FINE ART OF FINDING AN APARTMENT

(Article published in HWW Nov 2008)

For families looking for a new home of their own, the first big challenge is the interview with the broker and possibly the landlord. Diana Rosato, housing specialist at Homes for the Homeless’ Clinton Inn, gives her clients this sound advice:

Just as you want to find a nice apartment, the landlord and broker want to find good tenants.

When you go for your interview, you have to be presentable. Dress nicely. Nothing extreme.

Have your documents and paperwork together in a folder – your Advantage letter or Section 8 voucher, your birth certificate, social security card in case they want to do a credit check, a credit record if you have one. Some brokers ask for a fee to do a credit check if you don’t.

Make sure your public assistance case is kept open during the time you are looking for an apartment. This is very important for those on public assistance. You won’t be able to sign a lease if your P.A. case is closed or sanctioned.

Don’t take your children along unless you have no choice. Definitely don’t take a friend or say anything like “So and so may stay with us from time to time.”

Be honest. Don’t claim you’ve never had a credit problem if it’s not true.

Be positive. If you see something you don’t like about the apartment, keep it to yourself. You might change your mind later. If you think you don’t want it, just say you will talk to your housing specialist (if you’re in a shelter) and get back to them;

If you’re very interested, do let them know.

Thank them for the tour.

Keep a record of the interview. Who you talked to, and what happened. If you’re in a shelter you need to tell your decision to your housing specialist. If you decide to refuse the apartment, you will need to fill out a rejection form with your reasons. If repairs are not able to be done in the apartment it won’t pass inspection. Therefore move on to the next apartment and have more than one apartment scheduled each week if possible.

Finding apartments that accept subsidy programs is getting harder. So if it can pass inspection, don’t be picky in terms of boroughs or distance or what floor it’s on.

If you decide to reject it, don’t stop there. Continue to call realtors. If they don’t have something right now, tell them you will call in a few days and do it. Remind them of your status (“I have an Advantage voucher” or whatever) and say “I was wondering if you have an apartment for me.” Always thank the realtors for their time and always leave a contact number where they can reach you once an apartment that’s the size you are certified for and that accepts your program becomes available.