Moving To New York Blog

Guest Blog: Secure in the City

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:23:54 +0000

When Greta Garbo was asked what she loved about New York City, she said, “It’s the only place where I can be truly alone.” Garbo was referring to being able to relax in the anonymity of the sheer immensity.

People are drawn to the city for a plethora of reasons, none of which I could ever judge. So, whether you’re coming to reenact mobster history, or if moving to the Big Apple in the age of upskirt videos makes you feel hemmed in, or you’re having a sordid affair, or you’re involved with shenanigans on Wall Street, it would be prudent to read-up on evading personal surveillance from perverts and enemies alike.

Skipp Porteous, the founder and president of Sherlock Investigations, Inc., is a TSCM (technical surveillance countermeasure) specialist. He received his formal TSCM training at the World Institute for Security Enhancement. He looks for eavesdropping devices for celebrities, police departments, government, private investigators, corporations, and ordinary people. Skipp Porteous holds a Technician Class amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. His call letters are KC2PYP.

He exclusively works at locating eavesdropping devices.

How to do a car sweep for eavesdropping devices:

Using a flashlight and mirror, check carefully under the dashboard, air vents for hidden microphones, the map light, fuse box, and under the driver’s seat for microphones, recorders, or GPS trackers (GPS units are usually underneath for vehicle). Look for sloppy wiring that was not originally installed.

Check under the hood and see if there are any unusual connections on the battery. If there are, trace the wires.

I did a sweep once of a car of a certain city’s mayor that has been recently elected. I met two detectives at night and we went to an alley. The two detectives stood at each end of the alley. The black Lincoln Town Car was in the middle of the alley.

First, I popped the hood. There were alligator clips on the battery. I was sure the car was bugged! I traced the wires. They led to a siren, not to a listening device. The mayor had a siren in his car.

There are two kinds of GPS trackers. Passive devices and active devices. With a passive device you have retrieve the GPS and attach it to a computer. It shows where the car has gone. More common is an active GPS tracker. It has a built-in cell phone that let’s you know on a computer where the car is right now. All active GPS trackers have a motion detector that senses if the car is moving.

So, with a cell phone detector (you have to move the car to detect it) check for an active GPS unit.

Usually you can readily see if there’s a GPS device underneath the car. Remember, most GPS trackers are contained in a black plastic box attached with powerful magnets. It only takes seconds to attach it. The human arm is only so long, so it’s in a place that’s highly visible underneath the car.

Check underneath the car thoroughly with a flashlight. I also check with a LED-lighted video borescope, including the grill.

Also, cell phones are the most popular kinds of bugs today. All the eavesdropper has to do is call the cell phone (it doesn’t ring) and they can hear all the conversations in the car. If the cell phone is listening, you detect it with a cell phone detector. If it’s not transmitting at the time, a cell phone sends out a signal to the nearest cell tower every 10 to 20 minutes (be sure to turn your cell phone off).

Of course, if you have a broadband receiver, infrared camera, or a spectrum analyzer use these electronic tools.

RentStuff.com claims they can make your tiny New York City apartment bigger.

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:12:37 +0000

Picture this: It’s Friday night. You are heading back to your 2 bedroom flex 3 apartment in the lower east side when your friend texts you with the brilliant idea to get out of the city and go kayaking on Saturday morning. That would be a sweet idea if you actually owned a kayak. But you don’t. And even if you did, where would you store it?

Fortunately, a new website called RentStuff.com solves the issue of wanting access to stuff without having to waste money and space on buying and storing it in a New York City bedroom that could pass for a coat closet in other cities.

Chris Jaeger, the company’s CEO, came up with the concept along with his twin brother Robert back in 2008. The two brothers were frustrated after spending countless hours trying to track down kayaks and bikes to rent for a long weekend from small rental shops all over New York City.

Jaeger created the site, which is essentially “an eBay for rentals,” to unlock the network of other people’s stuff. The best part is that many of the items can be found right in your own neighborhood; someone living in your own building could potentially have what you need.

“The site creates a win-win situation for both the lender and renter,” said Jaeger in an interview. Not only does the renter save money by not having to buy and store the item, but lenders “can earn serious income on items sitting idle in their apartments.” RentStuff.com joins companies such as Airbnb.com, Zipcar, and Skillshare in the exponentially growing collaborative consumption space. The site links up with Facebook to add an additional level of comfort and trust among lenders. Security deposits fully protect items in case there is damage, and secure credit card payments prevent both parties from awkwardly dealing with cash. Creating an account and posting items are both free. They even have a video that helps to explain the whole process.

RentStuff.com is currently open in Nashville, Chicago, and New York City and plans to expand across major cities in the US in the coming months. Jaeger believes that the “timing is perfect.” With the current economic climate, people are looking for more ways to save money and earn additional income. The site is helpful for the environment as well. Choosing “access over ownership” helps with the overproduction, under consumption issue that runs rampant in the US.

In addition, the high tech site ironically brings users back to the old days when you would ask your neighbor for a cup of sugar. The face to face interactions and sharing mentality help to build small, trusted communities within larger networks.

It is interesting to see the list of top rentals on the site and how they are pitched:

Party Time. Put in a Boyz II Men cassette tape and take it back to 1992 with a smoke machine. Hosting the next Jersey Shore party? Try this 3 bottle Jagermeister dispenser. Jagerbombs!

Outdoor Gear. Rent a surfboard and head out to Montauk for the weekend. Training for a triathlon or wanting to leisurely bike ride through Central Park? Try out a bike before you buy one. They even have a Rumble Roller for sore muscles post workout.

Clothing. Turn heads in this red cocktail dress at your next event. More of a DIY personality? Rent a sewing machine and make one yourself.

Kitchen Tools. Big dinner party? Rent out a Crock Pot to make perfect Chili or a KitchenAid mixer to churn out delicious desserts.

Your apartment will feel bigger from all the space you will save by not crowding valuable apartment real estate with extra stuff. Plus, with all the money you’ll be making from renting out your stuff, your wallet just might get bigger too.

College Special: Finding a No Fee Apartment Before Fall Semester!

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:13:14 +0000

So you’ve just been accepted to NYU, Columbia or the New York City school of your choice. Then you saw the price of the dorms. Yikes! More and more students are moving off campus into NYC apartments to save some money, especially in today’s economy.

What are the best student-friendly neighborhoods? What factors should I consider when looking for my NYC No fee apartment? How much time do I need? These are all questions you are probably asking yourself. Good thing I am here to answer them for you!

Of course, you can’t go wrong living in the neighborhood immediately around your school. Columbia University occupies a huge chunk of the city in the Upper West Side, where many students (not just Columbia undergrads) live. Pretty much anywhere in the Village will be perfect for an NYU student. Similarly, New School scholars will find anything around or west of Union Square quite convenient. Many businesses, from delis to salons (!) in these neighborhoods offer student discounts. You’ll be close to your classes, as well as to your friends who live in the dorms.

However, if you don’t mind commuting from your no-fee apartment, there are plenty of neighborhoods away from campus that appeal to students. These include my neighborhood of
Williamsburg in Brooklyn (on the L train 5 minutes from the Village!), Morningside Heights and the Lower East Side. These neighborhoods foster a kind of artistic spirit that a lot of students really appreciate.

There are many factors students should consider, especially if this will be your first year living in New York. Always ask where the closest subway, bus, laundromat and grocery store are. Think about what you want in terms of these factors. Will you be coming home late at night? Will you be shopping at a specialty supermarket such as Whole Foods? It’s also a good idea to find out what your neighbors are like…it’s always good to have friends nearby!

When moving to New York for college, you should start your New York apartment search about 3-4 weeks ahead of time to find your ideal No Fee apartment. There is a lot of turnover this time of year and you don’t want to rush your decision and end up in an unhappy living situation! Good luck!

Size Matters: Maximizing Your Small Apartment

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:06:05 +0000

Lets face it–no matter what neighborhood you live in, or the price you pay, It’s hard to find a no fee apartment in New York City that has enough space. Fortunately there are a few easy things you can do to make your small New York apartmentfeel more spacious. Here are some helpful tips on how to best maximize your space!
The first thing I would do is read the book Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston. This book changed my life! Especially when living in a small Manhattan apartment, it is really important to keep visible clutter to a minimum, or else the entire space will seem off. The book does have some weird spiritual ideas that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I think from a psychological standpoint, it makes a good argument that clutter just makes a small space hard to love! (And this is coming from a former clutter bug!)

Once you have moved in, say to your Upper East Side Studio, it’s time to divide the space. Even if your NYC apartment consists of just one room, there are still things you can do to make a separate living or dining area. If you are allowed to paint, it helps to paint one area of the room a different (hopefully matching) color, and/or have a different type of flooring. This gives the feeling that you have entered into a new room! Another measure you could take to divide a space is a curtain that cuts across the room, or some kind of standing divider.

Of course, how you place the furniture is extremely important! Some people build lofts in their small New York City apartments to create a sort of second level. Another great idea is the loft bed, which is a bed that is raised up enough so another piece of furniture; usually a couch or desk can go under it. Just be sure you are not afraid of heights if you go with this option! In addition, smaller furniture can make a great difference. They have “Apartment” sized refrigerators, which are slightly narrower than a normal fridge. Instead of that huge full couch you have at your house in the suburbs, how about a nice love seat?

The color choices you use in the walls and furniture are also important. Dark colors make a space feel warm and cozy, which may not be the best choice for an already small space. Lighter colors make a space feel open and airy. Although often this choice is not up to you, having large windows and lots of natural light can make a space feel more open as well.

Ikea, the famous house & home store from Sweden, has some great ideas and suggestions for maximizing the use of space. I find that their style mostly uses very clean lines and simple, straightforward design, and that this is most effective when trying to make a small space feel good. Perfectly, they have a location right in Brooklyn that is easily accessible by public transportation.

Hopefully these tips will help you feel at home in your NYC apartment!

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

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:31:24 +0000

Recently, I decided to leave my cozybrownstone 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 apartmentavailable! 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.

Five Things You Should Do Before Your Move

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:39:28 +0000

In all the excitement of a new move, particularly to aManhattan apartment, many people forget about all the work involved. Taking all of one’s possessions and transporting them to a new location can be thrilling or a chore–it all depends on how much planning was done before the day of the move. Here are some things you can do ahead of time so that the move to your New York City apartment is as smooth a transition as can be.Sort out your Stuff

Start at least a month before your move date by sorting out which of your belongings you won’t be taking to your New York apartment.

Donate old clothes and housewares to charity or send to the recycler for disposal. Treat every move as an opportunity to rid yourself of all but the essentials. Trust me, you won’t miss the extra baggage!

Find a Mover

Contact companies in your area that specialize in easy home or business moving. From carefully packing your belongings to transporting them safely, these experts are worth every penny! But to get the best deal, calculate how much it would cost to move your things yourself, then estimate a fair price for the labor.

Set up your Utilities

To ensure your electricity, gas, phone, internet and TV are set up when you arrive in your new home, call each provider to set up an installation at least two weeks in advance of your move date. In New York, useful websites such as New York Utilities can help you research, compare and contrast utility providers. Once you have your new apartment set up, call your current providers to ensure they cancel services as close as possible to your leaving date.

Call your Doctor

Many people overlook this step, but it is important. Your doctor needs to know you’ll be leaving so he/she can arrange the transfer of your medical records. He or she may even be able to recommend a new doctor for you near your new home. If not, try an online resource like the WebMD Physician Directory. Once you found a new doctor and notified your current doctor of your move, you can ensure a seamless transition of medical records in case of an emergency.

Call your Landlord

Finally, just to make sure your New York rental is ready and to arrange receipt of your keys, call your landlord the week of your move, especially if you’re coming from out-of-town.

By following these simple steps and enlisting the help of a solid New York real estate broker, you can rest assured that your move to New York will be an easy transition.

Looking for an Apartment in NYC? First, Find the Right Broker

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:13:11 +0000

Last spring, my partner Jim and I flew to New York for a week to look for our firstapartment in Manhattan. We had come prepared–equipped with all the latest market rent rates for Manhattanneighborhoods. We’d been researching places for months using apartment finders such as rent.com, citi-habitats, and of course good old Craigslist. We both expected to be done with our search by the weekend, after which we were looking forward to a few days of relaxation, bragging about our fabulous new Chelsea apartment over brunch with our friends.

But instead, four days into our NY apartment search, we found ourselves exhausted, depressed and nearly hopeless. The “leads” we had followed turned out to be frauds! “Chelsea” apartments were actually in Hell’s Kitchen. Many of the buildings we were shown were in horrible repair, overrun with rodents and roaches! The only decent apartment we saw in all of NYC had a no-pet policy, and Jim would not hear of getting rid of our Maltese dog, Binky. It seemed every broker in New York was against us!
Finally on Friday we met our Mr. Right.His name was Rocco, and we found him through a broker matchmaking service. I’m not sure how, but Rocco knew exactly what we wanted! We found not only a great New York City apartment; we found a friend.

Rent to Own

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:00:31 +0000

The New York Times ran another article on rent-to-own, a viable and increasingly popular option for both renters and owners of apartments in New York.

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, renting-to-own works just like leasing a vehicle:it allows potential owners to “test-drive” their New York apartments before committing to buy.If the tenant decides to buy, all or most of the paid rent goes toward the mortgage.Since the economic downturn, the rent-to-own option has provided a bit of much-needed stability to the New York housing market, filling vacancies in, say, Upper West Side condominiums at a time when many are understandably unwilling to commit to own.And with market rent rates in Manhattan remaining high, renting-to-own can be a great investment towards owning a chunk of prime New York real estate.

Finding Apartments for Rent in NYC

admin — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:15:08 +0000

New York City is a teeming metropolis, and searching for an apartment in New York can be a daunting task. New York apartments for rent seem to number in the millions, and sometimes an apartment seeker feels lost in the storm of aprartment choices.

Luckily, us hapless seekers can turn to apartment finders in New York City to help match us with apartments. Want to live in luxury on the Upper West Side? Feel that one of the apartments in Chelsea would suit your stylish life? A New York City apartment finder can guide you to apartments for rent in NYC that will make your New York City apartment dreams come true.