Cold calling building managers?
Hey, everyone. I’m looking to move to Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, or Carroll Gardens this spring as a renter (CH would be most ideal). Since I’m in no hurry to move (I already have a secure place to live — but it’s a share), I figured I would try to do the legwork of finding…
Hey, everyone.
I’m looking to move to Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, or Carroll Gardens this spring as a renter (CH would be most ideal). Since I’m in no hurry to move (I already have a secure place to live — but it’s a share), I figured I would try to do the legwork of finding a place myself instead of relying on a broker and thus avoiding the fee.
Would it be absolutely crass to call building managers, owners, landlords, etc. to inquire about vacancies in their properties? For those of you who are landlords here, do you think this is a good way for possible tenants to reach you?
My basic method for getting info is to gather addresses for buildings that look like they’re split into multiple units. I can then look up the ownership information on the NYC HPD website. From there I figured I’d just use the white pages to get the number for the head officer, managing agent, or owning corporation. Does anyone know which of these people are the best ones to contact?
Thanks in advance for any help!
That’s exactly what you should do, not crass at all. Also look on Craiglist, many of the higher end neighborhoods (like the Heights) have buildings in which a broker works for the landlord instead of the tenant.
Yeah beware of Alan-he’s something else-has great contacts in the neighbourhood but boy does he make you jump through hoops. I’d talk to him but you really have to have the patience to put up with his personality. When I was leaving the apartment he’d found for me after about 4 years he called me to abuse me for not letting him know first. Totally unprofessional guy.
Many years ago I listed a nice rental apartment with Alan (before he went to Prudential). Never again. The tenants he got were just as obnoxious as he was. After that I made sure he was not working at any agency I listed with. My experience with him was not unique to me.
I list on craigslist.
Thanks for the comment, mopar. I figured it would be a long shot but worth my time if I got something good — maybe I’ll find someone who owns another building and knows of a vacancy coming up in a few months elsewhere.
For the most part I’m screening the buildings in my list. I see a lot of buildings that are 3 or 4 floors and have anywhere from 9 to 15 units or more — meaning smaller apartments. Those would be ones I might check into. If it’s a 4 story 4 unit building, chances are they’re large floor-through units that I can’t afford anyway, and I’ll pass over those.
I’m not entirely opposed to using a broker if it is indeed a good deal — I would just rather avoid it if possible (not just for the money but because I have ethical issues with the way they do business — and they’ve tried to hussle me in the past which absolutely does not fly).
I always thought it was smart to go directly to the building super to find vacancies. But this applies only to large apartment buildings. In the areas you describe, it’s mostly single family houses chopped up into two and three units, and the landlord lives in the building. It’s just kind of odd to go knocking on doors, although you could, and chances of finding a vacancy aren’t as high because the buildings are smaller.
The thing about Carroll Gardens is that Mike whatsisname on Smith has great listings — or you can go through a friend of friend word of mouth kind of deal, especially if you know someone who knows someone who just bought a building (like on this site). Also ask at work, on Facebook, etc.
Brokers sometimes have the cheaper, better apartments, in which case you’re paying the same in the long run even with the fee.
I have also used the “owner only” listings on Craigslist because I don’t want to deal with unscrupulous brokers (the kind who don’t have a store front and aren’t licensed.) However, beware that most of the postings are brokers posing as owners. They’re easy to spot — they write the ads like brokers. The real landlords often just say “2 br avail” and list the price. Or they go to the opposite extreme and have four photos and lengthy detail but the ad will say “principals only” or “no brokers.”
FYI I found the guy — it’s Allan G. at Prudential on Court. He sounds like an interesting guy to say the least, so I’ll keep him in mind.
RobertMosesJr — that sounds like something I want to look into. I’m doing a lot of googling to try to find this post but let me know if you remember anything else. I gather there are a lot of old school landlords in CH that won’t use brokers and have very mysterious ways of finding tenants.
if/when all of that fails – go to the guy on court street next to the fish place in CH. there was a brownstoner posting on him a long time ago. if you’re looking to rent he will absolutely find you a deal – and fast. i used him when i first moved to the neighborhood a long time ago, and many of the landlords (the older ones at least) will only go through him as well. when i moved out of my initial rental i tried to get a friend to take over my lease but my landlord still insisted on going through him anyway. i want to say his name is alan.
craigslist