(PRWEB) February 7, 2006 -- New Yorkers are always interested in hearing which section of the city other people live in. This is one of the most common topics of discussion when meeting someone new in Manhattan. Assuming both people are Manhattan residents, this next rhetorical question will ensure there is no loss for words during this conversation. “How bad of an experience was it looking an apartment?” The answer to this question will most likely be, “It was the worst process ever”.
“ How bad of an experience was it looking an apartment? ”
After the two Founders of Skipbrokers.com have had these exact same conversations with numerous people, not only did they realize they were not alone, but there was something tremendously wrong with the process of finding an apartment in Manhattan. For years, New York apartment brokers have had all the leverage and know they can get away with charging 20% of the annual rent because New Yorkers don’t have many other options. The two Founders of Skipbrokers, LLC spent a great deal of time approaching the rental market in New York to uncover thousands of no broker fee apartments and recently launched
www.Skipbrokers.com.
In addition to compiling a list of no fee management companies owning hundreds of buildings, they also added their personal experiences dealing with each company and describe helpful tips on how to accelerate the apartment hunting process. Finally, the information brokers don’t want anyone to have is listed in the 2006 Manhattan Management Guide and can be downloaded at Skipbrokers.com for less than $20. In addition to Skipbrokers.com, Craigslist.org, a forum for locals to post listings for jobs, housing, companionship and dating, and additional community information, is also entertaining the idea of charging $10 for each apartment posted on their site hoping to decrease the number of misleading listings by some unethical agents and brokers. A common unethical tactic is called the “bait and switch”, where some brokers list attractive and cheap apartments in order to receive calls from prospects knowing the apartments they listed were never available in the first place. Tactics like these not only give hard working brokers a bad name, but are also leaving a bitter taste in New Yorker's mouths and are driving them to websites such as Skipbrokers.com with the hopes of avoiding brokers all together.
“I've heard so many New Yorkers complain about paying high broker fees to find an apartment because of having no other choice. Many people today still feel like the only way to find an apartment in Manhattan is through a broker”, said Paul Salamanca, Skipbrokers.com CEO. “We are quickly changing that type of mentality and look to have brokers lowering their fees knowing New Yorkers now have a quicker and cheaper option with the Manhattan Management Guide.”
Mark Konarski, President of Skipbrokers, LLC says “ One of the best part about downloading the Manhattan Management Guide is it stays updated even after New Yorkers purchase it”. Mark said, "We understand brokers provide value in this marketplace, but that doesn't mean they should have all the negotiating power and try to justify their above average fees. We are pleased to give New Yorkers other options, thousands of other no fee options to be exact."
