Renting a PO box and a storage unit can be a useful strategy for people on the hunt for the perfect NYC apartment. When they’re searching for an apartment, many people stay with friends or take short-term sublets. When you’re an apartment hunter living in flux, you may opt to take measures such as setting up a PO box to ensure you get all their mail and packages. Once you’ve found your “forever for now” home, you may choose to ditch many of these temporary arrangements — but even after you settle down into a more permanent space, you may want to continue to hold onto a PO box or a storage unit just because of the pure convenience they offer. Here are some things you can do (and undo) once you find and find your dream apartment.

PO Boxes: To Keep or Not to Keep?

When you don’t have an apartment yet, renting a PO box can be a real lifesaver when you’re in between apartments. PO box centers in New York are perfect for getting your regular mail, and many of them will also receive packages. Once renters find their new places, many people cut their ties with mailing centers, but you may still want to hold onto your PO box if you live in a building that doesn’t have a doorman. If that’s the case, try to choose a mailing center that’s close to your new apartment so that you can easily stop by whenever necessary.

Storage Units: Still a Necessary Expense?

Many newcomers to the big city take advantage of the many storage facilities that are available here. These storage units can hold all of your worldly possessions until you find a home. If you’ve been holding everything you own in storage, your first instinct once you secure your apartment will probably be to retrieve everything and set it up in your new place. And if you’ve got space galore in your new place, it makes sense to get rid of that superfluous storage unit. But if your new space is a little short on square footage, you may want to keep some things in storage so your apartment doesn’t end up feeling cluttered. If you choose to go this route, you might want to downsize from a large storage unit to a smaller one.

Renting Furniture: So Your Apartment Won’t Be Naked

Sometimes, the apartment-hunting process takes a lot less time than you think. And if you aren’t moving with furniture of your own, you may need a temporary solution. You could pick up some secondhand pieces in thrift stores or through online classifieds, but you may not want to deal with the hassle of finding used furniture, lugging it up to your apartment, and getting rid of it again when your new furniture finally arrives. In this situation, renting furniture can be a great alternative. NYC boasts several furniture leasing companies that rent out beautiful furniture to people for any number of reasons. They can deliver the furniture to your home, and they can pick it up when you’re done. Types of furniture rentals range from the truly affordable to the high end.

Image Source: Flickr/Daniel Hoherd

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