Often people resort to the classified ads or other listings to find apartments and houses for rent. Don't be a fool! In New York, in particular, advertisers will make rat- infested closets sound like the penthouse of Trump Tower Learn to see through the garbage in the advertisements so you don't waste time looking at apartments that should bulldozed rather than inhabited. The advertisers should all write novels, since they're clearly so talented at writing fiction. Pay attention to words like funky" and "charming," which you can translate as "unlivable" and "run-down." Ads that brag "newly renovated" usually mean that the landlord has simply slapped new knobs on the bathroom cabinets. Other phrases that should make you nervous in- clude "old-world appeal" (read: "dilapidated"), "cozy (read: "tiny"), and "freshly painted" (read: "There's noth- ing good to say about the apartment except that it has a fresh coat of paint"). Anything that sounds too good to be true is-especially when it comes to apartments. Also, pay attention to the information that's not provide.If there's no apartment number given, you can bet it's on the fhrst floor (where it's never good to live because of crime and noise), and if there's no square footage pro- vided, it's too embarrassing for the advertiser to mm Also, if there's no photograph, beware.
Even the worst apartments can be made to look palatial on film, so vou should be doubly suspicious if a photograph is missing when other apartments in the ad include one. Houses, apartments, and offices need to be touched and seen before you rent or buy them. Classified ads and list- ings can point you in the right direction, but it's your responsibility to thoroughly investigate any property you may be considering.
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