Brick Underground’s best advice from New Yorkers who lived through real estate drama

No two buildings are the same in New York City, which makes navigating a sale or moving to a rental its own unique experience. Even so, there’s no need to make the mistakes of those who’ve gone before you.

Here’s Brick Underground’s best advice, culled from our first-person column, Inside Stories, with tips from buyers, renters, and transplants about some of the hazards they experienced trying to achieve their NYC real estate goals. We’re talking bait-and-switch listings, neglectful landlords, horrible floods, and much more. 

Read on and click on the links to avoid some NYC major real estate pitfalls and how you can spot them yourself.

[Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post was published in February 2019. We are presenting it again in case you missed it.]

Moving from out of state

Long distance moves have plenty of stress factors. Be wary of signing a lease on an apartment that needs a gut renovation before you can move in. Also watch out for listing photos of the model unit or another apartment in the same line as yours; it might look nothing like the one you signed a lease for. Another tip: Review your building’s move-in rules before the big day. 

Worried about how the kids will adjust to a big move? We spoke to parents who have some advice to share. 

Once you get here, you might find that living in a building with a doorman requires some adjustments, like getting over how much they know about your comings and goings. 

Rental tips

Be very wary of basement apartments, they can be prone to flooding, and no one wants their toilet to turn into a geyser. And if you’re couch surfing with kids while you find the right place, an apartment with a cat can be a good distraction.

Nothing motivates a landlord like losing money. If you have building-wide issues or say, it rains in your kitchen, document the problems and fill out a form for a rent abatement.

If you’re looking for affordable housing—remember you won’t have a stake in the lottery if you don’t apply. That’s the advice of one military veteran who won her apartment. Moving to a high-end rental developments can also create some culture shock, as one lottery winner found out.

Buying in NYC

When you put in an offer on an apartment, you should already have talked to an attorney—waiting until the last minute to find a lawyer is like looking for an ob-gyn as you’re about to give birth.

Check out these tips from one buyer who looked at 150 apartments before buying in NYC. If you’re taking the co-op plunge, make sure the board has a capital plan. Board meeting minutes may not be enough to tell whether the building is being mismanaged. And make sure you take a look at the building’s basement—and if you notice rat droppings, run. Also, talk to everyone, including the doorman, the super, and the residents to get a feel for a building if you find an apartment you like. 

Buying a sponsor unit allows you to avoid the interview process, but if you do have to go through it, don’t stress—not all interviews are bad. 

If you’re buying a property and are told it comes with a parking space, make sure it has a deed. If the sale falls through, remember there will be another property.

Avoiding renovation headaches

When you are embarking on a remodeling project, especially in a co-op, double the time you’re told it will take. Board approval for renovation plans is time-consuming. If you’re eyeing your neighbor’s apartment to expand into, an invitation for coffee and a chat (and some patience) might pay off.

But don’t waste your time waiting to go ahead with a project, especially if you have a shed at the end of the garden—get on and renovate it—and don’t skimp on new flooring. Turns out salvage stores can turn up some surprises, including beloved woodwork from your former apartment.

Check out these tips when combining apartments and consider buying some hallway space to open up the layout.