One week to find a place?! (Rose: sublets, apartments, rentals) - New York City - New York (NY) - City-Data Forum

Sbudsky · 11-07-2010, 09:01 PM

I'll have less than 1 week between ending my job in Chicago and beginning a new job in NYC. We don't have relatives or close friends in the city that we can stay with, and we're on a pretty tight budget and can't really afford to stay in a hotel indefinitely. Any tips on how to approach the apartment search so that we're not left homeless and not forced to sign a lease for an apartment that isn't right for us? Would you recommend finding a short-term sublet? Staying at a hostel? Finding a place online while still in Chicago? Thanks in advance for your help!

bmwguydc · 11-07-2010, 09:46 PM

Sublet! I would not recommend looking online only, and the only way I would find a place from another city is if you know a reputable management company. That said, you would also need to know if the neighborhood was what you were seeking before signing a lease. The sublet will allow you time to find the apartment that meets your needs, since it can take a couple of weeks to find something, even if you know the areas in which you would like to focus a search.

Sbudsky · 11-07-2010, 09:56 PM

Thanks for the advice! When I flew out for my job interview, we did visit some apartments and neighborhoods, so we do have a good sense of where we want to live, but we definitely don't feel able to lock into a long-term lease until we're in town.

We're hoping to find a short-term sublet online, but most of the listings we have see seem to be seeking immediate occupancy (we're not moving for 3 weeks) and we cannot imagine waiting until the last minute to secure something. We're also a little hesitant to have to put down a deposit sight unseen, especially over the internet. Do you have any recommendations of reputable places we could look for a short-term rental? I'm having a hard time putting my faith in Craigslist...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwguydc

Sublet! I would not recommend looking online only, and the only way I would find a place from another city is if you know a reputable management company. That said, you would also need to know if the neighborhood was what you were seeking before signing a lease. The sublet will allow you time to find the apartment that meets your needs, since it can take a couple of weeks to find something, even if you know the areas in which you would like to focus a search.

Henna · 11-08-2010, 12:46 AM

Pay a few nights for a hotel while you spend those first few days (or evenings, if you have to work during the day) going for appointments for sublets. Line up a whole bunch of meetings. If I had to do it, that's what I would do. It's not advantageous for the leaseholder or the sublessee to have any change of money site unseen.

If the sublettor is leaving any of his stuff and has plans to return to the apartment after his trip, he wants to make sure he is renting to reputable people (hence the need to meet). You need to meet to make sure you like the place, that there's not something horrible wrong with it, and that the person you are giving money to really exists.

Check the hotel prices in Long Island City. It's just one or two subway stops from Manhattan in Queens and there are several new hotels that are reasonably priced as far as hotels go. You could also try priceline though I personally have never used it.

loratliff · 11-08-2010, 09:01 AM

Well, I didn't find my apartment on Craigslist, but I did find another listing by the realtor who had my apartment listed too and that's what led me to where I am no. Bottom line: Craigslist isn't all bad.

You can find an apartment in a week. I found my place on Wednesday and was moving in on Friday.

newyorker24 · 11-08-2010, 09:39 AM

What area are you looking in and what's the budget? I flew up for 3 days and saw almost 20 apartments in those 3 days. I highly suggest you do the same. If you absolutely cannot go to NY before you move, try contacting some of the larger management companies for availability (Rockrose, TF Cornerstone, Rose Associates, etc). You can generally trust that the information they give you on an apartment will be accurate and they are usually willing to work with you from out of state (mailing/faxing documentation).

bmwguydc · 11-08-2010, 08:40 PM

You can also check out sublet.com for some listings, which may be a bit more reliable than some of the listings on other sites. Rent apartment rentals, sublets, houses rent, roommates, sublet. Search rental apartments, furnished, unfurnished, long, short term, apartment rentals, temporary housing, houses rent, roommates, sublets. Classifieds Rental housing Sublet.com.

Many will say that they want an immediate occupant, but you can check on them and see if they have leased it or not closer to your move date -- in addition to pursuing new leads. Perhaps give them a call, since we're already into November, and see if you can secure it for December.

Yes, you can find a place quickly, if you know the neighborhood you want, and the budget is reflective of the majority of units of the size/quality desired. With a good broker, it's possible, but the problem lies with securing said broker from another city, both for vetting the broker and for basic things like paying the broker fee and deposit to secure the lease, hence why I would tend to look for a sublet first.

BadJuju · 11-09-2010, 09:02 PM

If you decide to stay at a hostel, I recommend Central Park Hostel. I was just there.

$35 or so a night!

Sbudsky · 11-14-2010, 11:22 AM

Thanks so much for the tips everyone! It sounds like working with a broker might be a good idea.... Do you all feel like it is worth the expense? How feasible would it be for us to find a longterm place in a few days? Maybe we should just stay in a cheap hotel, get hooked up with a broker, and search like crazy for 2-3 days.

I just had dinner last night with friends in Chicago and they were shocked that we don't have a place lined up in NYC-- they made me feel like we're totally nuts. In Chicago, you usually lock into something a month or so in advance, so no one can believe that we don't have anything secured.

Sbudsky · 11-14-2010, 11:23 AM

Thanks for the tip--Do they have private rooms, or just communal?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadJuju

If you decide to stay at a hostel, I recommend Central Park Hostel. I was just there.

$35 or so a night!