Bedroom Eyes, or: How I Found My Dream Apartment in New York

Photo by Eocellus via Flickr

Recently, I decided to leave my cozy brownstone apartment in Bed-Stuy and make the move to Williamsburg (that's Brooklyn, for those in the know). When I first moved to New York last year, I felt so overwhelmed by the sheer number of apartments for rent that I ended up settling for the first no fee apartment available! This time, I shopped smarter.

The Planning

First, it’s important to research the various neighborhoods in New York, especially if you are not already familiar with the city, because there can be huge differences in ambience within a few blocks. For example, an New York apartment: How close is the subway? Are there any busses in the area? Where's the closest grocery store? Once you have your new
neighborhood picked out, find a New York real estate broker who specializes in showing no fee apartments in
the area you want to live and schedule as many viewings as you can on the same day. It's important to remember that New York City is big! It can take hours to get around town, and you don't want to waste your time.

The Viewing

Start early and give yourself at least an hour in between viewings--that way you'll have time to find your way around and explore what might become your new neighborhood. If you have extra time, walk around and browse the shops and restaurants in the area, so you can get a feel for what living in the neighborhood is really like. While looking for my apartment in Williamsburg, I stumbled on this charming little pie shop called The Blue Stove. It had classic 1950’s-style décor and a great quiche to boot!

The Choosing

Now comes the hardest part: deciding which New York apartmentyours to enjoy for the next year or more. If you're lucky like me you might just find your dream apartment on the first try. Mine was a railroad-style with high ceilings, a cute kitchen, huge built-in closets and lots of natural light. For all you Feng Shui enthusiasts, I would say it had an incredibly active energy. But in spite of my love at first sight I forced myself to view at least a few more apartments in New York before making a decision. Remember that old song, "You better shop around?"

On the other hand, it's wise to keep in mind that you're not the only one looking for a no-fee apartments in New York. Be ready to make your decision quickly, but not impulsively, as this is a choice that will affect your life in a big way! If it turns out your first choice doesn't work out, don’t give up! Have a backup option, or be prepared to keep looking. With millions of people in this city, apartments in New York turn over quick, but with hard work, smarts and a little luck, you'll find a no fee apartment you love just as much as I love mine.