Moving to NYC can be exciting, especially for young people planning to live in their own home. However, there are some challenges that most first-time NYC renters experience. If you are looking for rented apartments in NYC for the first time, take a look at the following guide. Here are some of the challenges and solutions for finding a great rented home in New York City.
Looking for your first NYC apartment – where to start?
Soon after you decide to move to New York City, you might realize that finding a place to live is going to be a challenge. Most first-time NYC renters have some difficulties when looking for a place, and for many reasons. First of all, NYC is a big city, so you should learn where to start looking. And secondly, think about your renting budget and whether you can afford to live in the Big Apple. In order to find a good rental apartment in this city, here are some steps you should take.
Find a good neighborhood
Some NYC areas might be too expensive while others can be not so safe. Make sure to do your research before you start checking out different homes.
Get your budget straight
You might think you have enough money to rent in NYC, but you should expect a few surprises. The cost of utilities, apartment fixes, and some living costs might be bigger than you think. The best thing for first-time NYC renters would set some extra money aside.
Make priorities
Good location, low rent or the bigger size of the apartment? Make sure you know what is a priority to you because you won’t find all three in one place.
Should you live with a roommate?
The answer depends on your preferences. However, keep in mind that most people decide to live with a roommate for financial reasons.
Connect with people and do your research
There are so many places you can check for apartment listings in NYC. However, if you know some people living in the city, ask them for advice and recommendations.
Challenges of first-time NYC renters
One of the hardest things to do upon moving to NYC is finding a place to live. It might seem strange since this is a big city with so many opportunities. However, in order to find an apartment in NYC, you will need to know which obstacles to expect and overcome.
In order to avoid the most common mistakes most first-time NYC renters make, you should do the following:
- Know what you’re looking for.
- Do your research.
- Get ready to settle for less.
- Think ahead and make sure to prepare rent money for a few months ahead.
- When checking neighborhoods, consider the commute time and the safety of the neighborhood.
If you are moving to NYC with a limited budget, consider getting a roommate. There are many online groups where you could find one, and most first-time NYC renters live with someone.
Choosing a new home – what to look for
Once you find one or a few places you want to check out, you should know what to look for. One of the biggest challenges first-time NYC renters have is finding an apartment that is both affordable and in good shape. While checking out places, most people realize that finding a modern-looking, fixed up place might be hard. Most low-budget apartments in NYC might be either too small or in a bad shape.
However, there is always a way you could negotiate with your future landlord. First of all, you should get to know the tenants’ rights in NYC. Second, if you’re about to give a lower rent than you expected, ask your landlord if you could update the apartment and to what extent. Smaller fixes and updates might not be too expensive to do, especially if you are skillful and have some good ideas.
Ways to handle moving into a small apartment
If you already found a place you can afford to live in, you might have a problem with the lack of space in it. If this is the case, you should consider downsizing or using all space available or additional storage. Sketch a floor plan and think about using some hidden corners for installing extra shelves. Also, if you have too many furniture pieces and other items, consider minimizing them before moving in.
In case you are moving from one home to another in NYC and want to thoroughly declutter your home, you could consider hiring junk removal NYC services. Some professional moving companies offer to remove extra furniture, junk and old inventory that will ease your moving process and help you live in a clutter-free home.
Organizing a move to New York
So, you found a place in NYC you could see yourself living in. The next step is, of course, organizing your moving day. If you are not living in NYC already but moving from another city or state, you should consider hiring professional movers. A reliable moving company can help you with everything from providing packing supplies, packing and transportation services and so much more. If you hire residential movers NYC, you will have way less trouble moving into your new home. Many first-time NYC renters try to move without additional help, but this action turns out to be way harder than it seems. So, make sure to have a plan, do your research and start planning your new life in the Big Apple!