So, you want to rent an apartment in NYC?

I met a young couple recently and when they heard that I was a real estate broker they had two things to say to me. First they told me that I work in a really sleazy industry. Then, they told me they were having a hard time finding an apartment to rent and asked if I could help them.

And so is the day to day life of a real estate broker in Manhattan. Our reputation is not stellar but anyone that has tried to find a place to live on their own knows how important we can be.
Truth be told, we are no different than most other industries in that there is a small number of us that are really good at our jobs and a large number of us that are not very good at all. That larger group more often than not conducts themselves in ways that are not flattering to themselves or the industry and as a result we all carry the burden of a poor reputation.

Manhattan is a tough place to navigate when you are looking for an apartment to rent. Each landlord has their own criteria, their own standards, their own requirements with regards to paperwork, some allow pets, some allow guarantors, some allow shares and so forth. Trying to find an apartment in the neighborhood of your choice at a price you can afford is no easy task. A good real estate broker is worth much more than the fee you will generally pay.

A couple of suggestions....First, always choose a broker from a reputable company, one that you have heard of or that your friends have used and were happy with. Next, only use one broker. We all share listings and we all have access to the same properties. Running around with several of us is redundant and if you are not loyal to your broker he will be devoting his valuable time to another client that is loyal. Never give money to someone over the phone that you haven't met or for an apartment that you haven't yet seen. Finally, your broker do his job. Don't surf through every real estate site looking for the "perfect deal".

Being a real estate professional in NYC is a tough way to make a living, but we love what we do and we are good at it. Allow us to help you.