'Tis the season to brush up on NYC real estate

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | December 1, 2014 - 3:59PM

BrickUnderground's Holiday Week brings you lots of fresh stories on navigating the real estate world this time of year, but this isn't the first time we've explored buying, selling, renting, decorating and surviving the holidays. Below, some treasures from our story vault:

RENTING

It's a good time to find bargain rents, relatively speaking; lower demand in the winter means landlords drop the rent or offer sweeteners like a free month or gratis broker's fee.

SELLING

Combat the slow season for sales with extended open houses, flexibility on showings, and a party for brokers to get the word out, and as many potential buyers as possible to your door.

Speaking of open houses, don't call a snow day if the weather turns inclement--window shoppers will stay home, serious buyers will turn up.

CELEBRATING

If you're decorating the lobby, know that not everyone will appreciate your taste in decor. More tips on avoiding bloodshed here.

Meanwhile, if it's the neighbor taking things too far, you could check if your building has rules against excessive holiday cheer (or just grin and bear it--'tis the season, after all).

Yes, you can host a holiday party in your NYC apartment. Here's how.

BRAVING THE WEATHER

Like it or not, snow days are a fact of life. Luckily, shoveling doesn't have to be.

Curiously, wintertime in New York City is known as "heat season," a time when landlords must ensure your apartment reaches a certain temperature. Read up on everything you need to know.

On the other hand, if you're overheated (and many NYC apartments are positively balmy in the winter), consider installing a device on your radiator that allows you to regulate the temp.

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