How To Rent An Apartment Without A Broker Fee In NYC
Brokers serve a purpose, no question. But the holy grail for those who live in the City is to rent an apartment without a broker fee in NYC. There are a number of ways to make it happen, but all of them involve some amount of work. It’s not easy, but few things are when there’s a field of people willing to do the work on your behalf for a fee. What are the best ways to avoid a broker fee on an NYC apartment?
Pay Someone, Just Less… Much Less!
Walk around the area you want to live in. You’ll run into plenty of people who have the information you need and are willing to part with it for much less money than a broker would want. One of the best ways (and most tried and true ways) to rent an apartment without paying a broker in NYC is to start asking doormen in buildings you’d like to live in.
Of course, they’re not going to part with the info out of the goodness of their heart. But that’s fine. You’re not looking to avoid spending a single penny (if you were, you wouldn’t be looking for an apartment in this city!), you’re looking to minimize your expenses. If you tip enough doormen, you’ll get the answers you want. Tip them right, and they might know something about vacancies in their building and in others. If you end up living in the building, you’re already on the guy’s good side, as well. You might even find out about vacancies that are upcoming because the people haven’t even moved out yet!
Be That Guy
Supers are busy, but they’re also not in the business of turning away money. If there’s no doorman, just walk into the building and ask the superintendent. You want to be nice about it, and prepared with all the information you’d need on a rental application, of course. But they’re in the business of running an apartment building, which involves renting apartments. It takes two minutes to walk in and find the right person. This is one of the more efficient ways if you’re walking around the area anyway.
Yes, this applies even if a broker’s number is plastered all over the building. He’s willing to cut out the work for a fee, and you’re willing to do the work to avoid the fee. You might even find that the super takes a liking to someone who’s willing to put in the legwork.
Friends and Family
You have social media accounts, right? You have email contacts, right? Those are, of course, rhetorical questions. Of course you do. Put them to work. Your friends might not know of anything that’s available, but they might know someone who knows someone. Don’t forget to work your real life contacts, too. That guy you buy your hot dog from every afternoon might just know someone who knows someone.
Trying to rent an apartment without a broker fee in NYC can be a challenge, but it’s absolutely doable. It also is likely to get you some exercise, and maybe even make a few more contacts in the process that you can leverage for the next time. Wherever you move, make sure you’re protected. You can get NYC renters insurance in just sixty seconds with Effective Coverage. Just call (800)892-4308 or click to get covered - whether you need NYC renters insurance quotes online or coverage anywhere else!
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Photo Credit: JasonParis Hell’s Kitchen/Times Square CC BY 2.0