Four apartments in Brighton, one in Allston, and two in Cambridge and I never paid a brokers fee. It takes extra work hunting but it's not like they're required. The landlord is supposed to pay it but they try to pass it off on you and you can say no. The landlord can then say no to you but they don't always. My general rule is too try to get at least one viewing a day (average, I'll do like four in one day and then none for a few days) knowing some of those will fall through and start four months before my intended move in date. I'll usually start looking before that but much more relaxed about it. If I get to crunch time (the month before the month of my intended move in date) without signing anything I start looking for three or four hours a day. Sometimes I'll be in the process to sign four or five apartments (I'm obviously not going to follow through on that many) and still be looking. If you're gonna be broke you gotta put in the work. Being lazy is for rich folk.