Find an Apartment or House in the New York Area
There are over 40,000 brokers in NYC and upon finding you a rental apartment they usually charge anywhere between 10 to 15% of the monthly rent. I cannot stress this next point enough: Beware of Brokers. Real estate is a tough business and brokers are ruthless. Be careful of pictures that are posted on websites of apartments that look to good to be true, sometimes no such apartment exists, brokers put pictures out there to reel customers in, bait and switch is one of the oldest tricks in the book and a favorite among brokers.
The New York Times seems like a great place to look for apartments in New York, unfortunately they are usually all tied to a broker, so if you don’t want to pay a fee, don’t bother checking out the Times.
Craigslist can be a great place to find an apartment but sellers are sometimes so overwhelmed by responses to their postings that it makes it impossible for them to contact all of the people who are interested. Unless there is a contact number for the apartment you are interested in, don’t hold your breath.
Management Companies – Look in the yellow pages for management companies and call them directly. Many companies will not deal with renters directly, but many companies will so be tenacious, it could save you at least $2,000.
Online sites like, RentDirect.com offer no fee apartments for a small fee. Anywhere from 99 cents for a listing to a subscription for unlimited access for $195 with money back guarantee if you find an apartment with a broker.
Gabriels Apartment Rental Guide – This is a great resource for finding an apartment on your own, although at the moment the publisher is not selling any new copies because they are working on a new edition. There are over 500 listed buildings in the Apartment Rental Guide which lead you to rental apartments with no brokerage commission. Includes contact numbers, building photos, and neighborhood demographics/histories.
Important Things to Consider: Finding an apartment is only half the battle, determining whether or not it’s for you is a whole other story. Here are some tips to keep in mind when apartment hunting.
Location:
A very important consideration is the area where you would like to live at as a student. There are most whose primary concern is to be in complete proximity to their college or university. There are usually student ghettos around most schools. Due to the high demand, apartments in these areas are usually not cheap and you can save money by moving a little further away. Although, on a cold winter morning, the extra 5 minutes walk may seem like an eternity, you will find some great places that afford you the ability to make the apartment a true “home”. Furthermore, if you are not completely immersed in the student environment, you get a chance to see a little more of the city in which you’re living.
Make sure that your apartment is in a safe area, or on a safe street. You will be ultimately walking home late on some nights (back from the library or some bar), and you want to feel at ease at all times. Make sure that the entrance to your building is on the street and not through some dark alleyway. You can save a lot by moving into a dangerous area, but this is one issue on which we think you should splurge a little.
Building or House:
You will be making the decision whether you will want to be living in a house or an actual apartment building. An apartment inside a little duplex will usually be infinitely more charming than some 10 floor building, while the building will offer you some conveniences that you might find more important than charm. Buildings on the most part tend to be more updated, may have a fitness room or a concierge.
The advantages to living in a house are the intimacy of the actual place (imagine big bay windows, little fireplace, etc.), the charm of an old flight of stairs as opposed to an elevator ride to the 27th floor, and the ability to get to know your neighbors who might turn into friends (or at least lend you an egg when you need one). You might also be able to use a deck or a garden for barbecues or summer sun tanning. There are disadvantages as well, however. You might find that living in a house is more expensive to begin with. Secondly, many houses will lack some convenient amenities such as a washer and dryer, an on-site superintendent.
Living in an apartment building designed to efficiently maximize living space, as opposed to have a charming feel is a much different experience than living in a small house. You might have a great view if you are in a tall high-rise, you will have a super in the building, probably have laundry facilities as well, and greater security. Some buildings also include the price of heat, hot water and electricity in the rent (since it is all central), and may even provide you with cable TV and air conditioning as well. As most buildings are owned by companies, they tend to keep the building clean and rodent-free, as an untimely visit from a building inspector can put them out of business. If you’re really lucky, you might find a place with a swimming pool, and a grocery store in the building. The down side is that your place will probably be fairly bland in design, and establishing a personal relationship with your landlord will be close to impossible. In short, buildings are more convenient, but do not have as much personality.
What to Look For:
Before entering the apartment, have a close look at the building. Doing this is a good way to determine the cleanliness of the building, and the general amount of upkeep it is receiving. If you notice that the common areas (hallways, elevators, laundry room, lobby) are filthy and rundown, it could be a sign of the condition of the apartments as well. When entering the apartment, have a look at the sturdiness of the door and the lock mechanism. Is it a deadbolt? Is there a chain? You want to make sure that you have a good secure lock to prevent break-ins, and to help you sleep better at nights.
Inside the apartment there are many things to check for:
Kitchen:
Check all the cupboards and try to spot any mouse droppings, this is where you will probably find mice, if there are any to be found.
Check to see where the electrical outlets are and ask if they are functional.
Closely look at the fridge and oven. Is the fridge making a weird humming sound? Is the stove an electric range or gas stove? If it is a gas stove, make sure it is in a good condition and ask if they have had gas leaks.
Determine if there is enough room in the kitchen for a table, enough counter space for work area, a microwave, a dish rack, etc.
Living Room/Dining Area
Look to see if the paint on the walls is chipping away
Check for electrical outlets – this is probably the room where your TV, VCR, stereo and lamps are going.
Is there overhead or track lighting – or will you have to supply the light source with lamps in the room?
Check for phone jacks.
Think of the shape and whether it is conducive to a good decor. You will come across some strange dimensions that might force you to waste a lot of space if you want a comfortable and inviting living environment.
Bathrooms:
Is the enamel on the sink scratched away?
Flush the toilet. Listen for any leaking or any weird sound. Look around the toilet to see if there is any moisture or water condensation.
Do the same for the sink. Check if it is leaking. Check the cupboard underneath to see if there is any condensation, and to see whether the pipes are rusting.
Check to see if the windows open.
Turn on the shower head and check the water pressure.
Bedroom:
Try to judge the size, and if all your furniture will be able to fit into the room (bed, desk, dresser, etc.).
Open the windows to see if they open and shut properly and lock.
Look for electrical outlets.
Have a good look in the closets. Will all your clothes fit? If not, you might have to buy a separate dresser.
If the room is carpeted, look for spots or wear and tear. Ask if the carpet is cleaned after a tenant leaves.
Try and evaluate how thin the walls between the bedrooms are. Thin walls can be a major source of roommate squabbles, especially if you are a light sleeper or need total concentration when studying (and your roommate loves to blast his stereo at 1:00 am).
Questions for the Landlord:
Ae utilities costs included? If they are not, figure out how much they typically cost. This is very important, since it could make an otherwise great deal completely unaffordable.
Ask if there is a fire detector and carbon monoxide detector in the apartment.
Ask for a repainting of the apartment. If it is in good shape and recently repainted, they might not do it – but it can’t hurt to ask.
Ask for a full cleaning of the place before you move in.
Ask about the security of the building. Is the front door locked at all times? Are there cameras in the lobby?
Ask if the building has had any mice or cockroach problems. If so, ask for the landlord to spray your apartment prior to your move.
What is the minimum term of the lease?
Make sure you ask the landlord what the exact rent costs are and what is included in that price.
Make sure you know how much deposit is needed, and if the first and last months rent cheques have to be given as well.
If you have any pets, make sure they’re allowed.
If you have a car, figure out where you’re going to park it.
Keep your checkbook with you. When you see an apartment that you really want, you can claim it right away.
If you are going to be signing a lease on the spot, you must be prepared to fill out an apartment application. It is essential to have all this information with you so that you can hand in the form right away. Have your social insurance number, your banking information (credit checks), reference numbers, etc.
Dress appropriately. Landlords don’t have to let you have an apartment just because you want it. If you look like you’re going to give them a headache by playing loud music, not paying your rent on time, etc., you might miss out on the pad of your dreams. Don’t give them any reason to doubt you. Landlords want to see someone who will treat the apartment with respect, someone who is responsible and who will pay the rent on time and respectful of other tenants. Try to get a sense of the landlord, is he a nice guy who makes himself available to the tenants? Is he concerned with the apartment and how it looks or does it seem like he wants you to sign a lease so he can go back to watching television. Although clothes obviously are not an accurate means to judge a person, they do make an impression, so showing up looking like a street person might work against you.
Sign a lease. Some landlords bank on verbal agreements, but try to get something on paper – to protect yourself. The last thing you want is to be hoofed on your rear the night before your calculus exam.
