10 Big Mistakes to Avoid When Moving to NYC

Hi guys, in today’s video, we will talk about NYC and the most common mistakes to avoid when moving to NYC. New York is the most populated city in the US, with a population of over eight million residents. It is located in the south of New York state, the largest metropolitan area. Since it’s the home to the UN and an important center for international diplomacy, it’s often called the center of the world.

NYC consists of five boroughs, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. More than eight hundred languages are spoken here, making New York the most linguistically diverse city globally. Additionally, NYC is the place where the American Stock Exchange was born. The most popular attractions here include The Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square, The Empire State Building, and Broadway. New York is a truly unique city because of its culture, fabulous restaurants, film, art, and music scene, constantly growing job market, and place of infinite opportunities.

“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” is a famous saying referring to living in New York, so it’s no wonder people dream about moving here. If you decide to move to NYC, stay tuned because we’ll list the ten biggest mistakes to avoid while moving here in the following video.

1. Choosing the location

Before the moving date, you will need to decide which borough you want to live in. Most newcomers make the mistake of choosing Manhattan because they want to live thru the whole NYC experience, which is fine if you’re going to spend a pretty large amount of money. On the other hand, if you are on a tighter budget, we recommend avoiding Manhattan as it is the most expensive part of New York. Also, when you decide which borough you want to live in, keep an eye open for scams while renting, as they are pretty standard here.

For instance, shady agents might try to scam you by asking you to pay for things that previous renters already paid for.

2. Renting an apartment

If it’s your first time moving here, you’ll need to be extra careful if you want to avoid various complications related to renting an apartment in NYC. The most common complications while renting in New York include incomplete paperwork, insufficient funds, and missing time to find a roommate-friendly building. They usually happen when you try to rent an apartment in a rush.

So, before moving, make sure to take enough time to check if all the paperwork is there and if you have enough funds to move easily. In addition, those who plan to rent an apartment with a roommate should look for a roommate-friendly building before the moving date. Most people with no experience can easily be charged a broker fee, which is entirely avoidable if you choose to find an apartment yourself. All you need to do is check the websites for renting on an hourly basis. Also, keep an eye for cockroaches and mice, as these are pretty regular in NYC.

3. Location of your apartment

We recommend that you avoid living above a pub, bar, or restaurant even though it looks so cool in the movies. In reality, this can be your biggest nightmare because of the constant noise and smells. You won’t get any sleep if you make the mistake of living even close to noisy bars and all you can do is file noise complaints all the time. Try to find an apartment located in a quiet area, if it’s possible. Since most apartment renting contracts are long-term, avoid making this common and colossal mistake.

4. Waiting hours

New York is an extremely busy city, and its residents are often described as rude since they have no time to play nice. As the whole city is in a constant rush, waiting more than two hours for your favorite donuts is quite common. Keep in mind that there are many places where you can get brunch, coffee, or donuts, so there is no need for you to spend so much time waiting. Additionally, food is even better at places that won’t make you wait the whole day just to get served, and it is most likely you can spend this time doing more important tasks.

5. Packing and moving

One of the most common moving mistakes is thinking you have enough time to complete all the tasks, which is simply not the case in reality. Make sure to pack your belongings on time and put delicate and essential objects in a separate box. If possible, move the essential box first as it contains things you’ll need upon arrival, like your money, toothbrush, paperwork, and similar items. Also, don’t forget to rent a moving van and check a couple of times if it has enough space for all of your belongings. Try to avoid moving to NYC in winter, as they can get extremely bone-chilling. If it’s your first time driving here, we recommend hiring professional movers for the job.

6. Hire professional movers

As we’ve mentioned earlier, those who have no experience with moving here should consider hiring professionals. Make sure to hire movers that are accustomed to moving to New York and know the city well. For instance, if you are moving to Brooklyn, check out the company’s references thoroughly to be sure they know the area.

7. The difference between trains

There is a big difference between local and express trains, and it is pretty common for new residents to get onto the wrong one. To avoid getting on the wrong train, explore the routes before boarding.

8. Supermarket hot buffets

Never eat from hot buffets at numerous supermarkets since some people reach by their hand for meals and salads. Yikes! This is one of the most common mistakes to avoid when moving to NYC. We even don’t want to know how many germs and bacteria nest here, so your best bet is to stay away!

9. Get a MetroCard

Getting a monthly unlimited MetroCard will save you a ton of money unless your work is around the block, which is very unlikely. So, don’t think twice and get a MetroCard first thing when you move here.

10. Too many cabs

Don’t make the mistake of taking too many cabs when you move to New York, as you will be missing out on spending more time walking and getting to know the neighborhood. Besides, you’re throwing away your money instead of using the subway for much lower prices.

That’s it, guys! We hope you got some valuable information from this list of ten big mistakes to avoid while moving to NYC!