Naked Apartments: Giving Renters the Power to Find the Perfect NYC Apartments

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Every time I have to search for an apartment I get this huge rush that washes over me as if I was 5 years old all over again and got into a brand new bag of Oreo’s. But just like that sugar high, apartment searching is fun for about 15 minutes and then you want to throw your laptop out the window with every Craigslist posting that swears you can live on the UES for $500 a month.

It goes without saying that online apartment boards are seriously lacking. Only about half of Craigslist apartment searches include images and most of them are put up by landlords with emails like CheapAptz4U@yahoo.com, who promises in the subject line that the neighborhood is “rele rele safe.” New Yorkers Shankar Desai and Peter Treadway felt that frustrated and knew they had to do something.

Desai, Treadway, and a team of other frustrated New Yorkers started Naked Apartments less than two years ago as a way of “making life better for both [renters and brokers].” These renters were tired of searching Craigslist for rentals and being scammed by bad brokers, and thus created a better way to find your dream NYC apartment.

“We created Naked Apartments because we were tired of the lack of accountability, baiting and switching, and having to do most of the work while still paying expensive fees for apartments. There had to be a better way,” said Desai.

Naked Apartments allows renters to “reverse the search” by letting great apartments come to them. As a renter, your profile remains anonymous but includes your annual income, desired monthly rent and an optional free credit check through Naked Apartments. User-reviewed brokers and landlords can view your search criteria and send you listings. Once the renter receives a listing, they decide if they want to connect with the broker or landlord.

“For renters, we give them a bit more control because they decide when they want to give up their contact information and work with someone, allowing them to negotiate commissions or find out more about an apartment before they hit the road,” said Desai.

If you’re not the type to sit back and wait, you can still browse the listings database and reach a landlord or broker through there. Either way, the founders of Naked Apartments believe that this is a great way to find your home in the Big Apple without losing your savings.

“Naked Apartments helps New Yorkers save money by giving them the power to negotiate up front, since brokers and landlords have to put in a commission rate when they send apartments to renters,” explained Desai. “Also, with our database of over 5k no-fee apartments…it’s a great place to get the best deal.”

But before you go sign up for an account on Naked Apartments, Desai recommends having an idea of what you’re looking for so brokers and landlords can find you easily.

“The more you know what you want the less time you spend seeing apartments that don’t match,” said Desai. “Know what you need to have prepared when you want a place…this allows you to immediately submit an application…The market moves fast!”

Check out Naked Apartments at www.nakedapartments.com or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nakedapartments.

Furnish Your Apartment for Less Than Your Rent

After moving to NYC, I wrongly assumed that finding a space to live was the hard part. Playing the part of the interior designer would be all fun and games. In my haze of naivety, I imagined my apartment mimicking a Crate and Barrel ad after a few days work.

But a few quick spins around my favorite furniture stores was all it took to slap some sense back into me.  Browsing the rows of beds, couches, and decorative knick knacks that priced well into the thousands made me realize that decorating my new place was going to take a bit more creativity and work, if I wanted to still make my rent the next month.

Contrary to popular belief, there are cheap furniture stores out there — even in grand ‘ole New York.  We’re picked out our fave four budget furnishing spots that any New Yorker can go to in a pinch to deck out their pad on the cheap:

Jack’s World – Jack’s World has a few stores throughout Manhattan — three to be exact.  But if you want to find the higher-end dollar store wares, you need to hit up the location on West 45th Street.

K-Mart – Thought K-Mart was out of business?  They may have closed a bunch of them down in middle America, but oddly enough, Manhattan still has two stores standing:  one on Astor Place and one in Midtown. Don’t diss the Mart, as they have everything from cheap couches (they start at $150) to $6 wall mirrors.

For really great deals on couches and beds (and other major furniture pieces), hit up Craigslist, Salvation Army, and the Housing Works Thrift Store.  As always, be cautious when buying used furniture, and make sure you do a thorough look-over and extensive check for bed bugs.

Bed, Bath, and Beyond – This budget staple is always a fail-proof.  The prices are always reasonable, and you can even sign up for bonus coupons beforehand, to get even more money off the final price.

Ikea – Who doesn’t like them some Ikea?  This place is seriously the mecca of all budget-priced wannabe designer furniture stores.  Need a $7 side table?  Done.  Looking for a full set of kitchen utensils?  It’ll cost you about $20.  Head out to Red Hook, Brooklyn on the ferry, and make a day of it.

PostGradApartments.com facilitates the process of finding New York City housing for graduating students and young working professionals at no charge.The site has been designed to help postgrads find the perfect apartment by connecting them with experienced and trusted professionals who will assist them throughout the transaction. By partnering with several established Manhattan real estate brokers, we can assist our clients in finding the absolute best fit, for them.

Photo credit:  emilina via stock.xchng

8 Money Saving Tips for Grocery Shopping in NYC

So you’ve moved into your new apartment, shelled out a few bucks for some Ikea staples, and realized that your place doesn’t come with a stocked fridge. Its time to head out into the nippy weather and hit up the local neighborhood grocery store.  Unlike food shopping at most colleges, depending on the neighborhood, New York offers tons of options when it comes to food choices.  Don’t get overtaken by all of the options, and make sure you don’t waste money by just rushing to the closest store.

Here’s a list of 8 tips that will help you keep your cabinet stock up and your grocery bill down when you’re food shopping in the Big Apple:

1. Spend the first few weeks in your new neighborhood comparison shopping for weekly staples so you know you’re getting the best deal.

2. Don’t buy everything in one place. One store may have the best produce, while another may have the best chicken.

3. Use a basket when shopping so you know exactly how heavy everything will be when you have to carry it home.

4. Sign up for stores with member discount cards. The points add up slowly but they eventually pay off. Also most stores only offer discounts to card carriers.

5. Look online at store websites to see their specials for the week, or stop by after work to pick up their weeklies that are stocked full of coupons and specials.

6. Check out delivery policies.  Many stores will charge you for deliveries, unless your bill meets a certain amount.  Also keep in mind that you’ll need to tip the person who delivers your food — and well.  Carrying three bags of groceries up six flights of stairs is worth a lot more than a petty $2.

7. Stick to a list.  Use this online shopping list to help you track what items you need to buy, instead of random products that catch your eye while shopping.

8. Remember to keep grocery bags. They perform double duty and make excellent trash bags.

Check out this list to see all the different places to buy food in NYC — from supermarkets to gourmet shops, it’s got ‘em all.

PostGradApartments.com facilitates the process of finding New York City housing for graduating students and young working professionals at no charge.The site has been designed to help postgrads find the perfect apartment by connecting them with experienced and trusted professionals who will assist them throughout the transaction. By partnering with several established Manhattan real estate brokers, we can assist our clients in finding the absolute best fit, for them.

Important Lease Vocabulary that all New Yorkers Should Know

Unless you studied real estate in college, signing a lease can be extremely overwhelming. There are so many new phrases and terms being thrown at you that you begin to wonder if your broker is even speaking English. However, it’s vitally important that you understand everything on your lease because once you sign that paper you’re legally bound to what it says.

Here are some common lease terms that you’ll frequently hear if you’re on the hunt for a new apartment:

• Guarantor – Most postgrads moving to the city don’t have the required money (40x the rent) in their bank account to afford an apartment.  That’s where your parents step in and serve as a Guarantor. They usually have to have 80x the rent to be able to co-sign with you.

• Standard Lease – A standard lease is a basic 12-month lease.

• Rent Stabilized Lease - This means that the lease says exactly how much the rent will increase if the tenants choose to re-rent the next year.

• Rent Controlled Lease – This means that the rent will stay the same for a specified amount of time.

• Lessee – Tenant (you!)

• Lessor – Landlord

• Addendum – These are extra items added to the lease, such as lock-out charges and late charges.

PostGradApartments.com facilitates the process of finding New York City housing for graduating students and young working professionals at no charge.The site has been designed to help postgrads find the perfect apartment by connecting them with experienced and trusted professionals who will assist them throughout the transaction. By partnering with several established Manhattan real estate brokers, we can assist our clients in finding the absolute best fit, for them.

Photo credit:  nkzs

Jeanette Pavini Dishes on Where to Save and Where to Splurge During the Holidays

Your credit card balance is increasing and your receipts are piling up because of the holidays. It’s the time of the year everyone expects to drop hundreds of dollars. But Coupons.com Household Savings Expert, Jeanette Pavini, is back with some holiday tips on when to save during the holidays and when it’s worth splurging.

Be Internet-Friendly

Skip the lines at Best Buy and don’t buy any holiday cds. Instead, there are free online services that’ll let you customize a holiday-themed station. Or there’s always the radio. Plenty of stations are blaring out holiday music the closer it gets to Christmas.

Save some trees and send e-cards to family and friends. It’ll help the environment and save your hand from writing cramps.  There are plenty of coupon sites likeCcoupons.com that offer free shipping or money for online orders. “Coupons.com now features codes from RetailMeNot.com,” according to Pavini.

Serve Less Food

Instead of that 5-course meal for your holiday party, “opt for a cocktail party with appetizers and desserts,” Pavini suggests. And instead of that pricey bottle of Merlot, go for less expensive bottle and serve it from a wine decanter to give it a more sophisticated look.

Be Creative

Go old school on your wrapping paper. Use the comics section of the newspaper or plain white paper you can let your kids go at with some crayons.  Instead of spending money on decorations and centerpieces, Pavini suggests using branches from your tree, pomegranates, cranberries and hazelnuts. Or, you can fill a vase with colorful ornaments.

Be a Savvy Shopper

Want to get mom that designer bag she’s been hoping for? Shop resale. “You can find slightly worn and even new designer gowns, dresses and even men’s suits at resale shops for 10% of the retail cost,” Pavini said.

When grocery shopping, compare the circulars to different stores to get the best deal. Use your coupons to save even more!  And to really save, keep your receipts, Pavini advises. Many stores offer 10-14 days for price adjustments so you could get some money back on your gifts.

While these are areas you can skimp on, there are some things that deserve splurging around the holidays.

Electronics

Paying a bit more to get the better product is a way to go with gadgets, according to Pavini. “Usually these items are an investment and it’s worth it to pay more to get the best.” If your electronic is a new item, splurge for the extended warranty, Pavini said. As long as it’s not more than 10% of the purchase price.

Jewelry/Cosmetics

Like electronics, jewelry is an investment, Pavini said. If there isn’t a big price difference, “go for the better quality.”  Cosmetic lines offer plenty of free gifts with purchases around the holidays. “So splurge on that $20 lipstick that you love if it comes with lots of free gifts,” Pavini suggests.

Main Course

Save on the side dishes, but always splurge on the main course. “Buy the best cut of meat for you holiday dinner,” Pavini said, and cut corners on the rest.

Photographs

Getting a family portrait or photos of the kids taken? A photographer who understands lighting and can guarantee you the best picture is well-worth the price.

Safety

Skip the dollar store for toys. Spending a few extra dollars for toys that are lead-ridden or won’t fall apart is worth the price.

Next Page »