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3 tips to increase your odds of scoring that dream rental apartment

Modern appartment with windowsill bed in loggia.
Photo via Getty Images

Renting an apartment in New York City is not easy. Demand is always high and apartments get snatched up quick.

But there are some tactics that real estate agents say you can employ to make sure you are the best candidate for an apartment. Here are three of them:

Set up viewings for a Thursday or Friday so you can be first in the door 

Inventory replenishes later in the week for the weekend. If you can, be the first in the door to see new inventory before the weekend rush.

Have updated paperwork ready to go 

So you can make an offer on the spot, have your most recent tax returns, two recent bank statements, a letter of employment or two recent pay stubs, and a scanned copy of your photo ID, as well as signed agency and fair housing disclosures. 

Give yourself lead time

Use search engines to ping you whenever a listing appears in your neighborhoods of choice. When you do get that ping, drop everything and go! Also, in case your inquiry about an apartment has ended up in your junk mail, check your spam folder.

If you’ll be on the hunt for a rental apartment soon, find a great real estate agent or other home service providers in Home Pros

Are you a home services professional that helps people move? Are looking for exposure to an engaged audience of millions of monthly visitors? Sign up for New York City Home Pros here. Schneps takes no fee from any job you book through the service