I currently live in a walkup. It is above a restaurant and a little noisy, but it's OK. I hate the process of moving and was actually hoping to buy some time next year after more of a price drop. My current landlord tried to raise my rent by 100 and after I showed he was an idiot, he is agreeing to actually drop it by 200 instead (to 2350). I thought the unit was overpriced and checked the... [more]
I currently live in a walkup. It is above a restaurant and a little noisy, but it's OK.
I hate the process of moving and was actually hoping to buy some time next year after more of a price drop.
My current landlord tried to raise my rent by 100 and after I showed he was an idiot, he is agreeing to actually drop it by 200 instead (to 2350).
I thought the unit was overpriced and checked the neighborhood and a unit that is about 20% bigger, elevator building would go for an effective 2000 after a month of free rent.
So 2350 vs 2000 and the 2000 is actually nicer. The problem is negative reviews of the new building's management (but they were for low cost buildings in Brooklyn - not Manhattan) the hassle of moving, the application process, etc. I'm off of work for the next week and would have to make the decision and move in this week.
Thoughts?
[less]
Response by w67thstreet
about 17 years ago
Posts: 9003
Member since: Dec 2008
wad... dude just move... keep one cell phone.. .get all bills e-mailed... and get a forwarding mailer done... what is so hard about moving now a days... or do a 6 month extension with landlord and I can guarantee you that rental rates will fall further and your choices get larger... in my days I'd move once a year ... dorm rooms, girlfriend, wife, new kid... that's NYC :)
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Response by drdrd
about 17 years ago
Posts: 1905
Member since: Apr 2007
I would say to the landlord exactly what you said to us; show him/her the price difference & maybe they will lower the rent to $2000. However, I'm concerned about the "idiot" comment because you want to treat the landlord with respect & kindness & attempt to work out a suitable rent rather than name-call & insult your landlord who may be just unaware of the current market &, of course, is trying to maximize profit. So, open your heart & smile & approach the landlord with the information you have & hopefully you will have a good outcome. Good luck & let us know how it goes. ;)
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Response by bjw2103
about 17 years ago
Posts: 6236
Member since: Jul 2007
wad, really depends on what that couple hundred a month means to you or if you really could use the extra space. Can you try renegotiating with the landlord based on your most recent comp? Could be tricky, and you don't want any bad blood of course, so depends on your level of comfort. Dig around some more on the other building's management - if it's really that bad, may not be worth it. If it seems like you could live with it and could really use the cash/space, it could be worth the effort. Either way, good luck!
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Response by blah
about 17 years ago
Posts: 36
Member since: Aug 2007
wad, this is a no-brainer, just move. Sure it's a pain in the butt, but you'll save $$ and be in a nicer building.
Or, if you really hate moving so much, then stay and pay an extra $6550 per year ($350 per month, + one month's rent) just so you won't have to worry.
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Response by Slope11217
about 17 years ago
Posts: 233
Member since: Nov 2008
Actually, blah, I think the amount he'd save by moving is "only" $4,200 ($350 x 12) -- the $2,000 for the new apartment already accounts for one free month of rent.
In any event, move. No question about it. Look at it this way: if a friend came to you and offered to pay you $4,200 to move them from one apartment to another, you'd do it in a second. Now, I grant you that it's not quite as simple as that because (unlike moving someone else) you'd have to arrange new cable service, internet service, change your address, etc. So, to account for that, let's drop a full $1,000 off the "price". So now your friend is offering to pay you $3,200 to help him move. You'd take the job immediately (at least I would).
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Response by nyc10022
about 17 years ago
Posts: 9868
Member since: Aug 2008
If it gets you into a deal you will stick with, I think its worth it. To save a few hundred bucks a month for just a year, moving to me is just too much work and stress for that.
If you find a deal that you'd be happy staying in for a few years... then that can justify the move.
BTW, hire a mover. I have found that even if you make minimum wage, the value they bring outweights the cost of your time/sanity by far. Its not just the work they do, but the "deadline" they provide, and the quickness they require (go flat rate).
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Response by w67thstreet
about 17 years ago
Posts: 9003
Member since: Dec 2008
wad... just call me I'll help you move :)
Just want to add... do a 3 month extension... you r in driver seat... or if you want to drive landlord insane... a week to week.
I digress to my childish self... Happy Holidays!
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Response by wad
about 17 years ago
Posts: 99
Member since: Dec 2008
Thanks guys for the advice.
The funny thing is that I would never have looked around if he hadn't tried to raise my rent. And then I offered to sign immediately if he lowered it by a couple hundred and he took his time to think about it. Now I'm just annoyed. And the landlord is a large company with a lot of properties. I got this through citihabitats 2 years ago. This is why I called him an idiot btw because they have several billion in properties and are plugged into the biggest broker in nyc and still decided to do all this.
nyc you hit my worry on the head - i am thinking i may only be there for a year so i was worried about moving twice, the deposit, the bad reviews when i googled the new owners, etc.. I guess money is still money and i hope there are some super cheap movers I can find to move quickly.
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Response by nyc10022
about 17 years ago
Posts: 9868
Member since: Aug 2008
True... but also consider looking for something else with less "worry" that you might be more comfortable with long term.
There are TONS of choices out there right now. Tons of things you can get for 30% less than original asking.. (just look at 20 pine)
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Response by newbuyer99
about 17 years ago
Posts: 1231
Member since: Jul 2008
wad - I agree with bjw2103. Estimate how long you're staying, figure out the savings, and see how much they mean to you. If the number will have a real impact on something important in your life (downpayment, nice vacation, pay off ugly credit card debt, etc.), then it's probably worth it. If it's just an extra $xxx sitting in the bank that has no real impact anytime soon, I'd say no.
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Response by notadmin
about 17 years ago
Posts: 3835
Member since: Jul 2008
bigger and with elevator... just move now!
if the moving is a pain, picture no more going up the stairs with your groceries while going through it. make sure the new place is not as noisy and has better light... it's a no brainer! come on, you can hire 3 guys with a big truck (as i did) for the money you save on the 1st month only.
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Response by notadmin
about 17 years ago
Posts: 3835
Member since: Jul 2008
i do also believe that if the landlord asked you for an increase in this times... he deserves a vacancy.
wad... dude just move... keep one cell phone.. .get all bills e-mailed... and get a forwarding mailer done... what is so hard about moving now a days... or do a 6 month extension with landlord and I can guarantee you that rental rates will fall further and your choices get larger... in my days I'd move once a year ... dorm rooms, girlfriend, wife, new kid... that's NYC :)
I would say to the landlord exactly what you said to us; show him/her the price difference & maybe they will lower the rent to $2000. However, I'm concerned about the "idiot" comment because you want to treat the landlord with respect & kindness & attempt to work out a suitable rent rather than name-call & insult your landlord who may be just unaware of the current market &, of course, is trying to maximize profit. So, open your heart & smile & approach the landlord with the information you have & hopefully you will have a good outcome. Good luck & let us know how it goes. ;)
wad, really depends on what that couple hundred a month means to you or if you really could use the extra space. Can you try renegotiating with the landlord based on your most recent comp? Could be tricky, and you don't want any bad blood of course, so depends on your level of comfort. Dig around some more on the other building's management - if it's really that bad, may not be worth it. If it seems like you could live with it and could really use the cash/space, it could be worth the effort. Either way, good luck!
wad, this is a no-brainer, just move. Sure it's a pain in the butt, but you'll save $$ and be in a nicer building.
Or, if you really hate moving so much, then stay and pay an extra $6550 per year ($350 per month, + one month's rent) just so you won't have to worry.
Actually, blah, I think the amount he'd save by moving is "only" $4,200 ($350 x 12) -- the $2,000 for the new apartment already accounts for one free month of rent.
In any event, move. No question about it. Look at it this way: if a friend came to you and offered to pay you $4,200 to move them from one apartment to another, you'd do it in a second. Now, I grant you that it's not quite as simple as that because (unlike moving someone else) you'd have to arrange new cable service, internet service, change your address, etc. So, to account for that, let's drop a full $1,000 off the "price". So now your friend is offering to pay you $3,200 to help him move. You'd take the job immediately (at least I would).
If it gets you into a deal you will stick with, I think its worth it. To save a few hundred bucks a month for just a year, moving to me is just too much work and stress for that.
If you find a deal that you'd be happy staying in for a few years... then that can justify the move.
BTW, hire a mover. I have found that even if you make minimum wage, the value they bring outweights the cost of your time/sanity by far. Its not just the work they do, but the "deadline" they provide, and the quickness they require (go flat rate).
wad... just call me I'll help you move :)
Just want to add... do a 3 month extension... you r in driver seat... or if you want to drive landlord insane... a week to week.
I digress to my childish self... Happy Holidays!
Thanks guys for the advice.
The funny thing is that I would never have looked around if he hadn't tried to raise my rent. And then I offered to sign immediately if he lowered it by a couple hundred and he took his time to think about it. Now I'm just annoyed. And the landlord is a large company with a lot of properties. I got this through citihabitats 2 years ago. This is why I called him an idiot btw because they have several billion in properties and are plugged into the biggest broker in nyc and still decided to do all this.
nyc you hit my worry on the head - i am thinking i may only be there for a year so i was worried about moving twice, the deposit, the bad reviews when i googled the new owners, etc.. I guess money is still money and i hope there are some super cheap movers I can find to move quickly.
True... but also consider looking for something else with less "worry" that you might be more comfortable with long term.
There are TONS of choices out there right now. Tons of things you can get for 30% less than original asking.. (just look at 20 pine)
wad - I agree with bjw2103. Estimate how long you're staying, figure out the savings, and see how much they mean to you. If the number will have a real impact on something important in your life (downpayment, nice vacation, pay off ugly credit card debt, etc.), then it's probably worth it. If it's just an extra $xxx sitting in the bank that has no real impact anytime soon, I'd say no.
bigger and with elevator... just move now!
if the moving is a pain, picture no more going up the stairs with your groceries while going through it. make sure the new place is not as noisy and has better light... it's a no brainer! come on, you can hire 3 guys with a big truck (as i did) for the money you save on the 1st month only.
i do also believe that if the landlord asked you for an increase in this times... he deserves a vacancy.