Matt and I have to find a new apartment by mid-May and it’s causing me agita.
Neither of us has actually had to look for an apartment in Manhattan before, so we’re both heading into the unknown here.
Should we use a broker? We were discussing this last night.
Pros: it would save us the stress of having to use Craigslist and compete with tons of other people for the same apartments.
Cons: it would be pricey and not necessarily more helpful. When I lived in Jersey City, I found my first apartment through a broker and my second apartment on my own through an ad. My second apartment was better, quieter, and cheaper and I had a saner landlord.
But the idea of using, say, Craigslist, and having to compete with other people for an apartment, really drives me nuts.
What should we do?
[Update: 3 1/2 hours later. Really? Nobody has anything to say?]
On brokers:
I got my apt through a broker. The thing to do is figure out your highest budget and make it annual rather than monthly. Then figure in the 15% broker’s fee such that your total annual doesn’t change using a new lower rent.
In Manhattan, I was told it’s hard to get something without a broker. Basically, it costs the landlord nothing to list with a broker, and thus, the only things not listed with a broker are things brokers don’t think they can rent easily and thus make an easy 15%.
I was happy with my broker and my overall experience, even if the amount of money due at signing was unreal…
Move to Tucson! No brokers, affordable housing, nice weather.
From an alien (overseas) point of view. Either’s going to mean work. If you don’t use an agent and go through craig’s list and the papers, you will extend a lot of time and disappointment, traipsing around the area you would like to be in. If you use an agent, its gonna cost you, and you’ll still probably have to do a fair few site visits. Hope you strike it lucky fairly early in your search.
I’ll say that it is QUITE easy to go through a broker, but the fee is ridiculous. Only in New York would the broker charge YOU for their services. Welcome to the bizarre culture of “you need us, not the other way around” so prevalent in NYC.
So I’d say go with the broker just for the ease of it all. Of course, you could also dig around in the meantime. You’re not locked in by simply going to a broker and having them show you places.
From the moment I announced I was moving to New York, everyone I knew exhorted me to check out craigslist. I fucking loathe Craig and his bloody useless list! But then, nothing that works for anyone else has EVER worked for me. When it was time to move out of Washington Heights and into Hellsea, I explored a number of options (I once again spent hours with Craig and his list until I dreamed in blue and white), but I ended up going with a broker. I chose him because he was cute and ostensibly gay and dedicated (demonstrated by the hours he spent with me, walking very fast and up and down many flights of stairs) to the cause of putting me in an apartment I liked. Though he wasn’t quite hardcore enough to get me into the apartment I REALLY wanted (I blogged that bit of bitterness awhile back), ultimately, we succeeded. And no, I didn’t shag him, but for the amount of money I paid him and his agency (one of the bigger, snazzier ones, yes), I should’ve. And may yet. Ca se verra…
As a native New Yorker, I’ve NEVER used a broker. But then, I’ve always lived in upper manhattan/Bronx (don’t be a-feared, there are beautiful places uptown!) and I’ve always had roommates (much more honest then a landlord or broker will ever be). Also I’m super cheap and I don’t mind looking at a few duds if it means I can explore the neighborhood while I’m there. Plus, you seem flexible in terms of your move-in date which is key if you want to see the most places.
I have a feeling there are less desirable places on Craigslist for the UWS/west village, but I don’t think it would hurt to try craigslist for a couple of weeks. CL is great in that you’ll get responses within 24 hours usually. Most people who use craigslist don’t post their places until a month or 3 weeks before they have to leave. But since you’re flexible with your moving date I don’t think you’ll end up too stressed. Plus you can automatically eliminate places if they post a bad pic or use poor grammar on CL ;)
I’d say only use a broker as a last resort. Or if you’re thinking of BUYING. Hmm, maybe you and Matt are ready to buy a place?
We aren’t even close to having the money to buy a place…
One of the best things to do is walk around neighborhoods you like and ask doormen or super’s if there are any apartments available in the building. This way you save a ton on the agent fee and you also do some exploring of areas you normally dont frequent.
BROOKLYN!