2008 Woodie Awards
Need your own place in the city?
Neelofer Qadir
Issue date: 4/20/04 Section: Features
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"Spacious two bedroom apartment with a fireplace, huge bay windows, located in the heart of the village close to subways. Call 212-xxx-xxxx now!"
Ads like this are rampant in the classifieds of every newspaper, publications such as the Village Voice, and even on Craigslist, but exactly how spacious is this two bedroom apartment? Is the fireplace just a poorly used synonym for gas stove? And this prime location in the village close to the subway, just how prime time is it?
Finding an apartment in New York City is hardwork, but if you know what you're looking for and ask the right questions, you'll find yourself a nice little haven. The first and most important thing is to establish a price limit. Other important things to keep in mind are the desired locations and what kind of a place you are looking for: a studio, a loft, one bedroom, two.
Once you've set your limits, the search begins. Options include using a broker, searching the classifieds of newspapers, websites such as newyork.craigslist.org [which has been enthusiastically recommended], or simply visiting apartment buildings and talking directly with a supervisor. More often than not, brokers charge an exorbitant fee, and on a college student's budget, you'll most likely end up using a broker that doesn't charge fees or spending lots of quality time with the classifieds and Internet.
After you've narrowed down your choices, form a list of questions such as: how long will the lease be? Does it need to be signed by every person who will be living there? Do you need someone to co-sign, like a parent (called a guarantor)? Are utlities included in the rent? Is the rent negotiable or stabalized? How often does the landlord visit, or does he or she live on premises? Has the building been inspected recently, and what about emergency exits? Phone jacks, cable, high-speed internet? Does the building have many tenants who enjoy throwing parties every night or is it mostly quiet? Are pets allowed?
Ads like this are rampant in the classifieds of every newspaper, publications such as the Village Voice, and even on Craigslist, but exactly how spacious is this two bedroom apartment? Is the fireplace just a poorly used synonym for gas stove? And this prime location in the village close to the subway, just how prime time is it?
Finding an apartment in New York City is hardwork, but if you know what you're looking for and ask the right questions, you'll find yourself a nice little haven. The first and most important thing is to establish a price limit. Other important things to keep in mind are the desired locations and what kind of a place you are looking for: a studio, a loft, one bedroom, two.
Once you've set your limits, the search begins. Options include using a broker, searching the classifieds of newspapers, websites such as newyork.craigslist.org [which has been enthusiastically recommended], or simply visiting apartment buildings and talking directly with a supervisor. More often than not, brokers charge an exorbitant fee, and on a college student's budget, you'll most likely end up using a broker that doesn't charge fees or spending lots of quality time with the classifieds and Internet.
After you've narrowed down your choices, form a list of questions such as: how long will the lease be? Does it need to be signed by every person who will be living there? Do you need someone to co-sign, like a parent (called a guarantor)? Are utlities included in the rent? Is the rent negotiable or stabalized? How often does the landlord visit, or does he or she live on premises? Has the building been inspected recently, and what about emergency exits? Phone jacks, cable, high-speed internet? Does the building have many tenants who enjoy throwing parties every night or is it mostly quiet? Are pets allowed?