Living in New York City certainly has its perks — but generally, space isn’t one of them. In fact, recent studies have shown that the average home size in New York is only 866 square feet. One of the biggest challenges of living in a space that small is finding a place to keep all of your things — especially in a way that is functional, and looks good, too. If you live in a tiny New York apartment, check out the list of organizational tips below. These ideas for stashing your stuff will ensure that you can reach it all easily, and that your space feels livable and looks great.
Use Every Surface
Simplify, Simplify
Hang Pots and Pans
Raise Your Bed
Buy Multipurpose Furniture
Leaving home for the first time is no easy feat. People deal with everything from homesickness and financial stress to uncertainty about how to deal with new situations. It is an exciting time but can also cause all of these common feelings. That’s why you want to put some time and thought into how you can make this change as smooth as possible. Check out these tips to help you transition into your new life while maintaining a happy and healthy relationship with your parents.
Secure a place to live
One of the biggest keys to making leaving easier on yourself is to find a place that you like living in. NY apartments are great because there is such variety – whether you are looking for apartments in Chelsea, Greenwich Village or somewhere else entirely. You’ll have a great selection and you can find a happy, cozy home you will love coming back to every day. Plus, your parents will rest easy knowing you are in comfortable digs in the city. Added bonus is if you can find a great no-fee rental and save both you and your parents a lot of cash!
Finances
Before leaving, establish a financial budget with your parents. Are you going to work and pay your own rent and living expenses? Are your parents paying rent but expecting you to cover bills and stuff like food and clothing? Having a clear understanding of what your financial obligations are can help you plan appropriately and make sure you won’t be stressed about cash.
Boundaries with parents
It’s sad to say goodbye to your family, but nobody wants Mom and Dad showing up at the door every other day. Make sure you set up boundaries with your parents so that they understand how often you would like to get together. It’s also good to agree upon advance notice of when they want to come over. This goes both ways, too – they might not want you showing up at the house every few days! It doesn’t mean they don’t love you, it’s just a sign of growing up and showing mutual respect for each other.
When to call home
Inevitably, you’ll have to deal with some bumps in the road. These problems will range from big to small, and it’s good to get into the habit of taking care of the trivial ones yourself. No need to call in help for a broken light bulb or a dead bug in the shower. However, if the issue is a big one that you’re not sure how to handle, it’s okay to call your parents for help or advice. Since they might be guarantors or co-signers on your lease, they will have your best interest and that of the property in mind.
Leaving home for the first time is a big adventure. As long as you put a little time and thought into how the move and your new life will look and feel, you should be in for a comfortable transition. And don’t forget to enjoy it! You’ll look back on these years fondly for the rest of your life. Now, get out there and find the perfect apartment! Your search begins HERE.
Pretty much all apartments in New York City for rent have one thing in common: you have lots of neighbors. In a city of over 8 million people, it’s no surprise that apartments are built to house a lot of people and that means you might be in pretty close proximity to others in your building. This has its ups and downs. It’s a great way to meet new people and make friends – and you’ll always have people to ask for help, pet-sit, water your plants or check your mail if you’re away! But what if you have to deal with the dreaded obnoxious neighbors? Here are some tips to help you navigate nasty neighbors in NYC rental apartments.
Noisy Neighbors
Sometimes people have problems with their neighbors being super noisy. This can be a nuisance for plenty of reasons. It’s annoying to hear other people’s voices all the time, but it can be especially terrible if they are loud or play music when you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep. Try to talk to them face to face at first. They might not realize they are being so loud and politely asking them to keep it down could do the trick. If that doesn’t work, file a complaint with your landlord – he or she can warn them to keep the noise levels down, at least at night. It can also help to use a fan or white noise machine to drown out some of the volume.
Sensitive Neighbors
Maybe you have the opposite problem and your neighbors complain that you are the one making too much noise. If you are, try to be considerate during hours when they might be sleeping or need their house to be quiet. If they’re just being overly sensitive, you can still try to find ways of muffling the noise in your apartment. Listening to music and television at lower volumes might be all they need. You can also get area rugs for your floors to absorb some of the noise you’re making. Check out this guide to reducing the volume coming out of your apartment.
Nosy Neighbors
Is your neighbor constantly knocking on your door or stopping you on your way in or out of the apartment to chat and ask questions? Do they snoop through your mail or invite themselves over when they’re not wanted? Some people just don’t get the hint that your home is your private getaway and you might not always want visitors around. If they’re crossing boundaries, you have a right to ask them to give you a little more space and not to come knocking on the door whenever they feel like it. They might get their feelings hurt at first but anyone should understand your wishes and respect your personal space. Check out these three tips for dealing with nosy neighbors.
Forgetful Neighbors
Another problem can be neighbors who borrow something from you and then don’t return it. This is a little awkward because you might need the item back but don’t know how to ask for it. Try to come up with a reason why you have to use the item – you are hanging a painting and need your hammer back, for example. Or just be direct and polite and remind them that you loaned them something a little while back and you were wondering if they were done using it. There’s a chance they just forgot and will return it right away!
Obnoxious neighbors certainly aren’t ideal, but don’t let them ruin your experience in your New York apartment rental! It could be adding up to great material for a sitcom, after all.
And, while we can’t help you find the perfect neighbors, we can help you find the perfect apartment. Browse our website or contact us today.
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Congratulations! Finding an apartment in New York City isn’t easy, but at last you have a place to call home. Here’s a few quick tips to help you make a smooth transition to apartment life.
1. Face Time
Living alone for the first time is an exciting milestone in anyone’s life. It’s a chance to become more self-reliant, make your own rules, and explore your personal style. It’s also a little scary; you might be spending more time alone than you ever have before.
Create a routine that includes getting out and about regularly. Frequent local shops and cafes, introduce yourself to the neighbors, and join local community events. Invite your friends over — a lot. Make the most of this experience to develop your social skills, face to face to face.
2. Roommates
Sharing your apartment can be just as much fun as it looks on those classic television shows, if you find the right roommate. But don’t rush into this new relationship. Compatibility is important, and so is dependability; an error in judgment or a misunderstanding about commitment could mean more expenses for you.
Find out up front what might be deal breakers for each of you, and don’t let small annoyances simmer. Choose your “compromise zones” — usually shared spaces, such as the kitchen, bathroom and living room — and reach a mutual understanding about decorating and maintaining them.
3. Keeping House
You don’t need to break the bank to turn your apartment into home, sweet home. Throw pillows or an area rug are inexpensive ways to personalize the space, while lamps and accent lights in key places help create a warm atmosphere. If you’re sharing the apartment, go shopping together to find items you can agree on, especially for those compromise zones.
Keeping the apartment and appliances clean saves problems in the long run, and it’s essential for healthy living, both physically and mentally. Don’t let the chores build up — find a system that works for you, turn on some music and get down to it.
4. Storage
A New York City apartment probably means adjusting to a living in a more compact scale than you might be accustomed to. At first it seems like you have much more stuff than space, but assessing storage possibilities will soon be second nature to you. Take advantage of the move to cull dead weight, and aim for charming instead of cramped when you decorate.
Use design techniques that make the space seem larger, such as limiting the color palette and placing mirrors strategically to reflect light. Clutter-free surfaces help create the illusion of space, too. Some furniture items can double as storage or be hidden away when not in use. Maximize vertical storage solutions to keep floor space clear — hooks and shelving are practical and can also be visually striking features.
5. That Safety Habit
No matter how safe the neighborhood is, it’s wise to cultivate a habit of safety. If it locks, lock it; always lock your door and windows — and yes, that goes for apartments above the first floor, too. You should know all the potential routes around the apartment and where the emergency exits are from any point inside the building.
You don’t have to be nosy, but be aware of the general habits of your neighbors so that you’ll recognize when any activity is out of the ordinary. If you have a roommate, you should discuss a safety plan with him or her, including locking the door, not giving away keys and being careful about who enters your home.
Whether you’re a lone wolf in search of the perfect studio or pairing up with a pal in flexible one bedroom or larger apartment, we have exactly what you’re looking for in NYC’s hottest neighborhoods. Take a look HERE or give us a call and let a leasing specialist help.
Moving is always challenging — even if you’re just moving yourself, a human. But moving with a furry friend can be particularly difficult, especially if you’re moving in a big city like New York. If you’re planning to move with pets, fear not! You won’t have to leave beloved Fido behind. Just keep in mind the following tips, and your transition should go as smoothly as possible.
Find Out the Landlord’s Policy First
Every landlord has their own policies regarding pets. Some landlords don’t allow any pets at all, while others allow some types of animals and still others will require you to pay extra to have animals. Before you sign a lease, find out the landlord’s pet policies. That way you’ll be able to make sure that your pet can move in with you and that you’ve got all extra fees covered. Note: NoFee Rentals is pet-friendly and their policy is handled on a pet-by-pet basis. Pets will be interviewed along with the applicant to determine if the animal can conduct itself properly. At any time we can ask you to remove your pet if its conduct is deemed objectionable.
Keep Pets from Annoying Neighbors
One key to successfully keeping a pet in an apartment building is ensuring that your pet does not annoy your neighbors. This means that you should make sure that your pet doesn’t bark at odd hours (or throughout the entire day if you’re gone), scratch at doors or do other things that could be considered a nuisance. If you have a pet that misbehaves (or is annoying), consider hiring a trainer to help or taking the pet to daycare while you’re not at home.
Keep Your Pets Occupied
If you work all day long, you shouldn’t leave your pets at home totally unoccupied and inactive all day long. So, think about how flexible your schedule is and determine whether you’ll be able to come home in the middle of the day to exercise and engage your furry friends or whether you might need to hire help. There are many professional, trustworthy dog walking (and pet sitting) services throughout the city who will provide a person that will come get your dog, take him on a walk and feed and play with him so he’s not stir crazy, cooped up and restless when you get home.
Size Matters
When you’re finding an apartment, consider the size of the place, especially if you have a large dog. With a large dog, it can be helpful to try to find a larger space. However, if you can’t find a large space to rent in the city, you can live in a small space with a large dog successfully, especially if you take some mindful steps to make the situation more comfortable.
First, establish a routine with the dog that allows the dog to get out and move around. Take him to the park, drop him off at doggy daycare or go on regularly scheduled walks so he knows he’ll always have a chance to relieve himself (this can help avoid accidents in the house!). Also, you should make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise throughout the week. Since your home won’t have much room for the dog to move about in, you should try to find your nearest off-leash dog park so that he has a chance to run free.
Having a pet can greatly enhance your life, and even if you’re moving to a big city like New York, you don’t have to give up your furry friend. Instead, by being mindful about where you choose to live, how you train your pet and how you establish a routine in your home, you can have a life that is comfortable and enjoyable for both you and your animals. With parks in close proximity to our apartments, and units with outdoor space, No Fee Rentals is the place your furry friend can happily call home.
Living in New York offers countless perks: you have access to some of the world’s best restaurants, cultural attractions and job opportunities right at your doorstep. However, living in New York also presents its share of challenges, one of which is finding housing that is affordable. The housing market in New York is highly competitive and notoriously expensive, so one of the best ways for first-time New Yorkers to find a home they can afford is to live with roommates. Whether you end up living with friends or finding a housing situation via a platform like Craigslist, there are simple things you should keep in mind to make sure your living situation ends up working as smoothly as possible. The following five tips will help make living with roommates easy and enjoyable while you get your footing in NYC.
1. Discuss the Division of Finances from the Get-Go
When you first move in with roommates, it’s important to immediately decide how you will split up costs. You’ll need to determine who is going to pay for things such as the rent, electricity bill, gas bill, cable bill and internet, as well as any maintenance fees, groceries, etc. You might choose to split the costs evenly or have each person cover certain bills — there’s no one right way to do it. However, setting up financial rules from the beginning (in writing) ensures there will be no confusion or arguing about who is paying for what.
2. Set Household Goals and Values
It may sound corny, but when you first move in, it can be helpful to talk to your roommates about common household values and goals. Is it important for you to live in a space that is clean? Is quiet in the evenings important because you have work early in the morning? Lay these things out on the table, so you can make sure everyone in the space is on the same page about what is important for a happy household.
3. Keep Common Areas Clean
You may live like a tornado swept through your closet — but you should keep your mess confined to your room. Don’t leave personal belongings out in common spaces like the living room or kitchen, since it’s easy for shared spaces to get cluttered very easily. Doing your part to keep the common areas clean will encourage your roommates to do so as well — that way, the space you all spend time in together always feels nice and calming.
4. Learn Their Schedules
Most people in New York are constantly busy, pursuing work goals, artistic pursuits and enjoying time with friends. Try to learn your roommates’ schedules and be considerate of their needs. Make note of what time they tend to wake up or leave for work, when they cook breakfast and dinner, and what time they like take showers. Then you can adapt your schedule around theirs (and they to yours), and you’ll all enjoy convenient and easy access to what you need in the apartment.
5. Delineate Chores
Apartments need regular maintenance on a regular basis– the trash must be taken out, the shower cleaned and the floors swept (among other things). All these tasks should not fall to one roommate. Instead, make sure chores are delegated in a way that everyone has equal responsibility for the space. You can either assign one task to one person (for example, you take out the recycling and trash, and your roommate washes the dishes), or you can create a calendar with rotating tasks so one person isn’t stuck with cleaning the toilet bowl week after week.
Once you know WHO you’re going to live with and HOW things are going to work, it’s time to figure out WHERE you’re going to live and NoFee Rentals is the best place to start – and end – your search.