Moving to New York City

New York City is like no where else on Earth. Everything you want is never more than a subway trip away. Art, music, history, culture, shopping, restaurants, and music are only a few of the things the city has to offer.

Thinking of becoming a city-dweller? Here are a few things to expect:

Be prepared: New York City has a lot to offer so make sure you have an idea of what you want. Before you call a real estate agent make sure you know how much you want to spend, how many bedrooms you will need, length of the lease you are interested in and any other factors specific to your needs (schools, pets, smoker, elevator availability, etc.)

Be honest: Your agent only wants what’s best for you. As such, he/she is going to find apartments everywhere in Manhattan. It is up to you to decide whether or not you want to see them based upon the information and pictures your agent gives you. If an apartment is out of your price range, not in the right neighborhood or just doesn’t seem right, say something. This way your agent can tailor his/her search and find the apartment that’s right for you!

Be flexible: When renting an apartment from out of state, most of the time the leases are sent back and forth via mail. Sometimes, the prospective tenant does not even see the apartment until move-in day! Keeping that in mind, you need to work with your agent to ensure all paperwork is completed and all expenses have been paid. At times, you may need to express deliver or fax paperwork in a matter of hours or days in order to secure the apartment you wish to rent.

Be connected: Before you move in to your new apartment, you’ll need to set up electric, cable, gas (if not included) etc. Usually, companies require new customers to schedule an appointment to turn on service. To do that, you can go to the Useful Links portion of the Resources tab. There you will find numbers for the companies that serve most New York tenants. You will be able to call from out of state, set up your services and have a functioning, cable-ready apartment by the time you move. Note: please give companies at least 10 days notice prior to your move in date, as there is sometimes a high volume of requests.

For more information look at our NYC Rental Guide.

Fifth Avenue Office

212.353.2003

184 Fifth Avenue
Third Floor
New York, NY 10010

West 36th Street Office

646.484.5111

255 West 36th Street
Suite 406
New York, NY 10018