It is exciting to move to New York City, but to be honest, looking for an apartment is not as exciting as living there. In fact, apartment hunting kind of sucks in New York, especially when you think about the cost of living and the wide range of apartments.
The following list features several reasons why looking for an apartment in NYC sucks, and a few solutions on how to reduce the stress of apartment hunting in New York.
It Is An Expensive Move
The first reason apartment hunting sucks in New York? It is an expensive move. A studio apartment can run at over $800 a month, depending on the utilities, broker fees and location. You still need to add in groceries, transportation and outings, so you may be looking at an $800 to $1,000 a month budget.
Solution: Give yourself time to save up enough for your first few months in your new apartment, as well as time to line up a job. You may also want to look for a low-fee or no-fee apartment on your own.
Easy To Feel Overwhelmed
With five boroughs and many New York City apartments, it is easy to feel overwhelmed when looking for a new place. You have to determine which borough is ideal for your lifestyle, and then you have to choose a neighborhood within that borough, not to mention an affordable apartment within that neighborhood.
Solution: Know what you want before researching your boroughs and neighborhoods. This way, you can narrow down your search to your preferences.
Possibility of Scammers
Of course, the possibility of scammers is another reason why apartment hunting in New York City sucks. There are so many people who want to move to New York, and scammers use this as their opportunity to prey on hopeful residents. Unfortunately, some scammers are able to succeed, or at the very least, put a delay on the move.
Solution: Be very cautious about whom you do business with when moving to any location. Craigslist is fine for obtaining information, such as the average cost of a studio apartment, but you want to stick with websites such as Naked Apartments and RentHop for apartment hunting.
Your Dream Apartment Is Just A Dream
You may be dreaming of a spacious apartment overlooking Central Park, but there is a good chance you are not going to obtain it, at least not right away. Imagine how much it is going to cost to rent a spacious apartment in the Central Park area, and this is in addition to your weekly transportation and groceries.
Solution: Keep your options open. You may find a studio or one-bedroom apartment in another neighborhood that fits your budget. Open a savings account and work towards your dream apartment.
Delay In Moving Into Your Apartment
You have finally found an apartment and filled out the application. However, there is a delay in your move because you forgot a certain document. You need to have a range of documents when renting an apartment in New York City, starting with your driver's license, state ID or passport. The documents also include a landlord reference, letter of employment, recent pay stubs and bank statements and even your recent tax returns.
Solution: While the number of documents necessary may make your head spin, you can avoid that 360 by determining which documents you need, and make sure you have them on hand before you even start apartment hunting.
As you can see, apartment hunting in New York City really does suck. However, if you go into it prepared, you can find several apartments for rent in New York City that work for you.