I recently moved to Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Moving to New York can be an overwhelming experience. Moving to New York is unlike moving anywhere else in the United States. Deciding on a neighborhood, finding an apartment and getting moved in are all part of the process.
If you are planning to move to New York, keep in mind that the entire process will happen very quickly and in what seems like a whirlwind fashion.
Choosing a Neighborhood
There are so many wonderful neighborhoods in New York City. It can be difficult to choose. Eventually, I chose the Upper West Side because it seemed to be a good fit for my lifestyle, my social activity, and also my commute.
The Upper West Side is more residential than other parts of New York. There are many tree-lined streets, beautiful brownstones, and beautiful churches all throughout. You will find many grocery, drug, and hardware stores along Columbus, Amsterdam, and Broadway. I like things quiet and the Upper West Side offers a less-busy New York than you will find in other neighborhoods.
Finding an Apartment
Finding an apartment is a big task. There are literally thousands of apartments listed at any given time. I chose to find my apartment through a broker for the simple reason that I did not have the time to search out apartments that met the criteria I had in mind. When you use a broker, it is their job to find apartments that will meet your needs. Also, it is important to know that many apartments in New York are only listed through a broker and you may not be able to see or rent them, without one.
If you choose to go with a broker, use Mike Mishkin from CitiHabitats.
MIKE MISHKIN
222 West 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023
C: 917-609-8680 | O: 212-712-2722 | F: 212-787-0073
Mike found just what I was looking for. I simply told him my preferences and Mike came back with many apartments to choose from. The apartments found fit my criteria in every way.
You may read some broker horror stories online about brokers who try to push clients into more expensive apartments or who show apartments that don’t fit client criteria — seemingly in an effort to rush and “close the deal”, so to speak. I was concerned when I decided to use a broker that I may end up with a “slick” broker who would give me my own horror stories to tell.
Mike Mishkin was exactly what I needed in a broker. Mike was honest, organized, responsive, and in absolutely now way was he “pushy.” He was an absolute pleasure to work with. Again, if you are a moving to New York City — USE MIKE MISHKIN. You won’t be disappointed.
Moving
I decided to hire Flat Rate to move me. Hiring movers is not cheap — I can’t deny this — but for me, and in my current circumstances, they were an absolute necessity.
I could not have been more pleased with their service. They arrived early, took great care of my furniture and electronics and made my move about as painless as possible.
I love my new apartment. The commute to work has been cut by 2/3 and I spend much less time waiting for Metro-North trains!
