(Word count = 905 words plus 61 words for About the Author)

If you are about to rent an apartment, I suggest developing two separate lists of considerations, one a list of general steps and the second a list of unique factors.   The steps on the general list should include (a) checking out the area and the building for location, safety, convenience, utilities, repairs, management, superintendent, noise, pets, etc. and (b) checking out your apartment for size, layout, appliances, condition, access to elevator and laundry, windows and lighting, etc.  The list of unique factors includes things more difficult to quantify, such as special characteristics of the space and your feelings about the people. Of course, the rental amount, the lease terms, the deposit, subletting clauses and all of that is very important, but in my opinion what it all comes down to is "people."  Not just the managing agent and superintendent but the people who live in the building who will be your close neighbors. 

For us the process took less than 2 weeks.   My wife, Lorrie, and I decided it was time for our daughter Kelly, who just turned 23 years old, to get her own apartment, culminating months of discussion but triggered by an event.   Kelly agreed.   She and I checked out several prospects listed in the local newspapers and on the craigslist.com internet website, and narrowed it down to an apartment in the Fleetwood section of Mt. Vernon, NY and one on Webster Avenue in New Rochelle, NY.   Both apartments were well-lit spacious one-bedroom units in charming prewar buildings.   Each had advantages, but the New Rochelle apartment was closer to my wife Lorrie and I (giving us more comfort), accessible to more buses reaching more places, and had an indescribable feeling of warmth and cheeriness.   We went with our instinct and the positive feelings we received from the managing agent, the superintendent and his wife, and a few of the people we met in the building and in the neighborhood.

On Tuesday, early evening we helped Kelly move into her new apartment. An old dear friend of mine who has helped me with several office moves of my own, was there, along with his helper, with me, my wife and my daughter transferring lots of Kelly's stuff from our New Rochelle home into her new apartment.   There were 31 large cartons of collections of vases, books, stuffed animals, clothes and various items accumulated over her 22 years.   The wall of boxes that at first was in front of my house, and then was on the walkway of her apartment, got me to think of the importance, perhaps over-importance, of stuff - belongings we treasure.   We all keep stuff to reconnect with our past and the underlying relationships and experiences.   Some of us hold onto more stuff than others.

As we brought stuff from the truck and trailer, down the walkway to the well-built prewar apartment building, we ran into many of the residents, who greeted us with pleasant smiles.   Several people engaged us in conversations, which went a long way in making Kelly, and us, quite comfortable about her moving away from us and into a new place.   As we dragged boxes and placed furniture into the elevator to go to the fourth floor, these new neighbors offered to hold the door, or skip their floor, or told about why they were so fond of the building and its residents and the area.   I was touched by their candor and friendliness.

After all the stuff was in, I decided to stay and help Kelly with some of the tasks like cleaning the windows and the refrigerator, assembling the bookcases and shelves, getting the bathroom ready for use and started to unpack boxes.   We took a break and she and I sat at her little kitchen table sharing a pizza and diet Pepsi and Snapple, poured into one of her long-stem collectible glasses, listening to the radio, and talking about events of the day.   The hours flew and I left at 3 am.

While bringing Kelly's stuff into her one-bedroom apartment and positioning some of the furniture and continuing into the early morning, I felt a calm feeling.   I was flooded with memories of my first apartment in Pelham that my wife and I had for a year when we married and before we bought our first home.   In that Pelham apartment (about the same size building with about 40 units as the one Kelly is now in), we met so many new friends, of all ages and occupations, including several newly married people our age.    Some of the those relationships have continued to this day, over 30 years later, including our close friend Matina, with whom I co-write songs.   I mused about how Kelly may be soon forming close friendships with her new neighbors, people whom she will share her life with.   Some to just exchange a hello in the hall and others to confide with over a cup of coffee personal matters.

I found I did not care about the warped door in the bathroom or the front door knob that was a little loose.   What was more important were the people behind the doors to the other apartments.   I believe that because of having lived and worked in several places, apartments and houses, and realizing it all comes down to people.   Kelly will realize that too as she makes her way into more independence, having now rented her first apartment.

About the author:

Frank Sisco is a CPA and Personal Financial Specialist and writes on topics related to life and money.   You can contact Frank by email at ideasmoney@aol.com or by phone at 914.740.4422 in order to express your opinion about this article or to obtain copies of prior articles.   He resides in New Rochelle, NY.