There is so much more to a New York City apartments than windows, floors, and walls – and much of it is largely invisible to the naked eye, especially one who hasn’t ever rented an apartment before in the city. To avoid untoward surprises down the line, be prepared to assess each prospective apartment with an unbiased eye of a seasoned renter. Do you know what you want in your apartment? Do you know if it’s a good fit for you and your lifestyle? Is the rent price your range? Once you’ve answered these questions, you can make an educated choice about which apartment is the best fit for you.
One of the most common complaints about apartments in New York City is their bed bug history. Even if your landlord was careful to keep up with the anti-bed bug laws of New York and other cities when the apartments were brand new, there’s still a chance that bugs have made their way into the building. New York is a particularly humid city with a lot of rain and heat, making many apartments undesirable places for bugs to live. However, there are precautions you can take to make sure your future tenants do not have bed bugs – and some simple rules for landlords to follow as well.
For example, if you are in search of a New York City apartment in Brooklyn, which happens to be a hotbed of illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, you may want to consider putting your name and social security number on the waiting list instead of your full name and phone number. This way, no one will be able to tell you’re a drug dealer until it’s too late. In addition to keeping your real estate business and personal life separate, you should also put an extra piece of paper under your name and social security card every time you rent a room in an apartment. That way, should a tenant request your personal information (including your name and phone number) without permission, you can give them the slip instead. You’ll be able to legally avoid answering calls from these people and they won’t be able to call your name and social security number just to find out who you are and if you’re a drug dealer.