6 Questions to Ask Before Renting Apartment in NYC

It is not easy for New Yorkers who are planning to move or thinking of renting an apartment. They are most likely to face a lot of issues, given the current circumstances. Condos and Co-ops, as of now, have a lot of restrictions on moving and renting. Although situations right now have slightly lesser strains, otherwise all facilities had banned renting new dwellings altogether.

Renting and moving, no matter how risky as of now, is crucial for those who have planned to move and for those who do not have other options.  Fortunately, almost three months after everything that NYC and its citizens have faced due to the pandemic, the rules and regulations have finally have altered based on the number of active cases.

In this case, the Real Estate Industry has come a long way to serve its purpose to its clients and customers even during these crucial times. To ease the difficulty of the people of New York City, real estate agents have started to resume their services according to the safety protocols laid down by the CDC, WHO, and the city’s official authorities.

Not only have things become more accessible for people to look for apartments but also move to their desired dwelling. It is challenging, but not impossible for you to rent an apartment. Of course, there are many reasons for people why people are choosing to move right now. Still, most importantly, they are looking for apartments that have a safe and clean neighborhood, essential aids like supermarkets, hospitals, etc. They are hopefully not too crowded or touristy (highly unlikely in NYC). Although it is not recommended for you to rent an apartment if you can afford to move from a hotspot area to a much less vulnerable neighborhood, you can consider moving.

Still, there are a lot of people who are doubtful and have a lot of queries when it comes to renting an apartment nowadays.

1. Is Renting An Apartment Even Possible Right Now?

Yes, apartments are ready for people to be sub-let or to-let. If your reason seems valid to the authorities, you would be permitted to look for options. Unless there is an emergency and you have to look for safer abodes, you will not be allowed to move until late June.

2. Can I Step Out and Look for Apartments in the City?

In most cases, regular apartment showings are no longer available, but yes, with safety measures and precautions, you can look for an apartment to rent. There are new listings out every week, and they can be considered and visited. However, lease handling, signing, meeting agents, landlords, and basically, face-to-face interactions are restricted. With a considerable amount of distance, you can take a look at the apartments yourself. A much more feasible option for you at this point could be virtual home tours.

3. Are Virtual Home Tours Reliable?

Yes, Virtual home tour is the best option for people who are looking for new apartments. Most of the apartment showings have switched to virtual tours only. There are a lot of options through which you can take a tour of the house virtually. You can either check them on YouTube or Vimeo or other online portals. Ask agents for virtual tours if you still need to look for more apartments. Virtual home tours are not something that has begun during the pandemic. There are a lot of people who buy and rent houses through virtual home tours only. Therefore, they are safe and reliable.

4. Are Listing Agents Even Available?

Real estate agents are available for your queries and questions even now. Just like everyone, they too are working from home. They are available for you over messages, e-mails, and calls. They will be able to address your issues, queries, and will also be able to find you the apartment you desire.

5. What to do Before Signing a Lease?

The risks are equal. Whether you are selecting an apartment via virtual tour or personally finalizing the condo. You must look out for all the possible risks before you sign a lease. If you have never virtually finalized an apartment, consult an agent at every step.

6. What to do After Signing a Lease?

The restrictions on rules on moving and renting have not changed yet. So you can still move to a new apartment, given you follow the necessary precautions. You must monitor all the people you will be dealing with during this process for any kind of symptoms. It would help if you carried sanitizers, masks, and gloves at all times to reduce the chances of getting infected.

Also, consider speaking with the owners of the apartment before finalizing things with the movers. Also, if it is an apartment building, the residents must be aware of the moving-in day so that there is no chance of human contact and transmission of infection.