Boston Short-Term Furnished Apartments: A Parent’s Checklist

In a hot housing market like Boston, whether you’re looking for a furnished apartment, short-term rental, corporate temporary housing, or other rental, it can be challenging to find a place to call home. For families, such a competitive market can be particularly tough, since parents have specific criteria to consider in choosing a property and location that fits both their children’s needs and their own.

On the bright side, unlike the housing situation for Boston-based pet owners, all locations welcome kids. The issue that many parents face, however, is that most buildings don’t offer many (or any) particularly kid-friendly amenities.

Some Boston short-term furnished apartments or corporate temporary housing can offer family-friendly amenities—but you need to know what you’re looking for. Here is a checklist of the top five considerations that families should think about when house hunting for Boston short-term apartments, followed by a few suggestions on where to find the amenities that your family needs:

Kid-friendly Considerations

  • Safety features. Safety and security top many parents’ lists when considering moving to a new home. Some buildings have added protection through a doorman or concierge. Other safety considerations that parents should confirm before selecting a residence include whether there are secure locks on apartment doors and terrace gates, security cameras in common spaces, and a designated area for school bus pick-up and drop-off that is directly in front of the building.
  • School district.As the most educated state in the U.S., proximity to a well-ranked school district—from preschool on—is also a top priority for many families. Whether you’re targeting a specific public school, a private school, or an international school, the school system that serves the district where your home is located often makes a difference in your ability to secure a spot for your children. With more than 100 districts to choose from in Boston’s public schools alone, it’s important for parents to do some research on their school district preferences as part of their housing decision.
  • Common play areas. Though not easy to find, a growing number of apartment buildings offer onsite playrooms so that parents have a place for kids to run around that’s on the premises yet out of the residence. Other types of common areas that parents might look for are party spaces to host birthday gatherings or play dates, or common areas where older kids can safely study. You might also ask about whether a building provides safe outdoor spaces where children are welcome, such as playgrounds or a swimming pool.
  • Kid-friendly things to do nearby. Since many buildings won’t have all the amenities you’d like for children, you can target the next best thing: having fun things for kids to do close by your apartment. Check for proximity to neighborhood parks and playgrounds, local libraries, kid-friendly restaurants, museums that cater to kids of different ages (such as Boston Children’s Museum and Boston’s Museum of Science), and other types of events, services, groups, or resources aimed at children and/or parents.
  • Family feel. This item is a bit harder to determine at a glance, but if you’re working with a provider of short-term furnished apartments, you can ask about which buildings are known for being family friendly. A provider, real estate broker, or building concierge of Boston short-term apartments should be able to give you an idea about whether there are many other families in the building, if kids close in age to your kids would be among your neighbors, and whether there are organized social activities either within the building or nearby to meet other families.

Boston Short-Term Apartments for Families

Here are three family-friendly short-term furnished apartments to get you started on your search:

  • The Towers at Longfellow Apartments, with a coveted location near the Boston Waterfront, will make parents happy with both indoor and outdoor onsite options for kids that include a children’s playroom and a large heated outdoor swimming pool. The community amenities also feature concierge service, 40 acres of green space that families can enjoy together, outdoor grilling areas for picnics, resident events, and a clubhouse with a game room. Older kids (and certainly parents) can make use of onsite basketball and tennis courts. When kids are in school, parents can relax at the building’s 24-hour fitness center, check out the media room, or just catch up on laundry at the building’s convenient card-operated laundry facility.
  • In a desirable Back Bay location, Garrison Square is coveted by families for its playground, beautifully landscaped center courtyard, rooftop grilling area, and a dog park right behind the building. (Yes, the building is pet friendly.) What’s more, parents appreciate the safety offered by a controlled-access parking garage, and the convenience of in-home washers and dryers, concierge services, and 24-hour package pickup. The residence is also in close proximity to the Duck Boat tours and the Boston Common, where kids can enjoy the Swan Boats and carousel in the summer and ice skating in the winter.
  • Families love Third Square—whose concierge-serviced apartments are located in the heart of Kendall Square—because of the building’s outdoor center courtyard, heated indoor swimming pool, and Game Room with options to play Air Hockey, Ping Pong, and Wii. Another parent pleaser is that the onsite 24-hour fitness center offers a kids’ play area. There’s a laundry facility onsite, and for the tons of gear that inevitably comes with parenthood, the building offers the option for additional storage.

Find the Best Short-Term Furnished Apartments for Your Family

To learn more about your options for family-friendly temporary furnished apartments in Boston, call Furnished Quarters at 1-800-255-8117.