Let's Talk About Your Rental Apartment Search Process
I was sitting in a pizzeria in Brooklyn one day, thinking about the real estate market and where the business is going.
When suddenly I had a quick thought to ask a stranger next to me a question.
"May I ask you a question?" I said. "Yea, of course, What's up?" She replied.
I explained to her that I was a real estate agent and then I asked:
"How would you find an apartment right now if you were looking for one?"
She immediately replied "Craigslist"!
I was stunned, Do people use craigslist to find an apartment? I thought that was so 2010!
I see so many renters complain about the process of searching for an apartment; Searching through the ugly, bad angle pictures and the useless descriptions on websites like Zillow, Trulia, Naked Apartments & of course, Craigslist!
While in this process, they get in contact with so many agents that they can't keep track of appointments, phone calls, text messages or even the apartments they are actually going to see!
I have seen this in person, while on appointments with clients!
Clients will start calling other agents, canceling an appointment or even missing them because they scheduled too many appointments at one time.
It's a real headache to see, especially if you're already previewing an apartment with your future roommates!
So here are a few tips on how to make this process easier and it's a simple one too: Work with an agent!
Why? I'm not being biased! I swear.
I am a real estate agent but it saves you the headache for a few reasons:
1. Every agent in NYC has access and can get access to all the apartments on the market!
You can speak to one agent and that one agent (if a good and skilled one) can get a list of apartments that are in your budget, in the location, the style you desire and get you access to them!
These include NO FEE apartments as well! You could even send your preferred agent apartments you see online and they can get all the information for you.
2. Real Estate agents do this Everyday!
We work with management companies on a daily basis, getting to know them at networking parties and closing deals. Having this connection is SUPER beneficial to you!
It's like seeing a person of interest at a party, would you have a higher chance of success going to the person cold turkey? or would it be better to be introduced by the person's best friend? This is totally a no brainer!
We know the process of getting someone accepted by management building or co-op board! Plus those applications can be no joke sometimes!
3. We preview apartments like all the time!
A good agent will be knowledgeable in the market, know the buildings, amenities, layouts and even some of the neighbors. This knowledge is golden!
How many times haven't you seen the perfect apartment with amazing pictures online, only when you showed up it wasn't exactly the same? It went from beauty to beast real quick!
A good agent will be able to save you that time because he/she would've already previewed the apartments for you!
They will tell you if the layout is what you are looking for, they will let you know, "Hey, these apartments don't have enough closet space for your collection of Louboutins"!
Please, save yourself your headache and work with an agent that can find you an apartment, save you time and guide you through this jungle we call NYC.
Plus you look crazy trying to text and call multiple brokers at the same time.😁
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