client no. 1

Sunny.  Sweltering.  86 degrees.  My worst kind of weather.

I am meeting Sam, my first ever real estate client, to look at 7 apartments. Sam, 24, is the son of my very good friend M.  He is every mother's dream — kind, funny, decisive, smart, athletic and handsome. He knows what he wants; my big challenge is seeing if I can get him what he wants — a two bedroom apartment somewhere downtown for under $3600/mo.

Before meeting Sam, I stop in Soho to get some keys from a realtor. I am in front of the realtor’s building trying to decipher the complex entry system — find the name of the realty company, then its code, and then enter the code to enter. I’ve gotten as far as the company name when a guy in bell-bottom lycra and flip-flops comes by. "It’s open,” he says as he holds the door for me to enter.  “I teach yoga upstairs.  I have no idea why they have that elaborate system since the door is never locked.” I hope the rest of the day is more promising than its beginning.

The first apartment Sam and I see is in an ideal location.   The heart of Soho.  There are tenants still occupying the apartment and the place is a wreck.  Clothes strewn everywhere.  Dishes in the sink.  Even a sleeping body in one of the beds.  Given the location, it’s not horrible.  But the kitchen and closet-sized bathroom are disgusting.  Rust all over the ridiculously small bathroom sink, and the burners on the stove are covered with baked on grease.  M would not be happy if her son lived here.  I would not be happy if my son did.

From Soho we walk to the East Village.  The broker showing the apartment describes the building as a luxury walk-up.  And he’s not exaggerating.  It’s tastefully renovated.  Wide staircase. Impressive wall coverings.  And the apartments (we see two) have been gut-renovated with high-end fixtures and appliances. Oversized windows.  Beautiful wood floors. Very bright.  It’s a great apartment, great location, great building and fairly priced.  Both Sam and I love it, and I know M will too.

We walk about 15 blocks north and look at two more apartments.  Both are acceptable, but we like the ambiance of the East Village one, and decide to stop looking.

It's a successful day.  Sam is great to work with.  The apartment we found is really nice (though small).  And everyone is happy.