After the headache of moving to my first studio apartment in Manhattan, I remember proclaiming to my mother that I hoped my husband (whomever that would be) and my five kids (who also did not exist) would like it because I was never moving again. Yet here I am on my sixth NYC move—this time with a husband and three kids, and absolutely no plans to expand to the brood of five I imagined all those years ago.
I am also making the switch from buyer to renter. The last time I made that switch was in 2005, back when selling a place you had bought three years before left you feeling like Donald Trump. Our most recent sale—not so much. But we did get our asking price, and as one kind friend said, “Well, breaking even is the new making money.”
But making a move isn’t always about numbers. It’s about your family. My husband, Frank, wanted a house in the suburbs and I broke out into hives just at the mention of Westchester or Long Island (where I grew up). It had happened; I was now a die-hard New Yorker. We loved our kids’ school and all of our friends in Manhattan. Even Frank couldn’t imagine a commute added on to his already ridiculously late hours. So it seemed that maybe renting an apartment and buying a country house would be the right move for us.
I was worried about our three girls, who are 4, 6 and 8, adjusting to the move because we had met a lot of great friends at our current apartment. But they were excited that their new apartment would have stairs and outdoor space, and even the fact that they would now be bunking together was “fun.” “Mom, we will still see our friends here and get to meet new friends in our new building,” they said. I forget that, unlike adults, children are pretty easy going: “Hey, you like paper and crayons, dress up, spilling Cheerios, jumping on furniture—what a coincidence, so do I!”
Of course, the rental will not have the tiles, the doorknobs, or the appliances that I spent too many hours agonizing over. As a renter, I seem to rent the air between the walls. Cosmetic changes are not up to me. But I should look on the bright side: renovating your own space is only fun when it is over. I will be spared many headaches. Also, the apartment has a new kitchen and baths, and is being painted colors of my choice as I write this. We are going to be able to buy outdoor furniture and have a fireplace. So even though we are downsizing, we are getting a lot of things we did not have in our last apartment. And let’s face it, even when you’re a renter, when the radio is blaring yet another Jonas Brothers song and your little one is calling “Mommy!” 100 times in a row and you are making sure the homework is not on the floor, but in the backpack—that special organized chaos—well, I think that’s what makes a home.
There was a lot of good karma with our new building, too. When I saw the apartment on Streeteasy.com and told Frank to call the broker, Frank called him and said “Are you the same Brad I went to elementary school with on Long Island?” He was, and he even remembered Frank getting in trouble for passing notes in French class. Luckily that was the worst skeleton in our closet; since we are subletting for two years, we had to go through a board interview.
So now my friends ask, “What are your plans, when your two years are up?” Well, I guess I will be on my seventh Manhattan move and I’ve gotten pretty good at it.
Photo: The author and her family in their new abode.
Smooth Move
After six relocations (all in Manhattan), mom Jean Halloran-Monaco offers the following tips for families making a move:
*Familiarize yourself with your building’s moving policies—times, fees, etc.
*Consider having your movers pack for you—it costs more, but can be worth it, especially if you have young children.
*Make sure your movers label your boxes well (i.e. not just “kitchen” but “kitchen utensils”). Otherwise, you will open the waffle maker, blender and 15 boxes just like it until you finally get to your everyday dishes.
*Consider whether you will need storage space in your building or elsewhere.
*Friends and family are amazing. When they offer to help, accept it!
*Have the following information with you at all times:
-Your management companies’ information (for both your old and new apartments)
-The mover’s contact info
-Your telephone, Internet and/or cable company’s contact info
-Any new furniture delivery dates and corresponding contact info
*A few things to bring on moving day:
-A suitcase with everything you will need for a few days (clothes, toothbrushes, contacts, your laptop, clean sheets and pillows). That way, you will have what you need until you are fully unpacked.
-A knapsack with important kids’ school items (books, homework, projects)
-A special kids’ box with their favorite board game, stuffed animals, dolls, blankets, and anything else they can’t live without
-A sense of humor!
Buying, Selling, Or Renting? NYC Real Estate Experts Offer Their Advice
If You’re Looking to Buy…
“I have been guiding my customers to go back to the basics: 1. Location, location, location; 2. Focus on spaces with good light instead of good views, and 3. Be prepared and comfortable to pay more for an apartment that has an excellent maintenance fee rather than paying less money for one with a higher maintenance. Finally, be prepared to stretch yourself spatially and financially in order to secure long-term debt, as rates will definitely go up in the next 24 months. — Louise Phillips Forbes, Executive Vice President, Halstead Property
If You’re Looking To Sell…
“Interview several brokers and ask lots of questions about marketing strategies, work ethic, weekend availability, open houses, pricing, etc. Make sure you feel comfortable with the broker’s philosophy and that it matches yours. Once you trust your broker, try to trust their advice!” — Lisa Lippman, Senior VP/Director, Brown Harris Stevens
If You’re Looking To Rent…
“The busiest rental season is spring and ends with the summer. It picks up again a bit at the beginning of the calendar year. So in the fall, there is less competition but also the inventory is not quite as large. It is a good time of year to find a rental, but remember that the market has gotten stronger for rentals as inventory has shrunk. Best advice: if you see an apartment you like, go for it!” — Deanna Kory, Senior Vice President, The Corcoran Group Real Estate
