Combining apartments is something that a lot of people consider while living in New York. Combing apartments can be a viable option for people that are starting a family or need more space, but love their building and location. A lot of people are willing to combine apartments, but are not sure how to go about it properly, we are going to take a closer look at some tips on what to consider when combining apartments.
Before combining apartments in NYC
The most important thing to remember about combining apartments in NYC is that it is all about preparations. If you do your research, prepare properly and find the right people to help you, you are bound to combine your apartments with relative ease. So, trust us when we tell you that there is no such thing as being too prepared for combining apartments.
This holds true for understanding permits and approvals needed by your building, contracts, as well as Brokers - hiring an agent that knows your building in and out is crucial as they are likely familiar with building rules, unit floor plans, and have dealt with a unit combination in the past.
Combining apartments vs getting a larger apartment
Even though we will go over various aspects of combining apartments in NYC, we would still like to remind you that moving into a larger apartment can sometimes be a good idea. As you will soon learn, not all apartments can be properly combined, even if they are adjacent to one another. The structure of your building, the placement of plumbing and electricity and the available space... All of them dictate whether combining apartments is actually a viable option. So, if it is obvious that you need to move out of your old home into a larger one, don't try to combine what cannot be combined, even with top contractors by your side ensure that combining units is best for your individual needs.
Proper planning
If you are sure that combing your apartments is the way to go, you need to sit down and plan. If the apartments you want to combine are on the same level, you shouldn't have much trouble combining them. Simply figure out a way to have easy access between them. The only thing to keep in mind is that NYC law doesn't allow an apartment to have more than one kitchen. So, make sure that you convert a kitchen before you officially combine your apartments.
In order to tackle combining apartments in NYC, you will need to deal with a fair bit of planning.
If, on the other hand, you are combing apartments where one is above the other, you will need to deal with a bit more planning. Keep in mind that staircases require a lot of room. Not to mention the plumbing and the electricity that can run through the floor that you might need to remodel. So, hire someone competent and plan carefully before you vertically combine apartments.
Necessary permits
When it comes to both dealing with and renting apartments, NYC is heavily regulated. This means that if you plan on combining your apartments you will need to take care of copious legal paperwork and abide by numerous codes. Now, even with the help of resources from NYC, you still might struggle with keeping everything in line. This is why it is often a good idea to hire an expediter to make the process more streamlined. All in all, we advise you to start tackling the legal aspect of combining apartments in New York as soon as possible.
The sooner you start tackling legal paperwork, the better.
How to go about combing apartments
Now, if you carefully considered your situation, planed out your apartment properly and have acquired the necessary paperwork, you are ready to combine your apartments. As you might guess, there are tips that can make this process easier, even with proper preparations.
Hiring the right people to help you
It is hard to overstate the importance of having the right contractors helping you out with combing apartments. Even if it is a simple project, you really want someone experienced at your side. Subpar contractors can make small mistakes that can end up costing you a lot more to fix later on. So, if you want to ensure that your apartments get combined properly, hire someone whom you can trust. W.e are happy to make recommendations.
Make sure to spend enough time looking before you settle on a contractor.
The best place to look for contractors is through a trusted source - testimonials and referrals. Testimonials from your neighbors are a good way to find contractors. After all, they are bound to work in your area. Plus, you have access to first-hand testimonials, which are always welcome. But, even if you get recommendations, don't neglect to look online. Not only can you check out the recommended contractors, but you can also look for the ones with more experience or better rates. So, do yourself a favor and do plenty of online research before you settle on a contractor.
Preparing your current apartment for combining
Another thing that you will have to tackle is preparing your current apartment for combining. The best course of action is to clear out the entire room where you plan on adding the door. You can either place your items into storage with companies like Movage Moving NYC, or better yet, into your new apartment. But, whatever the case, try to avoid cluttering up your current living space too much. It will not only stress you out, but it can also make combining the apartments needlessly difficult.
Moving to a nearby place
Even though combining apartments in NYC may seem simple, it is often far from so. This is why you should plan so that your contractors have enough time and room to tackle it properly. If necessary, you can temporarily rent a nearby place in order to give your contractors the necessary freedom to tackle combining properly. That way you'll be able to live a normal life and check-up on your apartment regularly to see how the work is going.