Previously on “Finding An Apartment…”
I began my apartment search with high spirits like finding a significant other. Sadly, the happy search quickly changed for the worst. I watched with horror as my first love turned from a “good” deal to a drug-and-bug-infested tenement of crap.
Lincoln Center
I looked and looked everywhere, from Lower East Side to Upper West Side. Nothing.
Until…
One day, as I looked on StreetEasy, I found a potential right by Lincoln Center. Almost immediately, I felt my heart flutter. I love the area. Like pure unadulterated love LOVE.
I jumped into a cab and headed right there.
The apartment complex sat right in between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. What a dream come true!
I could see myself writing at Lincoln Center, strolling through Central Park, and enjoying my Upper West Side life.
But, nothing is perfect…
As soon as the leasing agent opened the door to the studio, my jaw dropped. I could practically touch the other side of the wall. It was tiny!!! (12 x 15, to be exact—yes, the size of four normal size work cubicles… including the kitchen… and closet…)
Noooooooooo! This can’t be happening!
Could my potential second love be too small? I tried desperately to wrap my brain around the small size. I mean… I could work with it, right? Size doesn’t really matter… does it?
I debated for a few days and finally decided to suck it up and put in an application.
Within a day, I got approved.
Since the apartment was vacant, I went back to do a walk-thru so the management company (Orsid Realty) could relay what needed to be fixed before I moved in. There were a lot of issues that had to be dealt with before I could move in. For example, the bathtub drain was clogged, the windows and screens fell off the sill, the gas stove was not even put together, etc. I made a few notes and went to the signing a week later.
At the signing, I presented to the Orsid agent my list of concerns. He understood and said he’d talk to the landlord (G&F Realty) for me. The next day, I get a response from him stating the landlord “may or may not” do all the things I requested.
Wait… what?! I was shocked. The place was the size of a shoebox! If they didn’t fix all those things before I move in, there would be no way they could maneuver around my stuff. So, I stressed again that it was critical I could shower and open/close my windows once I moved there.
Things seemed normal… until I got the email—yes, email—a few minutes later.
“You are no longer approved.” It read.
That was it. Nothing more. No explanation of what that meant. No “sorry…” Nothing. Just a straight up fat rejection EMAIL!
For the second time in a two week period, I felt the blood boil beneath my skin. I immediately called the leasing agent to clarify the situation.
“What happened?” I asked, barely containing my frustration.
“The landlord just decided to not go through with the application.”
“What?!!??! We spoke this morning and everything was a ‘go.’ I got my cashier’s checks [for first month's rent and security deposit]. I booked my movers and told my current management I would be moving in a week. What do you mean the landlord decided not to go through with this app?!?!”
“I’m sorry. I’m just the messenger.”
“Uh… so what happened? What’s the reasoning? I mean… I spent 2 weeks working with you guys back and forth, getting documents and everything ready. I withdrew all my other applications and I have to move out in a week… I deserve at least an explanation.”
“Don’t know.”
“Was it because I asked the landlord to fix the tub and windows? Was that too much to ask?”
“No. I told him it seemed reasonable. I don’t know why. He just no longer wants to go through with this.”
“So… did someone else apply for this apartment?”
“I don’t know.”
The anger within intensified. What did he know then?
“Aren’t you guys exclusive with this landlord?”
“Yes…”
“But you don’t know anything?”
“No.”
“Can you ask for me?”
“No.”
“So this is it? You guys just wasted two weeks of my time and now I have to incur the cost of extending my lease and finding a new apartment?”
“Yes.”
“What the…”
Click.
I was livid!
There could only be two reasons the landlord decided not to go through with this process: 1) he didn’t want to fix the things I asked him to because he’s a stingy landlord and didn’t want to spend money; or 2) they accepted a new applicant on the apartment even though they told me they would take it off the market for me.
Either way, the landlord and management company screwed me over. Once more, I felt jaded. I couldn’t believe my luck. First, the hard break-up and now this pure rejection.
I wanted to give up on my search. I was never going to find the right one, so might as well start settling. My friends encouraged me to look further, comforting me with “if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be.”
For the next week, I wallowed in my sorrow. I couldn’t believe I had been rejected. I mean, I was willing to overlook the size problem because everything else seemed good. Now, after I had forced my brain to overcome the small size, I was left with nothing but a folder of papers and two cashier’s checks.
Worse yet, I had to extend my current lease at a ridiculously high market rate.
Oh, perfect apartment, where are you?!
Next time…
Then, out of the blue, a “good” deal came about. I immediately jumped on it. I mean, the place was a crapshoot—bars on the windows, uneven floors, odd smell(?)—however, it was priced way below market. In essence, it was a “bad-boy” I could potentially change for the better. So, I made an offer.
Finding An Apartment, pt 3: The Heart Wants What It Wants…
13 AprPreviously on “Finding An Apartment…”
After the first break-up, I fought my desire to quit the search and found a potential that was a bit… well… small… for my liking. But I sucked it up and dealt with it. After two weeks of going back and forth with the management company, I was told with no explanation (and over EMAIL!) that the landlord decided to “break up” with me! Me!!! What?!?!
Central Park and the Dakota
I didn’t know what to do anymore. I had a list of previous apartments-of-interest, so I decided to call them back.
One by one, I got the “I’m sorry, it’s been rented…”
My heart winced each time, almost like I was getting rejected once more.
Thankfully, an apartment a few blocks north of the Lincoln Center one appeared on NYBits.
The place, again, was situated right between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. I couldn’t help myself but begin to feel giddy.
As I approached the place, a feeling of trepidation started to settle in. What if I’m too late? What if this place is already taken? What if…
When the doors opened, the first thing I said: “Wow, it’s not 12×15!”
The current tenant laughed and motioned to her living space. She had a full bed, a couch, a TV plus stand, a dresser, a table, and lots of walking space. All this on top of the separate kitchen and bathroom!
Unfortunately, the only downside was that only half the apartment had windows, aka, only half the room had sunlight.
I walked away unsure of what to do. This place had its own problems, like lack of light, but it sat in the perfect location… I mean… it could be a potential.
As soon as I said the “p” word I felt my blood vessels constrict. What if this ends up being another flawed attempt? What if I get screwed by the management company or landlord again? What if this place has bed bugs or drug dealers hiding by Trader Joe’s?… Or… could the third time really be the charm?
I took a deep breath and put in an application the next morning.
In the next few days I continued to look. (You just never know with these New York landlords.) Again, I lowered my standards. I considered living in a small windowless place or a ridiculously expensive all-service place… but nothing seemed right.
Then, as I almost made up my mind to just take the apartment in Upper West Side, my friend, a broker, showed me an apartment in Murray Hill. The place was large, renovated, full of amenities. The only downfall—it faced 2nd Avenue and lots of traffic.
Sadly, I am a light sleeper and so I knew it would become an issue. Yet, everyone I spoke to said I could get used to the noise. The operative word there being “could.” What if I couldn’t?
I went home that night torn. I went from not having anything decent to having two very good prospects. At the end, I would be happy with either choice, but which one would make me happier?
It was like choosing between two lovers: one, whose whole is better than the sum of its parts while the other one has magnificent parts but one defect thus blemishing the whole. What to do?!?!
I spent the rest of the evening (until 3AM!) trying to figure it out. My brain decided to look at things logically. I wrote down pros and cons. I re-watched the videos I took. I even made a full expense model for each apartment. But still I couldn’t make my decision.
Something was holding me back. Something my heart refused to give in to my brain. I knew logically, the apartment at Murray Hill made better sense. Aside from the noise level that I may or may not get used to, the apartment fit all my needs. However, my heart seemed set on Central Park West. Nothing I did could persuade it otherwise.
The morning came and I awoke with a light heart. I knew my choice. The heart wants what it wants…
I signed the paperwork the following day.
So… By the end of this month, I will be living in my dream location… Central Park West, here I come!
From the Beginning…
“Finding An Apartment In NYC, pt 1: Like Finding A Significant Other”
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