How to Inspect a Rental Apartment in NYC

Owning an apartment is an easy thing to do. One might be wrong to make such an assumption. There are many things to consider, especially if you're trying to rent a flat in the Big Apple. For instance, you can't solely trust the pictures you've found online and sign the rental lease before checking the apartment in person. Avoiding inspecting the property before you sign anything might put you in substantial danger. Also, the landlord might accuse you and make you pay for issues you didn't even cause. Therefore, your best bet is to schedule the inspection before you sign the contract. We'll show you what to look out for in today's text. In other words, we'll introduce you to tips on how to inspect a rental apartment in NYC.

#1 Consider the walls (and ceilings)

First, check the condition of the apartment's walls and ceilings. If the property you're looking out to rent is new, there might be no need for this, but if it's older, checking the walls becomes a necessity. Pay good attention to see whether there are any cracks, stains, or patches present on the walls. Also, if the previous tenants had kids, some crayon drawings on the walls need to be removed or painted over.

Make sure to inspect the walls and ceilings.

Alt. text: An apartment wholly painted white.

#2 Do a so-called late-night soundcheck

We're all well aware that New York City is a city that never sleeps. Therefore, you'll want to perform a so-called late-night soundcheck to see whether any bars or restaurants appear as a threat to your piece and quiet. Visit the place once it gets dark. Of course, street noise pollution can be dealt with through soundproofing, but you want to know what you're getting into. Also, pay some attention to whether there are any construction sites near your new home. They can be a real pain if you're working remotely.

#3 Keep an eye out for tourists

In other words, once you're inside the building, watch out for tourists with backpacks and suitcases, as they could be a sign of illegal short-term rentals. Trust us. You don't want to live next to an apartment rented out frequently by people who want to throw a bachelor party inside or something similar. The city tries its best to combat these short-term rentals, but they are present throughout it.

#4 Check the windows

Once you're trying to see whether something's wrong with the windows, you first need to make sure you can open them. If windows aren't opening up quickly, you face a solid safety threat. Each apartment room needs at least a single window that can be opened. Also, check whether the windows are leaky or the glass is alright (chipped or partially broken glass is something to avoid). Additionally, the glass shouldn't have any mold or mildew on it. Lastly, inspect the blinds. They should operate normally and contain no dirt or stains. The landlord should've kept them clean.

Don't forget to guarantee that the windows are in proper condition when you inspect a rental apartment in NYC.

Some people consider these rooms the most important inside a home, and we couldn't agree more. Inside the kitchen, check if all the stove switches are working correctly. If you're dealing with a gas stove, check whether it ignites in an orderly fashion (also, invest in a carbon monoxide detector). Don't forget to check for mold inside the fridge or the cabinets, as the experts from bestmovers.nyc advise. Also, if you notice any animal dropping, that could signal the apartment's dealing with a pest infestation.

Check out the shower and its water flow inside the bathroom and whether it gets hot or cold per "your commands." Also, check out its walls to see if there are any missing tiles or if there's mold present. Inspect the toilet to see whether it's clean, in good condition, or does it flush in an appropriate manner. Lastly, ensure the toilet doesn't leak onto the floor around it.

#6 What about parking?

If you're a vehicle owner, you must add the "check parking" item to your list of inspection priorities. You'll want to make sure the apartment you want to rent out has a garage with an interior parking bay. Also, inform yourself about whether you need to pay separately for parking or if it's included in the rent.

#7 Bedrooms and doors

The doors of your new home should shut tightly and fit correctly inside their frame. Also, there shouldn't be any issues with knobs and locks. If you're worried about safety (as you should be), make sure that the front door of your home has a standard lock with a deadbolt you can secure from the inside.

What about the bedroom(s)? Your main task is to inspect the closets and guarantee the shelves aren't loose or falling off easily.

#8 Check the signal

Here's another thing you should do once you inspect a rental apartment in NYC. Before you get in touch with local experts and move into your NYC apartment, you'll want to check the cellular signal. It sounds a bit weird, but certain areas of NYC have poor signal strength. Finding that one out once it's too late can cause some good old frustration.

Not all NYC neighborhoods have a top-quality cellular signal.

Alt. text: A person holding their smartphone.

#9 Know your rights (concerning bedbugs)

If you've lived in NYC for quite some time now, you might've already had some experience with bedbugs. Therefore, you know that can't be a good thing. Also, you're legally entitled to written disclosure of the whole building's bedbug history before you sign the rental lease. You should do that! Of course, you can't be sure you'll receive a frank answer. But still. It can't hurt you to try. Not having bedbugs is one of the most important things concerning NYC apartments. 

Final words on the subject

Okay, dear readers, this was all we've prepared concerning the tips on how to inspect a rental apartment in NYC. Here you have a list of suggestions you shouldn't discard as benign. By following these tips, you'll guarantee that your experience renting a flat in NYC doesn't be disastrous.

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