How to find the perfect room/roommates on Craislist

We all know how hard it might be to find a decent sized room in a safe neighborhood in NYC. Most of the time you won’t be able to get what you’re looking for. I’ve heard so many stories from people that I know who have moved to NYC from other states who either complain about living too far from Manhattan, paying too much to live in the city, people getting less for what they’re paying for and the list can continue. Living in NYC my entire life – more importantly in the city—I never knew how expensive the city had become over the years. It wasn’t until the day that I decided the leave my dads rent stabilized apartment in the East Village and move in with roommates, that I saw how much of a struggle it could be to find something decent with people that are NORMAL. I used craigslist for my search for the perfect room and roommates. Here is a list of a few things that I found and heard through others, to stay away from to avoid scams, bad roommate situations and overpaying:

1. Know what you’re looking for! In roommates that is. A craigslist ad can tell you a lot about the person who is posting it. The person might say in their ad “doesn’t mind having company and hanging out on the weekends.” This most likely means that THEY like to have company and if you’re looking for a quiet hideaway, then this might not be your best bet. The post might say “not ideal for couples or someone who likes sleepovers,” this most likely means they do not like company so say goodbye to your bf/gf/best friend. Reading in-between the line is the best way to avoid possible roommate conflicts in the future.

 2. If something is too good to be true, then it probably is. I’ve witnessed posts for an apartment in financial district with all modern appliances for $1,200. This is clearly impossible! If you know anything about the city, you would know finical district is one of the most expensive areas in the city to live in. Do not believe the hype for rooms/apartments that sound too good to be true.

3. If you do not know about the area in the post, then look it up! This is the best way to avoid paying more for less. I worked with a guy before that was from France. He told me that he was paying $1,300 for a room in Harlem. He showed me a picture of the room and it was literally only large enough to fit a full sized bed and small dresser and he shared a closet with someone else. He was not getting any bang for his buck. Especially in a neighborhood of Harlem, you can get a room about 10’ by 15’ for $900 with your own closet and decent amount of space. Be smart about your decisions.

4. I’ve learned to look up the actual retail for apartments that are in ads. This is smart to see if you’re being overcharged. I once saw a post for a three-bedroom apartment with one bathroom in the Lower East Side. I looked up the exact address and apartment number. The person who posted the ad was charging the room for about half the price of the actual rent in total! I’ve heard about this scam many times. Making a person pay enough to cover two people’s rent so the other person is living nearly rent-free! Good for them but terrible for you.

5. Stay away from flex rooms, in my opinion. Flex rooms are rooms that did not actually come with apartment but are instead made by the seller. By law, the walls for flex rooms cannot reach the ceiling for fire safety hazards. Therefore, be ready to hear the noise of your roommates often. Flex rooms are often much smaller then they should but are charged as the price of a regular room. I’ve noticed that flex rooms are usually in nicer buildings and areas. So if you’re looking for location then this might be for you.

6. Do not pay for anything in advance. My friend once told me that she wrote inquiring about a room. The person replied saying that she would have to send a deposit via PayPal and then he would send her the keys. This is definitely a scam. Do not fall for it!

7. Tip: Queens is a cheap and safe alternative for living in NYC. Areas in queens such as Astoria and Forest Hills are not in Manhattan but they are nice and cheaper! Queens is often times quieter but a longer train ride away from the city. The rooms are usually larger for the same amount as a smaller room to live in the heart of NYC. A little traveling wont hurt…in most cases.

8. Make sure to explore the area of a potential apartment before agreeing to move in. I once viewed a room that was a great price in an apartment with a balcony and all modern appliances. On my way out it started to snow so I waited in the lobby for a bit. The security guard let ANYONE in the building without asking where they were going, people hung out in the lobby and on my way to the train I saw many large groups hanging on the sidewalks and tons of litter. This was around 122/125th Street. The apartment was perfect but could I imagine myself feeling safe coming home late at night? Nope!

9. Pay attention to lease agreements! This is very important. Some renters may try to scam you by putting things such as “utilities included” or “safety deposit only given back if you apply by so and so terms”. I rented a room that said utilities included. This was for the summer. I bought myself an AC and a TV. Little did I know that the renter paid out of pocket for con-ed. She ended up sending an email to all of the roommates saying the con-ed bill was too high and we all had to split it! If I would’ve known that I wouldn’t have ran the AC all day and night. That was extra money out of my pocket that I was not expecting.

10. Stay away from posts that do not have photos! I feel like this an obvious point to single out. But many people see a description of a good place and an amazing price and decide to try it anyway.

I’m sure there the list can go one but I think these are some of the most important and hidden secrets for finding a good room and roommates in NYC. After witnessing many things myself and hearing story after story, I have learned many tips and things to avoid during an apartment/roommate search.