If you’re looking to rent an apartment in the uptown New York area, you’re going to want to have a strategy. Here’s some advice to keep in mind as you embark on your search.

Figure Out Your Priorities

Your first step in the uptown apartment hunt should be to determine what your must-haves are.

Do you need an elevator building, or would you be comfortable with a walk-up? Uptown New York has many beautiful, quiet side streets with charming walk-up buildings.

Are you looking for a more populated area, or something in a quieter neighborhood? Uptown is a mix of both. On the east side, the subway is on Lexington Avenue, so the further east you go (toward York and East End Avenues), the quieter and less crowded it becomes. Conversely, the closer you are to any subway stop, the more businesses you’ll find nearby.

When thinking about a long-term rental uptown, here’s something to bear in mind: The city is currently in the process of building a subway uptown on Second Avenue, which means that there will be major construction activity going on in the years ahead. Upon its completion, subway travel will be much more convenient for East Siders, as per the MTA.

Use Your Network

Another good strategy for renting an apartment in uptown New York is to ask around, because some great rentals never make it to the web. If you ask friends, they may also be able to vouch for a certain building or landlord. Word of mouth is often the way to find a great deal. Brokers can be helpful as well. If you do decide to use a broker, contact the person well in advance, but be ready to move quickly. When you find the right rental, there’s often a great deal of competition, so you have to be ready to pounce.

See For Yourself

Another thing that can help is to simply hit the pavement. Walk around and look for signs on buildings. This is also a great way to get a sense of the vibe of each location, so you can start to get a feel for the area to which you might move. This could be the most enjoyable part of your search — strolling around uptown is a great way to spend a day.

As you explore, you’ll learn that renting uptown puts you close to both Central Park and the quieter Carl Schurz Park, with its gorgeous views of the East River. The Upper East Side is full of wonderful little shops and cafes, as well as great restaurants. Museums include the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim on the east side, and the Museum of Natural History on the west side.

There’s no shortage of wonderful things to do uptown, and getting to know the area can transform the apartment search from daunting task to fun activity.

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