Verify the apartment and the person offering it
Find the property manager’s contact information independently instead of trusting a link supplied in an unsolicited message. Confirm the exact address, unit, availability, and the person’s authority to show or lease it. Be cautious if the price is unusually low, there is pressure to pay immediately, or the person claims they cannot arrange a live tour.
Ask for a useful live tour
Request a real-time video walk-through that shows the street entrance, unit number, rooms, windows, appliances, and any defects you want clarified. Ask the representative to move through the unit rather than rely only on prerecorded footage. A virtual tour can help with research, but it is not a substitute for independent verification or a signed lease.
Review the lease and payment path
Read the complete lease before signing. Confirm the legal owner or authorized agent, exact unit, occupants, dates, rent, utilities, move-in amounts, maintenance process, and how funds should be paid. Massachusetts rules limit upfront charges; review the Attorney General’s tenant guide. Get receipts and keep copies of all correspondence.
Use secure, confirmed channels
Do not wire money, pay with gift cards or cryptocurrency, or send funds to a third party whose role cannot be verified. Confirm payment instructions with a known property contact using an independently sourced phone number. If you are unsure, pause and get help before transferring funds.
Tell Rita your arrival date and target area in the international rental inquiry.
