Getting on a Lease when you're, well, under qualified.

Growth Hacking is all about iteration and using metrics to improve a product or resonate with an audience. This mentality is all about figuring out what matters to your target customer and then communicating this in a way that leads to conversions.

The apartment hunt in NYC, especially if you're on a budget, can be incredibly trying. That is, until you think of it as a marketing challenge. Your goal is to appeal to the real estate agent and give them a compelling case to take back to the landlord. This can be tricky if you're not a trust-fund baby and can't find a guarantor, but it's absolutely possible. Here's how I, a 21 year old unemployed entrepreneur signed a lease in Fort Greene without a guarantor.

1.) Get to brokers before they have a place on the market.

It's an annoying task for your agent/ real estate broker to take photos of a location, upload them, format them, schedule meetings and the whole works. The best way to make it easy for an agent to push forward your application is to find them in a situation when it would be annoying not to advocate for you. To do this, find an agent that represents an area you like. Call them and ask if they have anything not yet listed that's within your budget. If anything sounds fitting, head to the showing and be prepared to commit on the spot. This leads to number 2.

2.) Be prepared to commit.

People like confidence. It's a great indicator to an agent that you can reliably pay bills, take care of the apartment and handle any unexpected situations. Nothing shows confidence like arriving at a meeting with work records printed out, checkbook in hand, and references already written and prepared. Handing them over in a folder is a great way to show professionalism and confidence.

3.)Look for familial relationships between brokers and landlords.

Almost every real estate agent will run a credit check, but some won't require a guarantor.Avoiding needing a guarantor is the best way to get in on an apartment that you can afford even though you don't make 40x the monthly rent. This laisse faire attitude tends to be more prevalent If an agent works for themselves, or a small firm where they can create their own rules. If the agent has been representing a building for years, they may go off gut feeling for renting. This means, make sure to arrive looking presentable, friendly and well-rested.

Overall, whenever you're on the real estate hunt, it's best to get the agent on your side. Take a growth hacker's mentality here to understand what the agent needs to feel confident in moving you forward with whatever space suits your fancy and you'll be signing on the dotted line in no time.

Need more advice on the urban apartment hunt? Visit us at www.base60apartments.com or email us at concierge@base-60.com for free help!