Boost your renter IQ

How to shop smart and get the best place at the best price

With the recent economic crisis, the trickle-down effect from Wall Street to Main Street has been all the talk. So, what about the impact on the street where you might want to rent? Unpredictability in the stock market has produced unpredictability in the local rental market, according to Boston-area agents, but generally rents are up and inventory is down (in part because fewer people are buying). Here's how to score a great deal in these uncertain times:

1. START EARLY.
The local rental market typically heats up before the New Year and before September. Diving in early can help you become familiar with the market and give you time to comparison-shop.

2. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
Some neighborhoods are seeing lower rents because of the gloomy economy, but there are also increases. This summer in Cambridge, for example, two-bedroom apartments went on average for $1,900 per month, about $150 more than the going rate last summer, says Bill Patterson, an agent with Coldwell Banker. Knowing what you want, the going rates, and what you can afford will facilitate the process.

3. BE PREPARED.
Landlords love prospective tenants who are organized, with cash in hand, credit history ready for review, and references in order.

4. BE FLEXIBLE.
If you find the perfect apartment within walking distance of work, public transportation, and your favorite hangout, then don't get snagged on a start date that isn't perfect. If the monthly rent on the perfect apartment is a little more than you'd like to pay, but you can see yourself staying awhile, ask whether a longer lease with less of an annual increase might be possible. Be open to creative negotiations with your prospective landlord. Just don't push too much.

5. DON'T BRING AN ATTITUDE.
There are anti-discrimination laws on the books, but being a jerk doesn't put you in a protected class. A landlord-tenant relationship is personal as well as financial. No landlord wants to deal with a tenant who leaves a bad first impression.