Trying to find an apartment online is very similar to online dating! If you have experience with both, you should already see where I am going with this.

So you start by browsing through profiles of potential dates online with a list of qualities, a brief description, and hopefully some good pictures! Pictures are usually the first thing that you look at. As you know if you have done this before, your potential date may not quite look like their pictures. It usually is the same person… but how often do you hear this?: “She had a picture from like 5 years ago, before she put on 25lbs” or “He had a full head of hair in his profile picture” or “Is that even the same person?” It usually is, but people (just like brokers photographing apartments) will use that one photo of them-self that must have been taken from just the right angle, in the perfect lighting, when the moon was in the perfect position in relation to the earth’s gravity that happens only once every 500 years, and they just look amazing in that one photograph! Then in person, they appear as the absolute worst version of what you were expecting. Not to mention the complete lack of chemistry.

Then you go even further by reading descriptions of these potential candidates which point out what they think is positive about themselves and never negative. Maybe the author of the description is a great person, but they cannot write for shit. Or maybe they have a creative writing background and can sell the reader on their seemingly incredible personality, but in reality they are completely dull.

Then you have to decipher the check boxes they’ve ticked off while filling in their list of attributes. What type of food they like, how educated they are, religious beliefs, political beliefs, favorite activities, sports, possibly height and weight (LIARS!) And this is supposed to match those up with similar interests and expectations. What about “Opposites Attract?” Yeah… that happens… a lot!

The problem with online dating (and online apartment hunting) is that none of these things are relevant when meeting someone in person. In person, you are attracted to someone because of how you interact with them. The chemistry that develops between you. The physical attraction that you cannot really see via photograph. The way they laugh, sharing the same point of view about whatever is happening around you when you meet, sharing a moment together to make you realize you should be looking for more, seeing how you interact with other people around you, and so much more.

Most people have similar experiences in that they meet someone great online, chat on the phone, email, instant messenger, and then when they finally meet in person, none of the good stuff exists and the date is a flat and lifeless experience.

Sure you could meet the perfect person online and date them for a long time or even marry them. But chances are, you would have to be constantly repeating these steps over and over with lots of failure, wasted nights, and money!

But wait a minute! What if you could be working with a professional who knows all of your potential dates personally? A professional who could meet you, get to know you, and help match you up with a date because they already know all of the potential candidates! They can discuss in detail what you are truly looking for by asking you questions you may never have thought of. Maybe this professional already has a few potential people in mind and decides to ask you questions based on this. Then they can come up with a few names for you and introduce you to a few, one right after the other. Do you think that may be a better, faster, more efficient way to go?

Did you see where I went with that? Apartments are all over the internet these days which is how most people start their search. Unfortunately, choosing an apartment online is filled with misrepresented apartments, fake photos, no photos, poor descriptions, inflated descriptions, all positives, no negatives, fake listings, rented listings, shady brokers, etc.

And even if everything online is 100% honest and accurate, you can’t really tell until you see it in person. An apartment may look like the best thing in the world online, but in person it is not even close. Conversely, you can quickly move past a listing online that looks bad or has no photos, but it would have been perfect for you. And maybe after all is said and done, you may end up with an apartment you never would have thought of looking for in the first place.

ADVICE:

Find a great broker instead! One who can play matchmaker. A good broker knows the ins and outs of buildings and apartments, what it feels like to be inside the apartment (don’t relate that one to dating!) they know the management companies and landlords. Which ones take pets, which ones take guarantors, which ones take applicants with poor credit or who don’t earn enough income, or students, etc. This is what we do every day! And consider this… apartments rent fast! I can tell you about places that are coming up that aren’t even on the internet. I have some that will never make it online… ever!

But Scott… how do I find a good broker? Well, that’s another story. It seems that for every 1,000 real estate agents, there is about 1 great one! So ask around, get a referral, try and get a vibe from an online ad and interview a few over the phone. See if they sound honest, trustworthy, professional, and if they seem like they have a system or game plan and can help you! You should probably like them too! Couldn’t hurt!

So that’s my spiel. Feel free to just call me! I would love to help you find your next home!

I guess to most people it’s a bit weird, but working from a Loft in Soho overlooking Broadway and Prince St, you pretty much see anything and everything that goes on down here!
I’m a real estate agent, so I don’t have time right now to interview these people to see what exactly is going on. Feel free to comment if you do!

Being in Real Estate, my phone number is plastered all over the internet. My number is a dirty whore! Of course in my business, I advertise in order to get phone calls…

But what is up with all the text messages? Who texts strangers they’ve never met? How can you start a business relationship like that?

Now don’t get me wrong… I have nothing against texting. I started doing so back in the day, before it was even common.

But people who I have never met are texting me directly from an ad online! I frequently get messages such as:
” Hi! Can I make an appt to see the $2,200 1bedroom west village” or
“I saw a few listings from you for studios in the wv. Can you please tell me what your broker fee is ?” or
“You have been randomly selected for a BestBuy SuperBowl gift. Get your $1000 gift card at http:/…”

As a real estate broker, I need to speak with someone over the phone and have a conversation for many reasons. A great two way conversation can give me the proper insight on the client’s criteria, their situation, and how I can best assist them. By asking the right questions and listening to their responses, I will likely uncover some things that will be important for our appointment and I will be able to do the best research possible. My goal is to get as much information as possible and then put together apartments for my client based on what we had discussed. This would be nearly impossible to achieve by text message. In addition, we need some bonding and rapport to happen as well. When you speak with a professional with years of experience, a lot of times you will me much more excited to meet with this person who comes across as someone who can assist you. In fact, I won’t have it any other way.

I rarely even respond to text messages from a stranger.

So if you are looking to rent or purchase an apartment and don’t already know me! Call me!!!!

Featured Apartment: Pre-War 1 Bedroom with Windows All Around!

 
I Love this apartment and what a deal for being in the center of the Village! Located right where Bleecker St meets Sixth Avenue, near Father Demo Square & Hot Spots such as Joe’s Pizza!

The apartment has original pre-war detail such as the gorgeous exposed brick. There are windows in every room, including the bathroom. Bedroom windows face south for ridiculous sunlight.

Very close to the West 4th Street Subways A,C,E,B,D,F,M as well as the 1,2,3 line.

Contact Scott Rubin at 646.481.8788 or scottr@markdavidny.com to see it today!

Priced well at $2200! Take advantage of Winter Pricing!

-

Listed by Mark David & Company, Licensed Real Estate Broker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q5K-FSnr4M

Still a low vacancy market entering 2012, although it may get a little slow for the next month or so. It’s a good month to get a deal, but don’t get greedy, as it’s still a landlord’s market. Watch for more!

2011 has come and gone and here are my favorite and most memorable posts of the year. Happy New Year!

Steve Jobs Memorial at Apple Store Soho

Filed under Best of 2011, Photos by Scott Rubin on October 6, 2011 at 9:34 am {no comments}

Taken and uploaded by my iPhone 4Full Story »

Sales Insider: Manhattan Real Estate Attorney’s ONLY!!!

Filed under Best of 2011, Sales Insider by Scott Rubin on October 3, 2011 at 7:02 am {one comment}

Purchasing an home is most likely the largest purchase you have ever made and will ever make, except for purchasing your next home! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. If I could give you just one piece of advice for purchasing in Manhattan, it would be: USE A MANHATTAN REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY!!!! Then I [...]Full Story »

Summer Season is Over!!!

Filed under Best of 2011, Rental Insider, Sales Insider by Scott Rubin on September 6, 2011 at 11:05 am {no comments}

SUMMER SEASON IS OVER!!! And I couldn’t be more happy! The summer months are grueling for a real estate salesperson who both sells and leases apartments! Here are some thoughts about the change of seasons… RENTALS: The rental market remains the same, Low Vacancy & High Rents. It IS a landlord’s market and this isn’t [...]Full Story »

Hurricane Irene Preparations

Filed under Best of 2011, Manhattan Insider by Scott Rubin on August 26, 2011 at 9:38 am {no comments}

From NYC.gov: Mayor Bloomberg Updates New Yorkers On City Preparations for Hurricane Irene and Steps New Yorkers Should Take to Prepare Thursday, August 25, 2011 Watch the video in low or high bandwidth Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder Visit NYC Severe Weather site Download the hurricane guide   Hurricane Irene Approaches East Coast The NYC Office [...]Full Story »

Manhattan Earthquake? I missed it!

Filed under Best of 2011, General by Scott Rubin on August 23, 2011 at 1:29 pm {no comments}

I’ve lived in NY for my entire life and have never experienced an earthquake before! Of course when today’s earthquake happened, I was underground in the subway and missed the entire thing! So I guess I will just be blogging about how I missed the 2011 earthquake in Manhattan! Everyone is talking about it and [...]Full Story »

Curb Your Enthusiasm Band in Soho!

Filed under Best of 2011, Music, Videos by Scott Rubin on July 9, 2011 at 1:57 pm {no comments}

I caught this in Soho at Broadway and Prince St, on my way to meet my client for a lease signing. I can’t wait for the Curb Your Enthusiasm premiere tomorrow night!Full Story »

Gay Marriage Approved in New York!

Filed under Best of 2011, Manhattan Insider by Scott Rubin on June 24, 2011 at 8:49 pm {no comments}

And just in time for Pride Week! Late this evening the vote passed 33 – 29… that’s pretty close! But enough outta me. Here’s the NYT article: New York Times – Gay Marriage Approved by New York SenateFull Story »

NYC Restaurant Grading System

Filed under Best of 2011, Food, Manhattan Insider by Scott Rubin on April 28, 2011 at 11:13 am {no comments}

In case you didn’t notice, there have been large, white signs with letter grades displayed in the windows of food establishments across the city for the past 10 months or so. I have known about this for some time, but I realized as of late that unless I happen to see it when I walk [...]Full Story »

As “transcribed” by Google Voice

Filed under Best of 2011, Just for Fun by Scott Rubin on April 11, 2011 at 11:19 am {no comments}

Hey sexy blessing calling you again. I just wanted to see if you can. I really just want to tell you that you can call me back anytime soon and I have been departments on this website.   Hi Scott, This is crazy. 50 junior is Realty….  I don’t want to. A intrude into bed [...]Full Story »

Renting in a Low Vacancy Market

Filed under Best of 2011, Rental Insider by Scott Rubin on March 14, 2011 at 12:37 pm {no comments}

The vacancy rate for rentals in Manhattan is extremely low right now. I’m not one to quote numbers as I’ve been in the business for years and I’m in tune with the market enough that I can feel how low the vacancy rate really is. Definitely below 1%, for those of you who need to [...]Full Story »

Thank You MTA!

Filed under Best of 2011, Just for Fun, Photos by Scott Rubin on March 2, 2011 at 4:04 pm {4 comments}

Thank you so much, MTA for hanging this informational poster in the E train. For the entire day today, I was considering train-surfing on my way home. At 6:30pm I would leave my office, wait for the next F or M train at Broadway Lafayette, grab on to the frame around the doors, and see [...]Full Story »

Working with a Broker & Paying a Fee

Filed under Best of 2011, Rental Insider by Scott Rubin on February 2, 2011 at 4:45 pm {no comments}

Nobody wants to pay a fee!! That much is obvious. But in a “Landlord’s Market” it is inevitable in most circumstances. Let’s go over the difficulties of trying to find an apartment on your own, what a “No-Fee Apartment” actually means, and how working with a broker from beginning to end can be easily justified. [...]Full Story »

Insider: Renting in the Winter

Filed under Best of 2011, Rental Insider, Videos by Scott Rubin on January 21, 2011 at 12:28 pm {no comments}

Tips for renting an apartment in the Winter! January/February to be more specific. Filmed after a nice snowfall in West Chelsea.Full Story »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI2RhfhO7vA

This was an interesting sight. A blind man singing with a microphone, a dog, and signs all over himself. First odd thing I noticed was that the dog had a harness as if it was a seeing-eye-dog, but the dog was following him! This leads me to believe he is partially blind. He actually plugs a website at the end of the video which is written on his sign (innersight.info) which is a non-profit that advocates assistance for the disabled. So I guess I just plugged it too! Check it out. You can watch a video of a woman in a walker getting hit by a car like 10 times! You’ll see.

Maybe some of you have seen the public art display of street lights covered in bright, neon twist ties?

I was just handed the below flier to attend the “Flaming Cactus Lighting” at Urban Plaza at Spring St between 6th and Varick tonight from 5:30-7:30. It was a little late notice, so I doubt I’ll make it. See the photos I uploaded of the flier for details.

REI Just opened its doors in Soho’s Puck Building. I checked it out today and took a few iPhone shots. I have friends in other states that frequent this store for all their outdoor clothing and gear needs. I’ve never actually heard of them until recently, even though their sign says “since 1938.” Funny how some of these large stores take so long to enter NYC.
The store is very nice on the inside, but of course looks aren’t everything. Once I need to purchase something, I’ll give it a serious try and see how it stands up against Paragon, EMS, and some of the other regulars. Welcome to Soho!