NEW YORK LIVING AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
by Adrivel Ruiz of Sovereign Associates.
Every semester, we get a number of international clients. Those clients come from different countries and cultures. Places where the rental process might look very different from our city.
Most of our international clientele are students; they might be very well versed in New York living and the rental process through experiences shared by friends and relatives living in the U.S. Others might need to be made aware of all the details and find the process quite overwhelming. This is when it is essential as a broker to articulate the detailed process step by step in the simplest way possible, from the application process to the lease signing and the receipt of the keys to your new home.
One of the things I've learned when working with international clients is how important it is to manage expectations.
Because of the cultural gap and knowledge of New York living, some clients might present a list of must-haves that might not be feasible.
One of the best things to do is to be direct and transparent with the clients. Explaining the current conditions of the market and providing them with different sources to search further will help your client to reconcile what you are advising, with what they expect, and what the actual market offers.
Making things as easy and stress-free as possible for the clients is a must. Many clients might be leaving their homes for the first time and moving to another country, an exciting experience that can also lead to significant anxiety. Choosing a professional broker who helps their clients navigate the process in the most transparent and predictable way is one of the best investments a newbie to NYC could make for themself.
