Question: “I just moved into a large co-op, and I’m not familiar with super “etiquette.” If I need personal assistance with handyman tasks in the apartment (sink leaking, wall mounting a TV, etc.) is it appropriate to ask the super for assistance?”
— Trike in Manhattan
Dear Trike:
Every building is different, with its own official rules and unofficial practices. So first thing, ask. Ask your neighbors how things are done in your new home. Ask your real estate agent. Ask a board member. Ask the super.
With that said, look at the big picture. You say you’ve moved into a large co-op, so that suggests that your building has a sizeable staff of doormen, porters, handypersons or others. In many large buildings, the primary job of the super is to manage the day-to-day operations of the building and to oversee that staff. Most buildings prohibit staff from working for individual shareholders during regular working hours.
Co-ops and condos operate with the same basic division of responsibility: If it’s in the wall or part of the common areas or infrastructure, then the building staff maintains it and repairs it, and their work is paid for out of your monthly maintenance fee. If it’s on the wall or otherwise contained within your apartment, it’s your responsibility and you must pay for it separately. Unclog a bathtub drain? Building. Install a new kitchen light fixture? You. Clean the central AC unit filter in your apartment? Building. Paint the living room? You.
So how about mounting that TV? It’s simple to ask the super, “Could one of the guys do this for me on their own time?” Unless the building specifically prohibits it, the super is virtually certain to say, “Yes, we can quote you a fee and arrange a time.” You might be expected to pay the staffer directly. Or not. Ask. In my building, I pay the super, who, in turn, pays the staffer.
Just about any job in your apartment can be handled this way. I’ve had staff install appliances, build closets and do electrical work — all for far, far less than I would have had to pay outside contractors (and fewer board hassles). That’s great for run-of-the-mill jobs, but I suggest outside help for finer finish work.
David Crook is a veteran journalist and author of The Complete Wall Street Journal Real-Estate Investing and Homeowner’s Guidebooks. Do you have a question about anything real estate-related in NYC? Write him at askus@streeteasy.com. For verification purposes, please include your name and a phone number; neither will be published. Note: Nothing in this column should be considered professional legal advice. If you have a legal issue, consult an attorney.
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