New York City is one of the most sought areas to live. Housing and apartment rental is hard to find or come by, especially in the most desirable areas. In addition, many people decide to rent in the city before they proceed to buy a home. Many people come from out of state and want to have a taste of the city before committing to a home mortgage. However, rents in NYC are not cheap, and many people struggle to be able to afford living in the Big Apple. If you want to be part of this magnificent city, you can try to rent your place and try it out before buying a home in NY. Here are a few useful tips to try to save money on rent in New York.

Negotiate - The first and most important thing to do is to try to negotiate your rent. Although many people want to rent here, landlords also compete with each other. Landlords want to keep good tenants so the first tip in negotiating with your landlord is to become the best tenant she/he has. Pay your rent on time, be clean, and keep up your apartment. In addition, don't make noise and be friendly. All this will help you negotiate when it is time to renew your lease.

Timing - Contact your landlord at least a month before your lease is due to start your negotiation. It can take weeks for you to get what you want. If you are a good tenant, she/he will not want to lose you.

Research the rents in the area so you have a good idea of what they are. This is a good tool for negotiations. Visit a few apartments so you have a frame of reference and know the features of other places with comparable rent.

If possible, negotiate in your apartment and show your landlord how great you have the place made up. Your apartment should be spotless, organized and tastefully decorated so you can make a good impression.

Options - Negotiation does not always mean a lower rent. You can negotiate with your landlord for other things such as another apartment with a better view or features that are available in the same area or building for the same amount of rent. You can also negotiate for a longer lease if the lease is lowered per year. You can negotiate for a new refrigerator, stove, or something else, like a free month of rent, for a longer lease. You can offer to do some painting or fixing for a few months rent-free. Find out different ways to negotiate for your benefit and do it in a respectful, friendly, and firm manner.

If your landlord does not want to negotiate you can always explore the possibility of moving out, try again next year, or see if you can share the place with a friend - however, make sure that you are not breaking your lease agreement by doing that. One of the most important tools when negotiating with your landlord is to show her/him how valuable of a tenant you are.