THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING INTO YOUR NEW APARTMENT IS THINK ABOUT WHICH FEATURES WILL DETERMINE IF YOU LIKE A PLACE:

LOCATION (CLOSE TO T, CITY PREFERENCE)
STYLE OF APARTMENT
FLOORPLAN (OPEN, RAILROAD, TRADITIONAL)
FLOORS (CARPET vs HARDWOOD)
KITCHEN FEATURES (DISHWASHER, GAS vs ELECTRIC STOVE)
SIZE OF APARTMENT
LARGER SCALE BUILDING VERSUS SMALLER 2 TO 3 UNIT BUILDINGS PARKING
PET POLICIES

MONEY
THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A TURBULENT TIME IN CAMBRIDGE APARTMENT RENTALS.  WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN RENTS (OFTEN 10-30%REDUCTIONS), AND A SHIFT REGARDING THE BROKER'S FEE.  TWO YEARS AGO, TENANTS PAID THE FEE 90% OF THE TIME.  THE MARKET HAS SHIFTED GREATLY.  LANDLORDS ARE PAYING THE WHOLE FEE ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME, LANLORDS AND TENANTS ARE SPLITTING THE FEE 30%, AND TENANTS ARE PAYING THE WHOLE FEE ABOUT 10% FO THE TIME. 

HOW DO WE KNOW WHO PAYS THE FEE?
EACH PROPERTY IS DIFFERENT!!!  LANDLORDS DECIDE HOW MUCH OF THE FEE THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY.  THEY TAKE GUIDANCE FROM THE REST OF THE MARKET TO MAKE THEIR DECISION.  MOST LANDLORDS WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER LANDLORDS IN WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY SOFT MARKET.

BOTTOM LINE
HAVE AT LEAST 3 MONTHS RENT READY AT THE SIGNING OF THE LEASE.

LOOKING AT APARTMENTS IS THE ONLY WAY TO FIND THE APARTMENT FOR YOU. IF UNSURE ABOUT YOUR PREFERENCES ABOUT LIVING SPACES, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ONES CAN GO A LONG WAY TO MAKING YOU HAPPY.