Moving to NYC! Need apartment hunting assist

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 12:03pm

Start spreading the news......


Big life change, moving back to the East Coast to live in NYC!

I would greatly appreciate any info on a good real estate agent or website to help find a nice apartment to rent in Manhattan. Craigslist has been helpful, but I want to cast a wider net, so if you know of anything, please respond via post or PM. As of now, not looking for any broker, they are crazy expensive.

Looking to move by end of September. Many thanks in advance.

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 12:06pm

Welcome in advance!

Here's a really long thread from not too long ago:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=off&thread=932174#2949711

It has some stuff in there that might be helpful in addition to whatever people add here. And good luck. I might be looking myself soon (my building's owner just went bankrupt).

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 3:43pm

Thanks Calvin...I didn't see that one...Fortunately money is less of an option, but the hunt is for a 3 bedroom in Manhattan or nearby (I personally dig Brooklyn Heights)

[keen on kean]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 4:20pm

Three bedrooms in Manhattan - hope you won the lottery!

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 4:40pm

Well, myself and my best friend are blessed with steady incomes!

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 4:42pm

What areas of Manhattan are you looking? You can get 3 bedrooms in the $2-3K a month range in Upper Manhattan and some parts of Harlem.

Otherwise you are looking at $3500 and up...way up. And for those kinds of properties, you going to have to deal with a broker.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 5:13pm

One piece of advice: You snooze, you lose. You have to know what you can and cannot tolerate.

You must show up to an apartment showing with checkbook in hand. If you like it, tell the owner or broker you are ready to write a check for the application fee. If you "think about it" there are five people behind you ready to write a check.

Know exactly what you can tolerate and what you can't in an apartment. Make sure you discuss this with any possible roommates. You must go into the hunt having asked yourself many questions.

For example, how close do you want to be to a subway? If you look on the Upper East Side over near York Avenue, it's going to be a hike to the subway. Do you mind that? Even in the pouring rain?

Do you mind living over a restaurant or store? Should it be in a completely residential building? Are any of the apartments zoned commercially? If they are, you could have Madame Cleo telling fortunes under your apartment all night long.

Do you mind a bathtub in your kitchen? Don't laugh it's very common on the Lower East Side.

Are there washers & dryers in the building? How far to the nearest laundromat? You haven't lived until you've hauled 10 pounds of clothing, 5 blocks, in the slush at 7am on your way to work.

Are the windows, door locks, oven, refrigerator, etc in working order? If a landlord says "That will be fixed before you move in" you can bet on having to do it yourself.

Take with you a nighlight or one of those gizmos from the hardware store and plug it into every socket in the apartment. The worse thing you want is an apartment where only two electric sockets work.

Once again, before you start, know what you can deal with and take your checkbook.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 5:43pm

Great advice Gotham..thanks.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 12:53am

Any real estate help?

[mateo]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 12:56am

I hope you find what your looking for SB.

Make sure you fill us in on the fabulous place you get.


Are you still going to work for AH?

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 1:26am

Mateo you are sweet.. Thanks for the good wishes. As of now I will still be making the world safer for Entertainment news at AH!

[keen on kean]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 9:00am

Gotham is absolutely right on target! I helped a friend try to rent a 2 bedroom on the Upper West Side recently - we waited ten minutes while she phoned home for advice and the apartment was taken by someone else during that time! Because the vacancy rate is currently 0.8%, everything moves, even the crappy places. Some of the 2 bedroom places we saw cost $2700, and you literally couldn't turn around in them. But good luck, and welcome to the Big Apple!

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 2:10pm

Take with you a nighlight or one of those gizmos from the hardware store and plug it into every socket in the apartment. The worse thing you want is an apartment where only two electric sockets work.

Wow- that is brilliant, I have never done this before, totally adding it to the list for the next time I am apartment hunting, thanks!

To add to everything that Gotham said- consider having your deposit, or even part of your deposit, avail in cash. It's up to your comfort level carrying around and paying with that much cash, of course, but I am still working on out of state checks (moved to NY over a year ago, my branch is still a CA one), and so I was prepared to put down a cash deposit in my most recent apartment search, as some landlords won't wait 'that long' for an out of state check to clear.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 3:01pm

keep the advice flowing!

[keen on kean]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 8:56pm

See everything you can - it is a good way to check out different neighborhoods. But beware of the number of fifth and sixth floor walk-ups in NYC - I had no idea until five of the six apartments I saw in one day were all on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of non-elevator buildings! Ask what utilities are included in the rent - we heard every possible answer from none to all.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 11:08pm

I might as well say here, my apartment search was a success! Thank you guys for all your help! I'm currently residing in a 5br/$3,000 house (2 kitchens, 2 bathrooms, etc) in Boro Park, Bklyn, only a couple of steps from the subway and laundromat. I got the biggest room since i did the most work, it has a little room connected to it which I turned into my study. Hehe.

But anyway, yeah, everyone is right about the snoozing, and having cash/checks in hand. Certain places/people won't accept personal checks, and we had to use either debit cards, ATM cards for cash, or bank-certified checks.

No fee brokers work out wonderfully if you're lucky enough to obtain a rental that is no fee. They'll show you places, get them ready as soon as they come up on the market, etc, and no extra fee. Also, at least with the one I dealt with, it doesn't become an application fee but a flat-out deposit, they don't give the landlord multiple apps, the first one with the deposit gets it, assuming the landlord approves the one candidates, and they usually do.

Also couldn't hurt to have materials such as pay stubs and all that jazz when you look, especially if you're dealing with a place that accepts multiple apps. If you go through a broker, you won't need that the day of, but it's always good to have them ready.

Check Craigslist often, things go really fast.

And watch your back! There's some shady people on craigslist with fake rent schemes, want you to wire money, or a landlord who will tell you they want to get you in first because they really like you, meanwhile people have been seeing the place all day and it was a crock of **** (yup, happened to me).

Good luck!

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 1:11pm

Congrats on your find and thanks for the information. Taking it all to heart. I feel so much more prepared. I was wondering how many craigslist posts were legit, seem like not all.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 1:13pm

Try an outer borough like Queens or Brooklyn as they may be somewhat less expensive than Manhattan

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 2:42pm

I am partial to Brooklyn Heights from what I have seen on the internet and what people are telling me.

[mnotavery]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 4:06pm

singingbackup, in my experience, a lot of craigslist roommate shares are legit, but a lot of broker places are not. Lots of bait and switching there... you're better off with the NY Times or a well known agency if you go the broker route. Brooklyn Heights is nice, but it can also be just as pricey as Manhattan.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:04pm

More great help, thank you! We might even take a furnished apt for a month or two.

[mateo]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 6:07pm

Jeez SB!

There is nothing standing in your way from moving, how nice!

Your work doesn't offer sometype of realty service?

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 12:41am

My roomie (plutonic only!) got a major moving bonus so that will help greatly. I think they have a relocation service but the more help the better.

[mateo]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 12:46am

Oh, That's good!

hahaha, I like how you stress plutonic.

Hear that NY men! SB is ready for ya.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 12:56pm

Well, nearly EVERYONE is assuming that we are a couple (We currently own a house together) and I am moving back with him. It's a great opportunity for a brand new adventure and to be closer to my family (they are in Jersey and Philly.) And since he's my bestie, I would be very sad without him around. We ARE Thelma and Louise!