Tips for Moving in to your No Fee Apartment

Moving is one of the most stressful events in a person's life, especially when not only the possessions are moved, but family and pets are involved. Just like when we were in school, the best remedy for stressful events in life is preparation. BrokerRevolt.com has provided the folowing apartment moving and planning guide below containing useful tips to prepare for your move:

Here are a few questions they may ask when quoting a price :

1. How many bedrooms in your no fee apartment ?
2. What is the address of the apartment you are moving from and the apartment you are moving to ?
3. How many pieces of furniture do you want them to move ?
4. How many boxes do you want them to move ?
5. What floor is your old apartment on ?
6. What floor is your new apartment on ?
7. What day do you want to move on ? (Some movers charge extra for Weekend/ Holidays)

Here are some questions you would want to know about the movers:

1. What rates and charges will apply to your particular move ?
2. Are they insured ? what kind of incidents are covered ?
3. Do they have worker's compensation insurance?
4. You may want to see their proof of insurance.
5. Be careful of movers without a physical address, or if you don't know whether their address is correct.
6. It is better if you get recommendations for the mover

Many movers offers discounts or deals through Auto Clubs, Unions, and other organizations. Check with your mover to make sure you take advantage of all possible savings.

Another important thing to do before your move is to go to your local post office, and fill out a Change of Address form. Don't forget to contact your credit card companies, your bank, your employer, your stock investment companies, and your magazine/newspaper providers to make sure they send all paperwork to the new address.

Manhattan apartment prices are finally going flat

Posted by: Prashant Gopal on November 11

Manhattan apartment prices, which have soared quarter after quarter, are finally flattening out, according to a report today from the Real Estate Board of New York.

“The trend from the beginning of the year forward, is flat or slightly downward,” Michael Slattery, the Real Estate Board of New York’s senior vice president, told me today. “We’re starting to feel the impact of economic conditions.”

The median price for a Manhattan apartment (condos and co-ops) rose just 2.8% to $845,000 and sales transactions dropped 20% in the third quarter compared to the same period a year ago. Median home prices — including co-ops, condos, and houses — dropped in every other borough (down 9% in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx, and down 17% in Queens).

This is a dramatic change. In the first quarter of this year, the median price for a Manhattan home jumped 18%, to $872,000, compared with the same period a year ago. The housing market benefitted from the city’s relatively strong economy and the weak dollar, which has attracted foreign buyers.

Read More: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/hotproperty/archives/2008/10/manhattan_apart_1.html

Manhattan Apartment Prices Increase at Slower Pace

By Sharon L. Crenson

November 1 (Bloomberg)-- Manhattan's median apartment price rose 1.2 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, the smallest quarterly gain in five years, appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and broker Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate said.

The median price of all co-ops and condominiums in Manhattan, the most expensive urban real estate market in the U.S., rose to $835,000. The growth was the slowest since the first quarter of 2002, said Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel, the borough's largest appraiser. Units with four bedrooms or more surged 11 percent to a median $6.45 million, while studios, one-, two- and three-bedrooms fell by 1.2 percent to 2.8 percent.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601093&refer=home&sid=aVdueuOE8F4c

Manhattan Apartment Prices Hit Record High

By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY

While most of the nation plods through a housing slowdown, Manhattan is experiencing its highest prices in history.

The average price of a Manhattan apartment in the first three months of this year was $1.7 million, up 33.5 percent from the same period last year, according to the real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel Inc., which processed the numbers for the brokerage firm Prudential Douglas Elliman.

But the record prices do not tell the entire story of Manhattan’s real estate. Although prices are rising, sales are slowing, and executives of the four largest brokerage firms in Manhattan said they see some trouble, though not disaster, ahead for Manhattan’s real estate.

The huge price increase reflects the sale of an unusually large number of very expensive apartments, which skewed the average. In this year’s first quarter, 71 apartments sold for more than $10 million, compared with 17 apartments in that range for all of 2007. This year’s first quarter also included the sale of dozens of apartments at the extremely high-priced 15 Central Park West and the Plaza Hotel.

A number of brokerage firms released data about the first quarter that generally showed the same trends. All showed that the median price of an apartment grew. According to Miller Samuel, it was up to $917,000 from $840,000, suggesting high prices for many types of apartments.

Keep Reading here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/nyregion/02prices.html

Not All Apartment Leases Are Created Equal

Before signing any lease:

1. Take a walk through the unit that you are renting to make sure it is in good repair.
2. Be sure to read the lease completely.
3. All verbal promises should be reduced to writing within the lease.
4. Are there provisions for a job transfer within the lease?
5. How and when do you give notice to move?
6. Must you give notice even when the leaseexpires and you wish to move? Can you go month to month at the expiration of you lease?
7. How long does the landlord have to return your security deposit once you have moved.
8. Who is responsible for the repairs to the apartment?
9. If you move into an apartmentcomplex, there are usually maintenance people to take care of all needed repairs. On the other hand if you are renting from a private landlord, you may be responsible for part or all of the repairs.
10. Are late fees addressed in the lease?
11. Who is responsible for the utilities?
    What happens if you cause damage to the apartment?
12. If you want to make a change to the lease, cross out the clause in question. Then both you and the landlord must initial the change for it to be binding.

Queens, Harlem, Washington Heights

http://www.vantageresidential.com/

"Vantage Residential is dedicated to proving that a fabulous apartment in a hip neighborhood doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. We'll accommodate you, whether you're looking for a large, family-sized apartment with a view of the Palisades, or whether you'd prefer a cozy studio in up-and-coming Jackson Heights. In other words, we'll give you options–you should have them, this is New York. CONTACT AN AGENT: 888-312-2180"

These guys have tons and tons of apartments all over Astoria, Coronoa, Elmhurst, Flushing, Hollis, Jackson Heights, Kew Gardens, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, Sunnyside, Woodhaven & Woodside.

I've used them in the past when I had lived in Kew Gardens and I was impressed which is why I bring this up on the post. If there is a fee involved, it is next to nothing.

In the Spirit of Election Day....

I was surfing the internet and came across this group who have a cool idea and vision.

8 Tips for Renting the Right Apartment

So, you're looking for an apartment to rent or share with a roommate. Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced apartment-hunter, it's worth taking the time to decide what's most important to you in where you live and to plan your search strategy accordingly. With that in mind, here are eight tips to consider:

1. Make a list of your top housing priorities.
Do you need extra parking spaces? A place that welcomes pets? A large kitchen or linen closet? A ground-floor entrance to your home? Or what? Thinking through your needs ahead of time can help you find an apartment that meets those needs, instead of one that just strikes your fancy at first glance.

2. Check out the property.
In addition to examining the condition of the for-rent unit, walk through the property to see whether it appears to be well-maintained. Is the landscaping healthy or dying? Nicely trimmed or growing wild? Are any windows, steps or railings broken or dangerous? Do the access doors open easily and shut tightly? Walk through at night, too. Are the parking areas and pathways well lit? What about the stairwells and hallways?

3. Talk to the neighbors.
If you're serious about a particular apartment, knock on a few doors and ask your potential neighbors whether they're satisfied with the building's amenities, management's responsiveness to repair needs and other issues of concern to you. Ask: Would you tell a friend to move into this building?

4. Examine the lease.
A lease is a legal obligation to pay rent for a specified length of time, and every lease has variations on the terms and conditions of tenancy. How much notice must you give before moving at the end of the lease term? Can the rent be increased? Are pets allowed? What provisions cover your security deposit and end-of-lease cleaning costs? If the terms of the lease agreement don't suit your needs, negotiate or reconsider renting the apartment.

5. Consider security.
Does the building have controlled access? If so, are the exterior security gates and doors closed? Are the locks in working order? Does your individual unit have secure door locks and window latches? (Some states have specific laws regarding minimum security devices for apartment units.) Does the building have a security service? If so, is a guard on duty 24 hours or does he or she just drive by periodically?

6. Ask about shared facilities.
Does the building have a swimming pool? A recreation or fitness room? Tennis courts? Laundry facilities? Who is allowed to use those facilities and during what hours? Is there an extra fee charged for use of the facilities? Where are the facilities located in relation to your prospective apartment? Do you really want to live poolside or near the laundry room?

7. Ask about utility costs.
Is the water bill paid by the owner or separately by the tenants? Are electrical or gas utilities included in the rent? Is there a single thermostat for the entire building? If so, who controls it?

8. Take notes.
Before you move in, document the condition of your unit and make note of any nonfunctioning doors or windows, leaking plumbing, missing fixtures, stained carpets and so on. Ask your landlord to initial a copy of your documentation to prevent disputes when you eventually move out. Better yet, take pictures or make a video of the premises before you bring in any of your furniture or belongings.