Caren Maio

It’s time for another Serial Renter spotlight, and this time I’d like to highlight a building that’s been near and dear to my heart ever since I moved to this island nearly a decade ago.

Over the years, I’ve discussed this building at length with friends, and recently it came up again after speaking with a couple of friends who moved in around the same time as each other, and had nothing but amazing things to say. 

So you’ve found the perfect apartment – great!  Now what?

As vacancy rates continue to drop and the rental application process becomes even more competitive, the stakes are higher than ever.

Here are three tips for making a great impression on your landlord, enabling your application to stand out from the rest.

1. Impress them with your organization.

I’m always on the apartment hunt, passively browsing listings as a way to stay up-to-date on the market. Over the years, I’ve collected a list of my favorite buildings--some of which I’ve personally inhabited, others I’ve merely browsed online or on foot, and others that have come to my attention through the praise of friends.

I use this list to guide my own searches and share it with friends who are on the move as well.

It’s no secret that apartment hunting in NYC is an incredibly competitive and fast-paced process, with rentals rarely hitting the market more than a month in advance of their occupancy date. Meanwhile, the thought of a looming lease expiration/move-out date can feel like a ticking time bomb hanging over your head.

That’s why you need to hit the ground running, fully prepared and ready to rumble when the moment is right:

1. Compile your documents.

Finding a really good roommate is just about as stressful as finding the actual apartment itself. Much like selecting an apartment, you should choose a roommate carefully – as a hasty choice is one you could seriously regret later. 

Here are a few quick temperature checks you should take to help ensure you and your potential roomie will be at each other’s backs instead of throats when it comes to picking an apartment and living peaceably ever after.

1. Share your preferences.