Brooklyn apartment hunting tips

New York City housing has a reputation all around the world. It can't be denied that to find an apartment in NYC that won't break the bank and that will be fairly spacious is next to impossible. That's why people have been migrating from Manhattan, which is the most expensive NYC borough and settling in Brooklyn - the up-and-coming area of NYC. What is there to know when looking for an apartment in Brooklyn? Does Brooklyn apartment hunting differ from finding a condo in Manhattan? And will you be able to find something that will be according to your taste? It's high time you found out!

Set a realistic budget before starting your hunt

Looking for an apartment without having a budget in mind is a recipe for disaster! Imagine what would happen if you were to fall in love with a place that is way out of your price range! We'll tell you - chance are you would be left heartbroken because someone else would get to live in the apartment of your dreams! For that reason, limit your budget to no more than 30% of your monthly income. Remember that rent/mortgage will not be the only thing you'll have to pay for. Utilities and groceries will take up a large portion of your monthly earnings, and not to mention other expenses associated with moving, like hiring a moving and storage Brooklyn company.

Be realistic when determining your budget, and make sure you stick to it.

Start gathering the paperwork

As if Brooklyn apartment hunting weren't a long and tedious process, to begin with, all the paperwork that needs to be gathered will put additional strain on your shoulders. NYC apartment search differs in a way that there are too many people competing for the same spot. The landlord will want to accept only the best candidate, and that will be shown through the necessary paperwork. The following is a list of documents you are supposed to collect before starting the hunt, or at least we, as a reputable NYC moving company suggest you do it!

• Your recent paystubs
• Report about your credit cards
• A copy of your passport/driver's license
• Document showing your tax returns in the past two years
• Professional and personal references

As you can imagine, gathering them will take some time, so you better get to work. And no, this is not one of those things you can do in the very last minute, despite what your inner procrastinator may be suggesting.

Create your dealbreakers before embarking on Brooklyn apartment hunting

Every person has a concept in the mind of their perfect home. Whether you are imagining a spacious mansion or a humble studio, the point is that you need to create a list. And you need to do it before you start looking into apartments in Brooklyn. For example, are you a pet owner? If you are, a dealbreaker for you would probably be whether the landlord allows animals inside the apartment or not. The same goes for smoking. If you want to avoid one of the most common NYC moving mistakes, this is the moment to do it. Don't agree to something in hopes that you could change your landlord's mind. Or your own taste for that matter. Instead, move into an apartment you like as is. Remember, Brooklyn is a huge borough, with more than enough apartments to choose from.

What will your dealbreakers be? It's something you should decide before Brooklyn apartment hunting!

Answer the most important question - will you be living with a roommate?

The sad truth is that in NYC, living with at least one roommate is a must. It's how you manage to afford to live in a city as expensive as NYC and still have some room to afford a few luxuries here and there. Before you can make a deal with a landlord, you have to answer one very important question. Will you live by yourself or live with a roommate? You might even have to find more than one roomy. On the bright side, the more people you share a home with, the more money will be left at the end of the month for other expenses.

If the answer is yes, include them in Brooklyn apartment hunting

Of course, we are going with the assumption that you already know who your roommate will be. Perhaps it's someone you know from college. Or a person from your hometown. Potentially, you two are trying to move out of your Queens home and settle in Brooklyn. Whatever the situation may be, include your roommate in the search. It only makes sense, doesn't it? You involve them in all other tasks related to your home, like spring cleaning your apartment. It wouldn't be nice to leave them out of something as important as this, and you might actually lose a friend if you do it.

Read the fine print when signing a lease

By the time you get to a lease, you will probably be exhausted. By now, you have seen dozens of apartments and met with as many landlords. All you want to do is put your signature at the bottom of the page and be done with it. And that's when all of your hard work up until now could go to waste. Plenty of information is hidden in the fine print, which is why you need to examine the paper carefully. And this goes whether you are signing a lease or signing a moving contract for nationwide moving services NYC.

Make sure you understand the lease before signing it.If you don't understand the legal language, it would be a good idea to have your lawyer check out the lease for you. After all, this is the safest way to ensure you don't get scammed or agree to something that doesn't work in your favor. Because when doing some Brooklyn apartment hunting of your own, you have to be careful as ever. Scammers are everywhere, and they certainly won't have a problem taking advantage of your if you let them.