Hi everyone, it’s been a minute but you all know why. I have so many updates, so many things that happened while I was going through my housing situation. While I’ll pass on repeats, I had amazing experiences, got lessons that I wouldn’t forget and had to really grit my teeth on some decisions. I guess as time goes by, I’ll share some of those things, cause to put it all in one post … you guys will never read anything else I share again! LOLOL! Yes … one post will be that long!! 😀
The … errrrrr ….. “short version” of the story is that I’m not moving anymore. If anyone ever tells you that apt hunting in New York is for warriors, not for the faint of heart — believe them! If anyone tells you that real estate agents in NY are like mob-bosses — believe them. I consider myself a tough enough gal with the right amount of cuddly softness. LOLOL! When the tough needs to come into play … I bring it! Not in a harsh way but in an appropriate way. But let me tell you, trying to move this month, turned into a whole nother type of situation that could not be resolved by any level of toughness.
Get this — every single apt I looked at was listed with certain characteristics. Number of apts that met their listing description = NONE!!!! That’s right! Studios being advertised as one bedrooms. One bedrooms being advertised as having a library/den and being approved for shares that had no extra space or enough closet space for one person. There were “areas” in these studios and one bedrooms containing only a sink and two cupboards above the sink, with stoves that don’t work and fridges that need to be tossed and absolutely NO counter-space being called “kitchens”. One broker I met with even had the nerve to show me units that people were still living in. When I questioned her about the inaccuracy of the listings, she had the nerve to tell me that someone else was the listing agent and they made a mistake. For all the units?!!! Gedouttahere!!!!! 😛
Then, there were the fees! Even if you see the listing online or in the paper advertised as “by owner”, when you go to the location, a real estate agent is there to open the door for you. You can’t apply for the unit on your own … the application MUST be through the agent. Wait for the kicker … the brokers fees are now 15 – 18% of the annual rent!!!! So an apt costing $1200 (that’s where the studios start) has me paying between $2160 – $2590 to the broker. Close to or more than two times the cost of the unit. Add the first month’s rent and security deposit to that and I was looking at 4600 – 5200 just to secure the apt. Then … add another 700 – 900 to pay movers (don’t have that much family here and my guy friends have been smart and relocated out of state … LOLOL!), I’m looking at $5300 – $6100 to actually move into a $1200 – $1300 unit. And units smaller than mine.
Let me tell you, I had already gotten boxes, informed my management company that I was moving, but God used my building super to come to the rescue. My issue is that although I’m OCD clean/tidy I understand there are hoarders on my floor and the floor below me. To the point where workmen for the management company refuse to go into these units! They have what my mother likes to call “irritants” and those have been coming into my apt. The building super told me on Sunday after we spoke about the predatory rental market to inform management that I’m not leaving anymore but to still take the last week of June off. Since the management company didn’t want me to move, they told him that he and one of the workmen will come in to go through the entire unit with a fine tooth comb. They’re going to gut the kitchen to make sure that there are no holes in the walls, then tile all of that. Then they’re going to go through each room and make sure that all the baseboards (including those in the closets are intact). Based on what’s out there for rent and the fees associated, I’ll go with that. Not even having to move my wall of books or my tower of yarn tubs are enough to have me cower at what’s going to go on in the apt next week. 😀 I’m just glad the resolution involves labor not $6100! It made it even easier to decide when both family members I had the option of staying with had valid mitigating situations that made me staying with them no longer an option.
So my friends, my Plan A which was to look for a condo became Plan B when I decided to move then became Plan A now that I’m not moving again! LOLOL! It’s been a crazy roller-coaster ride so I thank you for your prayers and well wishes.
Next stop … home buying!!!! 😀 But in the mean time, cheers to life, great family, lessons, tenacity, care, love, support, friends (online and in real life) and crafts (cause y’all know I had to get my craft on so the situation wouldn’t drive me bonkers)!!!!! 😀
It’s great to be back! 😀
D'NALI 
I’m late as hell, but glad everthing’s worked out for you. Another friend went through a search recently and was having a terrible time due to credit score issued that were no fault of her own. Reading this makes me glad that I was able to buy an apt when I had the opportunity. That post reminded me of that trashy place we saw on the last apt search, LMAO!
LOLOL! Girl, we saw trashy places … not one place. 😀 I was about ready to come move in with you; real estate in NY is K-RAZY!!!! Hope your friend got her situation worked out.
On Wed, Jul 10, 2013 at 10:10 PM, D'NALI
She did in fact, found a place that was closet to her job also.
Coincidentally I ran into that man who was showing that horrible apt this morning. He claims he’s trying to sell some of his condos so he can retire. I don’t even want to imagine what those places look like.
How funny is that?!!! LOLOL! It’ll be interesting to see what these “condos” look like.
You are tough, girl, so very tough! I’m so glad that your housing situation was resolved from what looked like an impossible (and expensive) situation.
My mom and Dr. said that but sometimes I don’t feel so tough. But I guess this experience is all “gristle for the mill”
Helps me enjoy and appreciate my blessings even more. 😀
Glad things are turning out, but that housing situation in New York sounds absolutely crazy! Supplying all of that false information just to get someone to look at a property is evil. Not that I get all of my information from reality tv shows, but on one show they did record an agent submitting fake photos for an apartment so it would look more appealing so that he could get more people in the door and I do also watch Hoarders so I can imagine what living next to something like that is like. I really hope they do what they fix what they say they will fix to keep out those intruders! You’ve been through enough. And good luck and best wishes on the home buying! -Nizzy
I think that’s the thing that almost drove me nuts; the fact that I was turning up to these showings and the units were nothing like the information said they were. Real estate agents here know that the market’s so tight that people end up taking what’s available although they feel hoodwinked. It’s a tiresome, frustrating thing to look for an apt here; I pity the people with limited resources. No wonder some of them end up in those death-traps these slumlords call apts,
As for the hoarders, I can’t imagine living like that. I can’t even watch the show much more live like that. It scared me that when I started packing, I found a garbage bag stuffed with yarn that I didn’t even remember I bought! That was scary and frustrating to think of where to store them. Living in a perpetual state of untidiness and mountains of stuff … girl … y’all would have to come visit me in a sanatorium!!! I just can’t with that!
The management company came on Thursday to measure for new base cabinets and the proportions to all my rooms so I’m pretty confident that they will do what they said. They’ve also given me a schedule of which rooms they’ll be doing on what days. So I think they’ll come through!
Good for you. Hopefully things will continue working out. And yes, New York City’s housing/rental market is quite predatory.
I’m praying to God that they do! I’m trusting that they will.
Im glad to hear things worked out for you. ask the super can they use durock in the kitchen its much stronger than sheet rock
He is going to be using that, that’s what they use for all the kitchen renos now. Then he’s going to add the tiling as an extra resource.
I am happy for you that things turned out better than you thought they would. I can’t imagine being in a situation like that. I hope the job next week takes care of the problem.
Thank you so much Lissabeth! I’m not going to lie — “wait” was not an answer I had even considered but I’ve accepted that this is what it is.