The Apartment Hustle
A
newly-renovated Fort Greene 2-bedroom for $450? Yeah, right. But after reading this
article, you'll know what a realistically good deal is, and how to find it. Triscene.com editor and former Brooklynite Vonetta Booker-Brown tells you all
about it, along with the lowdown on different Brooklyn neighborhoods. Happy
hunting.
If
you're wondering why Triscene.com hasn't been updated for a minute, it's because I
put things on temporary hold while I moved things into my new apartment
(Brooklyn's in the house!).
I got lots of
responses to my update e-mail—many congratulations (thanks, everyone), and also people wanting to know if I knew
of any
other vacancies.
Hence, the purpose of this article.
Many people looked out for me
when I was down in the trenches, searching for a decent Brooklyn
apartment.
So, the least I can do is return the favor with a few tips and
strategies that worked for me, along with a few resources. Feel free
to use them yourself, or pass it along to that friend who's about to be
out on the street in a minute if he/she doesn't find something in a
hurry (we wouldn't want that to happen, would we?)
1.
Brokers suck.
Gee, could I be any
more subtle? If you need to find a place like, yesterday and have tons
of extra dough that you just can't seem to get rid of (since brokers
charge anywhere from a month's rent to 12% of your yearly rent), then
brokers can come in handy. But if you can possibly help it, I'd advise
you to look on your own. Although I'm sure there are some great,
dedicated brokers out there, I've run across some very rude and
unprofessional ones who'll show you a hole in the ground and call it a
"cozy apartment with sunken floors and a skylight"--that is,
if they even arrive to show it to you (yes, I've been stood up!). I mean,
give me a reason to pay you a month's rent in fees. If you can, save your money
and put it into decorating instead.
2.
It ain't what you know, but who you know.
Tell everybody
and their mama that you're moving, because some of the
best deals are the ones that aren't advertised. Not that you have
to walk up to strangers saying, "Hi, my name is ____, and I'm
looking for an apartment," but find a way to casually work your
search into conversations. You never know who's got a friend of a sister
of a cousin who's about to move out of their gorgeous-and-cheap apartment.
If you ask me, they sound certifiably crazy--but that's not your
problem, is it?
3.
Leave no stone unturned (or your butt might wind up on the street...)
Although some
apartment-search methods are more popular than others, you have a better
chance of finding what you want if you combine as many search tactics as
possible. Post flyers (i.e. "single professional seeks one-bedroom
or studio"). Accost people in neighborhoods you like and ask if
they know of any vacancies. Comb the classified ads of newspapers such
as Village Voice, Loot, Amsterdamn News, Daily News (also check various neighborhood papers, such as Caribbean Life).
If you're really ruthless, you could even pull a "Seinfeld" and check the obituaries
(definitely vacancies there!). What can I say? It gets real like that sometimes.
I won't tell anybody...
4.
Listings companies be damned!
So, you see an
ad featuring an incredible deal—I'm talking a Brooklyn Heights or Fort
Greene 2-bedroom (utilities included, brand-new everything) for, like,
$425 a month. And no fee, to boot. You get all excited, call the number,
and the person on the other end chirps, "Sure, we have lots of those
available—we can provide a list for the 'small' fee of $200." You
hear the sound of brakes screeching in your brain. Damn. Sounds like
you've just encountered one of the many listings companies out there,
which usually give new meaning to the saying "If sounds too good to
be true, it probably is." These are the ones you really
have
to watch out for. Listings companies often charge the
unsuspecting a hefty fee for a list of "available" apartments,
but when the list's contacts are called, it often turns out that
the place is rented, or the number's not even working. The way I see it,
one can go through all that hassle for free, thankyouverymuch.
5.
The early bird catches the fabulous apartment.
People, I can't
stress this enough: If you want first dibs on an apartment shown through
an open house that lasts from, for example, 6pm-8pm, do not sashay
through the door at 7:45! If it's a halfway decent apartment, chances are that
it'll be rented within the first half-hour—so be prompt, or don't even
bother. Actually, it's a good idea to show up at an open house at least 15
minutes early. I checked out one O.H. on a Sunday morning, from 8am to
10am. I got there at 7:40--and there were still people who'd beaten me
there, just chilling on the stoop and suspiciously eyeing me as I
approached. I'm telling you, you can't sleep. A side note to landlords,
however: If you're having an open house, it's always a nice idea to
actually show up, yourself.
Some other
things one will probably encounter during an apartment search:
—Calling the
phone numbers in apartment ads and always getting a busy signal or
answering machine (of course, your messages will go unreturned 99.7% of
the time).
—Brokers with
stank, arrogant, nonchalant attitudes who act like they're doing you a
favor (one guy actually had the nerve to tell me I "shouldn't be
too picky." I quickly ended the conversation).
—Advertised
"one-bedrooms" turning out to be mere studios, really (with the alleged
"bedroom" actually being a large closet—too small for a bed)
Yes, looking for
a nice, affordable apartment in New York City can be quite a female dog. But
keep your head up, and don't relent. If you stay positive and
persistent, one can be had (along with the right combo of luck, blessings
and contacts).
Click
here for Vonetta's guide to several popular Brooklyn neighborhoods.
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