What to do before you work with a real estate agent in NYC
Signing a lease for a new apartment is a daunting process, a huge commitment, and typically the most expensive decision you’ll make all year. Nooklyn makes the process easier with an intuitive search engine, detailed neighborhood guides, online applications and payment systems, and even a roommate finder. But even then, securing the perfect apartment takes some work. As a Brooklyn real estate agent, my job is to help clients through the rental process and find them a home. In my experience, there are steps renters can take before we even meet in person to make locking down the perfect rental as seamless as possible.
Here’s what you should do to prepare for your apartment search (and to help your agent help you).
Know your qualifications and get ready to answer questions honestly. If you’re unfamiliar with the New York real estate process, you may think your agent is really nosy up front. When it comes down to it, we don’t want to waste your time. For example, an agent may ask you where your credit stands before you view an apartment, because many landlords are looking for above average credit. If you know that it’s not so great, you may want to have a back up plan and line up a guarantor to co-sign for you.
Answering all questions honestly and knowing your situation well will help your agent best advise you on how to snag an awesome apartment.
Get your paperwork in order. Speaking of qualifications, you’re going to have to prove that you can pay rent with various paperwork, and very quickly. New York landlords are stricter than most other places, and it can be a pain to get everything together. Since the process is also speedy, waiting until the last second to prepare documents is a bad call. No landlord is going to hold your dream apartment off the market while you wait a week for a letter from your employer.
In most cases, you’re going to need to present proof of employment and salary, so you may want to ask your employer for that when you know you’re going to be looking for an apartment. Bank statements, tax info from the year before, pay stubs and proof of any other forms of income are basic requirements to secure a New York apartment. The same goes for guarantor paperwork, so prepare any co-signers in advance!
Nail down some (realistic) specifics of what you’re looking for. Apartment hunting can be overwhelming, especially when there are so many options out there. To be as efficient as possible, it’s best to go into it with an idea of what you’re looking for, so your agent can compile listings that you’ll love, as opposed to wasting time showing things to you that won’t work for you. Your budget, train lines or areas that you prefer, pet friendliness, etc. are all basics that you should know before you meet with your agent.
If you can’t live without laundry in the building or outdoor space, that’s something you should let your agent know up front as well. Of course, an agent can help your narrow down your search, but having an idea of what you want is a huge help.
Get on the same page with your roommates. If you want to live in one part of town, and your roommate wants to live in another, it’s either time to compromise or to find a new roommate. Sit down together and figure out what everyone wants and make sure everyone is prepared equally. Starting the process of finding an apartment without being in agreement can create major setbacks.
Also, plan out the viewing process together. Find out when everyone is available to look at places, and if your schedules don’t line up, designate someone to look and take video for everyone else so that you can make a quick decision together. New York rentals get snatched up fast — by the time your agent can schedule all of the individual showings your roommates need, the apartment you really want may already be gone.
