Caren Maio

So you’ve found that perfect apartment – your application was accepted, checks were cut, and the lease was signed. Nothing else to worry about, right? Wrong! There are plenty of other items on the to-do list to prep for your move-in day. In order to aid you in this effort, I’ve compiled a list of the top five items to consider before the big day.

1.   Get the details straight

It’s no secret that NYC apartment hunting reaches its peak within the summer months. As a result, competitive pressure is at an all-time high--with landlord concessions, price breaks and vacancies becoming more and more scarce.

In an attempt to level the playing field, some apartment hunters set their sights on the non-rental, otherwise known as a condo or co-op apartment.

Since kicking off the Serial Renter column two months ago, I’ve written a lot about what to look for in an apartment before you make the big decision. That being said, sometimes certain criteria will slip through the cracks and things that didn’t seem like a big deal before will bubble up and turn into major deal-breakers.

Despite best efforts, all of the brain-wracking in the world won’t displace the question, ‘Why didn’t I think of this before?’

We call this feeling Renter’s Remorse.

It’s easy to fall in love with a place based on looks, location or price (depending on what you prioritize). I have to admit, out of the many places I’ve viewed in my rental repertoire, I’ve made plenty of snap judgments in my day. That being said, it’s important to separate love from lust.

Sadly, that is not so easy after a long day of apartment hunting, when the metaphorical beer goggles tend to go on.

Next year marks my 10^th year living in NYC, an anniversary that has me thinking a lot about my track record of city living--and city renting in particular.

I’ve moved a lot...more times than years I’ve lived in this city. I’ve done the full-service luxury building, the pre-war co-op sublet, the walk-up tenement, the industrial-inspired loft, and more. I’ve come to know the nuances of each situation and the tactical strategies involved in NYC apartment hunting so well that I have become the go-to ‘apartment renting expert' among my friends.