What your NYC real estate agent says vs. what they really mean
If you’ve ever searched for an apartment in New York, there is no doubt that you’ve come across a listing that is a tad… imaginative. While my personal approach to real estate includes as much transparency as I can possibly give, I’m no stranger to using flowery language from time to time. Whether it’s to hype an apartment or guide you through the experience, there can be some fluff involved in the rental process. Here’s a translation guide to keep handy in your next apartment search.
What they say: “If you like this, you should move on it.”
What they mean: This apartment will be gone in two hours. Especially in warmer months, there is no playing around when it comes to the New York rental market. Over 8.5 million people share this city, and we all need a place to live. It gets competitive! If you find an apartment that you love, chances are a ton of other people will love it too, so lock it down while you can. The same can be said about the New York dating scene, but that’s for another day and another article.
What they say: “Ample storage.”
What they mean: An extra closet. Maybe two. Living in New York redefines our storage expectations, and wording often caters to those who already know the ins and outs. If you’re reading that as “a built in storage unit,” you are most likely incorrect. It’s not unheard of, but neither are American Bald Eagles. I know they exist, but I’ve never seen one in real life and I’m pretty sure they’re going extinct.
What they say: “You’re a subway ride away from the heart of downtown Manhattan.”
What they mean: …It may be an hour subway ride with two transfers to where you actually have to be every day. When you think about it, most places in Brooklyn are technically a subway ride away from downtown Manhattan. Make sure you do your research on what works best for you. Nooklyn makes it easier with our map feature and lets you search for apartments by proximity to your preferred subway line. This map is also handy for figuring out proximity to the best food and alcohol in the neighborhood. Priorities.
What they say: “Loads of natural light in the living space.”
What they mean: There’s a window in the living room. Maybe two. Hey, it’s not always a given in New York. You’re thinking The Great Flood of light, where it’s probably more of a flash flood of light. Worst case scenario, you have to downsize your plant collection.
What they say: “Make sure all of your roommates are present for your showing!”
What they mean: No, really, get all of your roommates to the apartment if you’re actually interested. It’s not time efficient to show one group of people one apartment multiple times for two reasons — the first being that by the time we show your third roommate two days later, the apartment is going to be rented, and the second being that we have our own busy schedules to consider. If everyone has a conflicting schedule and it’s not a possibility, make sure you’re all on the same page, and appoint someone as the decision maker. I highly suggest the designated “responsible roommate” — we all have one.
What they say: “Open concept.”
What they mean: Your living room is in your kitchen. To put it simply, an open plan means that there is no wall separating your living space from your kitchen and dining space. This type of layout can lend itself to creating a really chic space, but differences in square footage can range from allowing you to use a kitchen island or a dining table to divide the space to actually being able to fry eggs from your couch. The latter is pretty common in city living, but we learn to utilize the space the best we can.
What they say: “Your budget may be a stretch for what you want, but I’ll see what I have.”
What they mean: You’re probably going to have to look somewhere else or change your requirements. When I was a small town teenager forming my dream of moving to Brooklyn, I pictured myself living in a giant loft with floor to ceiling windows. On the water of course, with a great view of Manhattan and a private roof deck to host really awesome parties. Fast forward to present day, where I’ve realized that this dream has a price tag of 9x what I can actually afford. We all make adjustments.
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