Move to NYC

Originally I wanted to go to college in the UK, but now that I decided on fashion school and I’m finishing up my 2nd year it definitely makes more sense to work my way through the industry. Baby steps. My school has a program to study abroad for a semester in NYC, but the price range was insane; I’d have to get a private loan for an additional 5 grand [this is in addition to the 10-15 grand I already take out in student loans]. Not gonna happen. If I’ve learned nothing else from Suze Orman it’s to never take out a private loan. Anywho, I’ve always wanted to do comedy and writing too so NYC is the obvious place to try it all. I have a couple best friends of mine that also want to go to NYC and I figured what better way to fall on my face than taking two like minded individuals, lol. We did the usual route of checking prices for apartments, but in the back of my head I knew my mom would NEVER let me just up and live in an apartment with some random landlord in an unfamiliar city. So, I recently found the fact that you can live in the NYU dorms during the summer via an application process. Now, me and my friends have to just keep those grades and volunteer hours up and we’ll be living the dream for 5 grand each. Not that expensive when you count in the fact that we’re all old enough to substitute teach and I have an on campus job during the year. Yay! Plus I can always get a crappy bartending job in the city for some extra spending money. Housing is only 2200-3300 and I basically already have that at this point. Yay!!

My keys arrived today!

• All of the furniture I don’t need has been sold.
• Everything but my computer equipment, my craft bag, a short stack of magazines/novels/sudoku puzzles, clothes/toiletries for the next 13 days, my coat, and the cats has been packed and is in the storage facility, awaiting the movers.
• The car is prepped and ready for sign over on the 23rd.

Now I just have to do the last minute things: change of address with the USPS, cancel local accounts (dry cleaning, library card, cafe club), and plan the last round of visits to the people and places I’m leaving behind.

With Moving Day just three weeks away, it’s time to get rid of what I’m not bringing. Over the last week, I measured furniture and sketched out floorplans of each room to see what would fit in the apartment.

Items I couldn’t use or didn’t need were compiled into a list and first offered to friends and family (my sister took a fabulous cherry end table and a lamp; my parents nabbed the HEPA-filter vacuum). I’ve just now listed the four pieces they didn’t want on Craigslist—already have a buyer for the Baker’s Rack and the Sofa Table, waiting to see on the microwave and the other end table. (They’ll be delivered to Good Will on the 21st if they aren’t purchased by then.)

Later tonight, I’ll begin packing clothes.

... is moving day.

The next big task is selling my car. I have a buyer, thankfully, so the hardest part is conceivably done.

1. Call DMV and get the official scoop on what forms are required, who needs to sign them, and who needs to witness the signings. (i.e. Do both buyer and seller need to be present at DMV during business hours, or can we handle the transaction and then just file the paperwork?)
2. Keep appointment at Credit Union; pay off loan (yay, debt diminished by another $3000), request Title Document that indicates the property is lien-free. Completed 03.04.09, Lien-release document received.
3. Clean vehicle inside and out
4. Sort through paperwork to pass to new owner, completed 02.28.09
5. 03.23.09 = turn in plates and registration
6. 03.23.09 = fax green slip to Insurance Agent, cancel policy
7. 03.27.09 = file transfer-of-ownership documents, collect payment, turn over paperwork and keys to Brandon

Whew.

according to my countdown calendar. If you look at the entry below this one, my massive list of “To-Dos” has shrunk to three!

I found an apartment in Fort Greene on my trip Saturday, and am going back to the city on Friday to sign the lease, turn over an astronomical sum of money, gather parking permits for my movers, take room measurements, and take photos.

I’ve got the lease on March 1, but as my office won’t be ready until the 24th, moving day is slated for the 29th. HURRAH!

And now I’m getting very nervous. There’s just so damn much to do, and it’s crunch time.

• Compile my rental history (addresses, landlord contact info, dates lived, rent paid) (completed 01.21.09)
• Arrange for reference letters from last two landlords (requested via phone and email on 01.21.09)
• Arrange 3 professional letters of recommendation
• Arrange 3 personal letters of recommendation (confirmed on 01.23.09)
• Request, Receive, and annotate a copy of my credit report
• File 2008 Taxes (completed on 01.21.09)
• Compile 2 years of W-2 statements and 3 most recent paystubs
• Request employment and salary verification documents
• Arrange travelers’ checks and/or money orders with the bank

• Conclude all financial steps
• Continue building network of leasing agents/landlords
• Build 3-day house-hunting itinerary (verify whether or not friends can accompany me on any part thereof)
• Buy and annotate pocket-map of Brooklyn (ordered on 01.21.09)
• Arrange transportation/finalize travel plans for house-hunting trip
• Find apartment
• Sign lease
• Collect keys
• Move in

If I weren’t such a control freak, this might be simpler.

Found a few apartments in Manhattan (midtown) through craigslist:

1. – 1 bedroom in a 4-bedroom apartment. Pros – Great location Cons – 1 shared bathroom with 4 guys (resembled a frat house bathroom), and the room was right across from the TV room (read: noise!)

2. – 1 bedroom in a 2 bedroom apartment. 1 guy lives in the living room (he’s a photographer who just moved here from Korea), and the other room is taken by a student from Korea. Not the best location though.

3. – Studio apartment. Great location – no kitchen though. This is my #1 choice so far. Rent is $1000/month inclusive of utilities, cable, internt, washer/dryer. There is also a backyard (thats a big plus being in Manhattan).

I’d go for #3, but my job requires me to stay in Arizona till March/April, so I’ll only move in after that.

I have a NYC bank account (PNC Virtual Wallet is tremendously cool), a leasing agent (from Halstead), movers (my uncle’s company), and a hard date when my new office will be ready (March 24, 2009).

Wahoo!

It’s been 5 days since I decided to move to NYC. My buddy lives in Queens, and wants me to join him over there – I think I’ll be happier if I lived in the middle of all the action (read: Manhattan midtown/downtown). I’m going to start saving up for an apartment, sell the car, and move by April hopefully.

Oh btw, I live in Massachusetts if you’re wondering.

NYC just calls to me!