Rental Traps Avoidance Guide
-01-
You can't have it both ways
Renting in New York City is a combination of convenience and quietness. For example, living in Ktown, downstairs is a variety of restaurants, Hmart, the needs of life can be quickly met, but in the middle of the night, you are often awakened by these "smoke of fireworks".
If you choose a building close to the subway station for the convenience of transportation, you must have the trouble of being bombarded by the sound of the railway tracks.
Therefore, when students choose a room, they must confirm their first appeal, whether it is the convenience of transportation and life, or a quiet environment.
Here is a small tip: try to choose a high-rise building or a building with three-story soundproof windows, the noise is relatively small (some buildings have two-story soundproof windows)
-02-
Your neighbors matter!
The community environment and occupants around the building can basically be equated with safety.
If you have a building you like and you are not sure whether the community is safe, you can search the Internet for the income level and education level of the people living in this community to comprehensively consider.
Reference site: The U.S. Census Bureau
-03-
Different orientations｜Different needs
The orientation of the room type is a point that everyone is very concerned about. The southwest facing room has afternoon sun, which lasts until sunset, for students who love the sun.
The northeast-facing room type has morning sun and natural light after ten o'clock, suitable for morning players.
-04-
Signing mark
After confirming the exciting property, the most important thing is to sign the contract. When preparing to sign the contract, students must ask about the details. Meiwo has listed a check list for everyone, you can refer to it yourself:
- Is the rent Net* or Gross Price*?
- Is there an amenities fee?
- Is there a Free month and how it is given?
- Is there a Move in fee?
- Move in time?
- What is the rental payment method? (Some buildings can only use check, and some buildings support one year's rent in advance)
- Does the building allow tenants to sublease to others?
Key points: Be sure to confirm the content of the lease, all verbal promises have no legal effect, only the building's written promises (in the form of lease or email) are valid
*Gross Price Original Price
*Net Price is the average price per month after joining the free month
-05-
Sign the contract≠lay flat and swing
Almost all buildings in New York are unfurnished and need to be purchased by students themselves. I believe most people will habitually choose IKEA, but summer is also IKEA's out-of-stock season. Many classic models are sold out, and orders are often cancelled.
There are many solutions to this situation. Early access to building tenant groups leaked furniture. Many households who have moved out will sell it at a cheap price. If you are lucky, some large furniture is often given by the seller for free.
Entering the tenant group in advance can also provide plan B for some "accidents" and ask for help in the group.
Amazon is also a good choice for purchasing furniture, which is usually delivered to the package room, no need to make an appointment for a moving elevator.
In addition, if you search carefully on second-hand platforms like Facebook marketplace, you can also buy good furniture and appliances. If you are in New York, the sellers will deliver them to your door in person.
Finally, I remind all students that you must reserve a freight elevator half a month in advance! Summer is the moving season. There were students who moved out of the dormitory during the summer, and new residents who moved in in mid-to-late August. Freight elevators tend to be fully booked for a week in a row.
In addition, the delivery of large furniture requires the use of a large freight elevator! Many students do not understand this, and the embarrassing situation that something arrives, but cannot be transported to the home because of the inability to use the elevator.