Horror Story: Shithole Apartment in NYC

I'm sure you have heard about the traumatic experiences of people looking for a place in NYC. The place is too small, too expensive, too dirty...or just off in some way.

Well those stories are true. However, it isnt about the apartment itself--it's also about the people who live there and how they present the place. Too often people overlook how a pleasant attitude, nice colors, and decent furniture can actually make an apartment look good.

Below is a guest post from How to Be a New Yorker, by another young person making the move to NYC. Maybe folks will learn that a little effort goes a long way...
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In order to successfully find an apartment in New York City, it is virtually a prerequisite for one to become physically, mentally, and emotionally addicted to Craigslist. I don’t know who this enigmatic “Craig” is or why he decided to take time off from pleasuring himself to craft this amazing database of classified ads. What I do know is that if checking Craigslist were equivalent to drinking a half a shot of Malibu, I would be wasted by 10:30 am every single day.

On Monday, I had my first ever New York City apartment viewings. Both of the ads fit my relatively reasonable requirements for an apartment:

a) Female roommates in their early to mid-20s.

b) Apartment was located in either the Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, or West Harlem below 135th St and priced below $1200 a month.

c) Apartment was not described as “cozy,” “charming,” (read: “glorified closet”) or “kosher.” Don’t get me wrong, I love the Jews, but at the risk of unintentionally making a sexual innuendo, I like my meat and cheese together whenever possible, thank-you-very-much.

d) The ad had good syntax, grammar, and punctuation. I have visceral reactions to “IDK MY BFF JILL” types. Also, on some level I irrationally believe that if one possesses typing aptitude, one has a smaller chance of being serial killer or rapist. “Can I kill u in ur sleep?” “No pls kthxbai.”

The first apartment building, on W 110th and Broadway, was gorgeous. No doorman, but the marble-floored lobby had a vaulted ceiling, which looked fantastic. I took this adorably quirky elevator up to the fourth floor, and an overenthusiastic (perhaps rabid) Columbia med student let me in. I walked in and–

The apartment. Was. A Shithole.

I don’t think I would ever want the young woman who showed me this place to ever be my doctor. If her apartment is any indication of her work hygiene and bedside manner, she would probably lick her hands clean before entering the operating room, and then later after I regained consciousness, slap me across the face with an eight month old copy of the New York Times she’s been saving for a rainy day. The place was straight up disgusting. The kitchen appliances seemed to be gravitating toward a central, vortex-like sunken point in the floor, and there were cracks in the wall. I attempted some robotic med school humor by calling the cracks “flesh wounds.” She was not amused.

I quickly left the decrepit apartment and set out for the next apartment, two blocks downtown on W108th and Broadway. The two blocks were like night and day. W110th was a quiet, beautiful tree-lined street with picaresque stone buildings. W108th was a busy, dumpster-lined street with stone buildings constantly under renovation. Upon entering the building, I was immediately reminded of my visit to the depressing Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side, except it was far less clean than the museum. And people still lived in it.



My future studio apartment in Morningside Heights

The authors of the ad, despite having grammatical prowess, failed to mention that the apartment was a fifth floor walk-up. I finally made it to the apartment, thankfully without needing to enlist the aid of a Sherpa. The girl who answered my knock let me in and without any small talk immediately began the tour of what was an unexpectedly amazing hidden gem of a place. Some highlights: high ceilings, an absurd amount of natural light, newly renovated, new appliances, clean, wood floors, well-decorated, spacious bedroom, and seemingly sane potential roommates.

After sitting down with the two current roommates, I found out they were also interviewing a number of other “applicants” for the apartment, and my meeting with them was strangely intimidating and uncomfortable for that very reason. The whole interview process kind of freaked me out. Lesson learned– apartment hunting is a cutthroat business. I need to learn to better sell myself, but not literally (since it’s illegal and degrading), just metaphorically.

Unsurprisingly, the two girls did not choose me to live in their covertly awesome apartment on W 108th. I think I lacked the latent sorority girl quality that they possessed. Also, it probably didn’t help that I mocked the Zac Efron poster in their apartment, only to find out that they didn’t put it up to be ironic. Awk-ward.

I should have just responded to this Craigslist ad. What a perfect arrangement.

Finding an Apartment in New York City

Honestly, I find that hunting for an apartment is more difficult than hunting for a job since I am being judged solely on my personality. It makes sense—you want to live with someone who not only pays rent on time but who is also pleasant to be around. So instead of asking me questions related to my productivity and ability to excel, I’m being asked if I like pets or if I’m 420 friendly.

But finding an apartment in a new city, especially a city like NYC requires more than just a nice personality. While searching for a place I realized that there are many things that I never really thought about including total living expenses for the first month of relocating, what I can and cannot deal with in a roommate, and what kinds of facilities I need access to on a regular basis. Therefore, to make the best out of your apartment search the key is to plan ahead. I’ve broken down the search into six tips and some important websites you should keep in mind when look for an apartment in New York City.

1. Be prepared: You increase your chances of having a smooth transition if you prepare yourself financially.

• Have a job. Having a job before you move has the following benefits: 1. You can set a more realistic budget for yourself (check out paycheckcity.com. Select the state and city then input your gross pay and exemptions. It can deduct taxes and show your take home pay). 2. You have a better sense of what neighborhoods to look at. 3. You have income to count on. 4. Many landlords want proof of income (or a guarantor stating they will pay for you if you are a student).


• Have money saved up. People usually save up for the move in—I recommend saving for the first month of living in the apartment so you don’t have to stress while waiting for your next paycheck. Most apartments will want at least first month and security. A decent room may run you about $700 so I would save at least $1800 for the move in, utilities (if not included) and food. If you need furnishings add another $500 to that.


• Give yourself some time. Especially if you are coming from afar—at least a month. People want to be able to see you and get in touch with you if they have any questions or some new information arises. Additionally, places tend to go quickly so I would recommend allocating at least a week to solely spending time in the city looking for a place.

2. Think of your budget for renting—then add 25% more: Shit happens. While most problems will be covered by a landlord, having an AC in the summer, appliances breaking down, suddenly ruined furniture, and a host of other problems will be your responsibility. It’s good to have about 25% of what you plan to spend on rent and utilities set aside for sudden events. And in general, things always cost more than we expect.

3. Know where to look: With so many people wanting to call New York their home there are a variety of resources available to assist people in the move mainly in the form of affordable housing options. Below is a list of websites, compiled by Citi-Habitats that can help you in every step of the way as you try to make NYC your home:

• The Actors Fund (www.actorsfund.org)
  The Actors Fund works in many ways to help its constituents find affordable housing. Check out the I-lousing Resource Center and the Housing Bulletin Board (with new listings added every couple of weeks) to learn more about the fund's residences and housing seminars.
  
• Citi Habitats (www.citi-habitats.com)
  Citi Habitats is just one of many reputable licensed real estate brokers in New York, but it's one of the largest, with more than 900 employees, offices throughout Manhattan, and housing in every price range. But brokers in outer-borough neighborhoods are easy to find online; just type in the neighborhood of your choice and "apartment broker."
• Common Ground (www.commonground.org)
  Common Ground's mission is "to end homelessness through innovativeprograms that transform people, buildings, and entire communities," but the organization also assists working people with lower incomes. Visit the site to learn more about its affordable housing options.
• Manhattan Plaza Tenants Association (www.mptenants.com)
  Manhattan Plaza doesn't have a website of its own, but on the site of the Manhattan Plaza Tenants Association, which serves current residents, you'll find information about the residence and its waiting list.
• NYC Affordable Housing Resource Center (www.nyc.gov/housING)
  The city's official site offers information on all aspects of housing, including renting an apartment, buying a home, and maintenance issues. Be sure to check the site regularly for a list of the city's affordable-housing lotteries.
• Craigslist (newyork.craigslist.org)
  This massive free market of online classified ads has become a topresource for finding apartments, sublets, roommates, and everything else under the sun.
• New York City Housing Development Corporation (www.nychdc.com)
  The FIDC finances the development and preservation of affordable housing in New York. Click on "Apartment Seekers" for a list of buildings with available apartments, future developments, income requirements, and other info.

4. Word of mouth is much better: While the resources above are certainly helpful, being referred to someone who is looking for a roommate or renter by a mutual friend gives you an instant leg up. Tap into alumni networks to see if they know of any opportunities. Post that you are looking for an apartment on twitter, your blog, facebook, myspace—any place that people read so that friends know you are looking and can keep you in mind if they hear of anything. If you have landed a job, ask them to put you in touch with people who are also looking or who have openings. The more people who know that you are searching the better.

If you don’t know many people, go to the actual neighborhood where you are considering moving and check out libraries and community centers for postings. And don’t be afraid to ask the doormen/receptionists at apartments if they know of openings in the building or in the neighborhood.

5. Be real: This is not the time to pretend as if you can deal with cats when you are allergic, or that you are a social butterfly when you are really a cave dweller. Nor is it the time to pursue apartments/rooms that are so far out of your budget you leave yourself open to financial disaster. Your home is your sanctuary and should be a place where you feel free to truly be yourself and be at ease—in both an emotional and financial sense. Below are some great questions from So You Wanna… that you should ask yourself AND your potential roommate:

• Have you ever had a roommate before? What if anything bothered you about your past roommates?
  
• Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend or other friend who will be staying here frequently?
• Are you promiscuous? (Do not be afraid to ask this one. You probably don't want strange people sleeping over a lot.)
• Do you smoke? Drink? Do drugs? If yes to any, how often?
  
• Do you stay out late on weekdays?
• Did/do you have any credit problems?
• Do you have any pets?
• What is your occupation?
• What do you like to watch on television? What music do you listen to?

6. Get over Manhattan: People tend to come to NYC with the expectation that their lives will be like something from Sex in the City or Friends. Get your mind away from the cosmos and cafes and remember that NYC has FIVE BOROUGHS—Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Further, there is so much more that goes into finding an apartment including access to supermarkets and laundromats, length of lease, cost of utilities and more. When choosing an apartment ask the following questions, again from So You Wanna…:

• How long is the lease?
• Do you have the option to renew?
• How large of a deposit will you be required to leave as security?
• Are utilities included in your rent? Which ones (gas, electric, water, cable, etc.)?
• Are you allowed to keep pets in the apartment?
• Are you allowed to sublet if you go away?
• What sort of security does the building have?
• Does the building have laundry facilities?
• Does the building have a super or some sort of arrangement for repairs?
• Does anyone else have keys to the apartment?
• Do you need special permission to make superficial changes, i.e. painting or hanging picture?

Side: How do I establish a budget for relocating to New York?

Most people recommend that you set aside 1/4 to 1/3 of your monthly pay to housing costs. This is certainly one part of the budgeting equation, but I also realize that to get a better grasp on how much I can spend on housing I need to look at my total cost of living. I use the budgeting tips from All Your Worth, a personal finance book. In a nutshell, your budget should look as follows:

• 50% of monthly pay goes to MUST HAVES: rent, utilities, healthcare, food, student loans, and other obligatory payments. These are the basics you need for survival and couldnt go very long without.
• 20% goes to SAVINGS: directly to your savings account or making extra payments on debts (since doing the latter will save you money in the long term).
• 30% goes to WANTS: entertainment, shopping, food, lattes, and all the other fun stuff you like.

Granted this kind of budget isnt easy and I am grossly oversimplifying here, but I think it is a great start for creating and maintaining healthy finances. Destination Money Balance has more information on this type of budgeting and The Single Edition (an online magazine for Singles) has money saving tips for lean living.

Side: What if I want to move right now but don’t have much time or money?

Hit up networks you already have and ask to crash while you look for a place. If you can’t find a friend, sign up on CouchSurfing or look for short term places to stay (i.e. sublets) on craigslist. The nice thing about sublets is that they require little upfront money and allow you to search for permanent employment and housing.

So You Wanna Move to NYC...

To jump start this blog, I want to begin with some key points that I think every person should know when moving NYC.

I must admit that making this list was difficult. Even though I grew up in NYC, I left the city for 5 years to study and work in Philadelphia. As a result I occupy an outsider-insider relationship with NYC: I love it and am comfortable yet still feel like I don’t have a grasp on everything in the city and am still learning. In any case here are some things that I have learned over time since leaving and I think people will find useful. At some point each of these points will be elaborated on to give additional details.

Health in NYC:
1. You will get sick. And dirty. I came across this great quote: “NYC is the only city that when it rains it makes its own gravy.” That’s how dirty the city is. Be prepared to have the sniffles when you first move here because of the dirt and smog in the air, to buy a humidifier, and to have any light colored clothes turn yellow.

2. If it is not an emergency, you will find yourself waiting forever or not being helped at all. So learn to deal with pain or get yourself some amazing health insurance so you can see a doctor when necessary.

Communication/Awareness in NYC:
1. NYC = 5 BOROUGHS! Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. No, Long Island doesn’t count, neither does Yonkers. And don’t even think about suggesting Jersey…

2. Learn the lingo: Bodega (corner store); “Can I Get A…” (instead of “May I Please Have A…); “A Slice” (instead of plain pizza slice), “Hero” (instead of hoagie or sub).

3. Don’t confuse being firm with being mean. This will take a while to get used to. Just because people are straight to the point doesn’t make them mean—they simply want to get their point across with as little confusion as possible. So grow a thick skin and be prepared hold your ground. It’ll make you stronger in the end.

4. Don’t let the celebrations of diversity blind you to reality. The biggest selling point about NYC is that it is so diverse. Let me tell you something, my neighborhood was all black. Next door all Jewish. A few blocks up, all hispanic. We didn’t hang out and we didn’t play nice. It was an antagonizing experience. And that’s just on a personal level. Sean Bell and Amadu Diallo show racism on an institutional level. And in case you missed it, a black high ranking off duty police officer was stopped by white cops.That should tell you something.

Transportation in NYC:
1. DO NOT TURN RIGHT ON RED.

2. Know the driving directions to where you need to go BEFORE you get in a cab. If you let the cabbie decide, you will get screwed.

3. Subway lines are recognized by their NUMBERS/LETTERS not colors. If you say you want the green line you will have 4 options: 4, 5, 6, and G.

4. Train exits are labeled SW-NW-SE-NE so you can find your way around. If you need to go to a building located on the “Northeast side of 34th street” there you have it.

5. While NYC may have the largest public transportation system in the world there are frequent delays, it is often filthy, hot, slow, and full of crying babies. Subways are horrible on the weekends, so learn the bus routes and be prepared to walk a lot.

Working in NYC:
1. Bring your A-Game. Don’t come here if you’re looking for an easy escape. Anyone who is anyone moves to NYC with the hope of making it big. Therefore competition for even the smallest things is fierce. However, there are many organizations available for young professionals to help you make a name for yourself in the city. The Young Non-Profit Professionals Network (free) and Young Professionals in New York City ($50) provide networking and professional development opportunities. Check to see if your college has an alumni chapter in the city and participate in their events. With schools like Columbia and NYU nearby, take advantage of conferences and continuing education programs.

2. Volunteering is good for the soul and the resume. Looking through some of the volunteer opportunities available, many of them read like jobs. Additionally, many non-profits have young professionals groups where you can network, learn, and give back to the community. While this may be daunting, it is also exciting since you can contribute to the greater good of the city while learning some skills. So if you are just starting at an entry-level position, buttress that job with some volunteering.

3. Look good. Not everything looks good on everybody but take pride in your appearance. People will notice if you don’t.

Food/Entertainment in NYC:
1. The carts that sell fruits and veggies are great. Don’t be afraid of them. Same for the guys that sell bacon and eggs on the corner.

2. Only tourists go to the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and the Circle Line. Well, tourists and elementary schools for field trips.

3. However, go to museums and galleries whenever you can. The difference between museums and the points of interests mentioned above is that museums and galleries can change their focus and bring you things about the city (and country) that you may never find any place else. You go to the Statue of Liberty once, you’re pretty much done. But at a museum, one week you can be learning about African-Americans in government and the next week about pop music. It’s quite wonderful.

Living/Buying in NYC:
1. Get a library card. The libraries in New York, especially the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library have massive amounts of books, videos, and periodicals—not to mention the research libraries such as the Schomburg which focus on specific groups and events and the technological upgrades taking place across the city at all of the libraries. You learn so much about the city as well as increase your access to a wealth of materials by getting a library card.

2. Cheap purchases are available if you look. Century 21, Loehmann’s, Strand Bookstore, The Greenmarket at Union Square, and Canal Street (on the 6 line) have an abundance of cheap quality items (although with the last two, be prepared to haggle). However, be prepared to become more materialistic. I have never in my life seen so many COACH or Louis Vuitton, and other name brand bags in my life (however, most of them are knock offs from Canal Street).

3. Find your favorite spots. There is so much emphasis on trying everything all the time. However, I have my places that I go to and am quite comfortable with that. The best fried chicken wings and pizza are at this pizza place and Chinese restaurant near my grandmom’s house in Bed-Stuy where I grew up. I love shopping in Union Square. The Promenade is where I like to take walks and relax. I love the Schomburg. I go to United Artists in Brooklyn Heights. Finding places that are comfortable and relatively cheap make your time in NYC much more rewarding.

4. You’ll appreciate your friends and family much much more. It can get lonely in this city and the competition to be the best can get overwhelming. That’s when you find yourself wanting the love and comfort of friends. So make sure that in between work and stress you develop those relationships…they will get you through hell.