I’ll Take Manhattan

Is your job bringing you to the Big Apple? Moving into Manhattan can be an intimidating prospect for anyone. There are steps you can take to ease the transition to big-city life. Here are a few ideas to get you started. 

Prioritize Your Needs

This is perhaps the trickiest part of moving to NYC. You need to consider three things, location, price, and size, and pick which one means the most to you. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to find all three within the Manhattan limits. If proximity to your work is most important, look for the location first. If you’re on a tight budget, go for the price. Are you moving with a spouse and a kid? You’d better look for a decent size.

Study the Neighborhoods

In addition to lining up your apartment priorities, it pays to research the neighborhoods. A 2 bedroom luxury apartment in East Side Manhattan will have a very different feel than a walk-up in Hell’s Kitchen. Family-friendly neighborhoods include Battery Park City, the Upper West Side, and Harlem. By combining the priorities you decided upon above with the neighborhood you would like to live in, you can narrow down your apartment search.

Plan Ahead

It’s a good idea to save at least three months’ worth of rent before you go apartment hunting. Most leases require first month, last month, and a month security deposit. Don’t forget the renter’s insurance. The landlord’s insurance only covers the building, not your possessions. Book the moving service in advance, too, if you want to use one. Otherwise, give your friends a heads-up that you will need their manpower.

There are many housing listing services, real estate brokers, and rental agencies you can use to find a new home. A little preparation will smooth the way for your big move.