values of investment properties in Boston continue to hold a steady value. Boston is one of the very few cities that was only slightly effected by the nationwide real estate bubble burst – so the question is, why?
Besides being a beautiful town with rich history, and exciting to live in, the infrastructure is strong. Boston is home to some of the best hospitals and schools in the entire world, which make it a city of education, as well as a place where people all across the world will compete to live in.
Investing in Boston real estate has historically been a stable option. Even with the current nation-wide real estate crisis, Downtown Boston was hardly touched. Real estate markets in cities such as Miami, for instance, have nearly completely crashed.
The rental market in Boston is one of the strongest in the world, as there is a high demand to live in the city due to all of the schools, hospitals, and jobs. Many Fortune 500 companies are located in Boston, as well as satellite locations to mega corporations such as Google.
There is also an extremely high demand for rentals and sales in the town next-door, Cambridge. Cambridge is home to two of the world’s best universities: Harvard University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is also home to a booming biotech industry.
Make sure to browse Phoenix Realty for some premier listings for Boston apartments – whether you are looking for a Back Bay condo or are eying some South End real estate. Contact an agent today!
GO GREEN- Live and Work in Boston!
Just in time for Earth Day on April 22nd, a new report released by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) called the Boston Regional Challenge, details the true cost of housing and transportation for people (and the environment) in Boston and the surrounding communities. The report finds that the average working household in the Boston region spends over $34,000 a year – or 54% of their income – on the combined costs of housing and transportation.
To read the full report, you should visit www.BostonRegionalChallenge.org
While you’re there, take the time to experiment with the free Cost Calculator that visitors can use to accurately determine their combined housing and transportation costs based on where they live, where they work and how they commute. If you’re thinking about moving, we suggest you try this tool out to help you evaluate your options!
The Boston Regional Challenge also demonstrates the unintended environmental impacts of our living and commuting practices. For example, in the Boston region, transportation accounts for 41% of greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 33% nationally, due in part to a large number of people living in Greater Boston’s suburbs and commuting via car to work in the city. As reported in Boston Regional Challenge, households in more densely populated areas like Boston proper produce less than half the total metric tons of CO2 per year than households in lower density areas such as towns outside of I-495.
If you work within the city and choose to live in the Boston proper area, the study shows that the increase in housing costs associated with living in the city are actually offset by the savings of a shorter commute. Not only can living in the city be more fun, but it can be more affordable and better for the environment, too!
So go ahead and use the Cost Calculator on the Boston Regional Challege website and see if moving closer to the city is a good choice for you! Then use our search tools to help you find your ideal Boston apartment, condo, or house!
Source:
Just in time for Earth Day on April 22nd, a new report released by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) called the Boston Regional Challenge, details the true cost of housing and transportation for people (and the environment) in Boston and the surrounding communities. The report finds that the average working household in the Boston region spends over $34,000 a year – or 54% of their income – on the combined costs of housing and transportation.
To read the full report, you should visit www.BostonRegionalChallenge.org. While you’re there, take the time to experiment with the free Cost Calculator that visitors can use to accurately determine their combined housing and transportation costs based on where they live, where they work and how they commute. If you’re thinking about moving, we suggest you try this tool out to help you evaluate your options!
The Boston Regional Challenge also demonstrates the unintended environmental impacts of our living and commuting practices. For example, in the Boston region, transportation accounts for 41% of greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 33% nationally, due in part to a large number of people living in Greater Boston’s suburbs and commuting via car to work in the city. As reported in Boston Regional Challenge, households in more densely populated areas like Boston proper produce less than half the total metric tons of CO2 per year than households in lower density areas such as towns outside of I-495.
If you work within the city and choose to live in the Boston proper area, the study shows that the increase in housing costs associated with living in the city are actually offset by the savings of a shorter commute. Not only can living in the city be more fun, but it can be more affordable and better for the environment, too!
So go ahead and use the Cost Calculator on www.BostonRegionalChallenge.org and see if moving closer to the city is a good choice for you! Then use our search tools to help you find your ideal Boston apartment, condo, or house!
Portions of this blog were based on a recent report featured on RealEstateRama.com
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