Are you a property owner that wants to sell their condo, investment property or needs to rent an apartment or retail space in New York City? Call or text me: Sam Moritz, licensed real estate agent, 203–209–3640.
Do you know a property owner that might need real estate help? Refer me! I provide great and professional real estate services across all five boroughs.
I’ll say this first: the flooding that’s happened a few times in NYC lately is life-threatening. This is an article about renting and selling apartments, but I understand that the dangers of the rain extend way beyond the NYC real estate industry and hope everyone is safe during these scary moments.
Long story short: keep outdoor drains clear!
The scary flooding which happened in NYC last Friday brought back memories of similar damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021.
I remember the night that Ida struck well – I was out at dinner with a friend in the West Village, when our waiter asked us to wrap up right away, leaving the check at our table without us asking for it. A major flash flood warning was suddenly in effect, and it was important that we left and went home, right away.
Once I exited the L train in Bushwick at Dekalb avenue, it was clear that the situation was very serious. When I tried to cross Knickerbocker avenue, a main drag in the neighborhood, to get to my apartment, I was met with a knee-length amount of water.
Knickerbocker avenue, September 2021
I made it home safely, but the devastation was clear.
Since then, there has been some apprehension from people who are considering renting garden level apartments, which are on the first floor of building and sometimes located just slightly below the sidewalk.
Before Ida, in 2021, there was never any hesitation from prospective renters or buyers when considering these first-floor apartments. They have some advantages: there are no stairs walking up to get to them, so less schlepping required, and many have private backyards, which is a major selling point.
Today, when I list a garden-level apartment, I regularly hear questions from interested parties about the potential for flooding in the apartment. These questions were never asked before the storm in 2021.
If you’re the owner of a garden-level apartment, it’s best to make sure there is proper draining for the apartment, that it works, and that you keep the drain clear consistently, or tell the tenants to monitor the drain. I’ve seen drains in backyards become covered with dirt and debris, which don’t allow water to drain properly.
In the end, though, every apartment rents, eventually, in NYC, but these apartments may get a price a little less than you’re thinking, because of the fear that they can flood.
Still, recently, I rented a very nice, and large, garden-level apartment in Bushwick, for $2950, a solid price. But if you’re the owner of one of these apartments, it’s important to understand the apprehension some renters have about them.
Are you a property owner that wants to sell their condo, investment property or needs to rent an apartment or retail space in New York City? Call or text me: Sam Moritz, licensed real estate agent, 203–209–3640.
Do you know a property owner that might need real estate help? Refer me! I provide great and professional real estate services across all five boroughs.