New Startup Seeks to Serve NYC Movers Who Wish to Avoid Brokers’ Fees

Two former Google employees have joined forces to help New Yorkers find apartments without having to pay pricey brokers fees. Typical brokers’ fees average 15% of an entire years’ rent, which means that securing a one bedroom could cost you more than 6 grand in fees. This single factor influences many people’s ability to move, especially considering the fact that most older Millennials have less than $1,000 in savings at any given time.

The startup is known as Joinery. It connects apartment hunters with tenants who are moving out; apartment seekers view listings, schedule viewings with the soon to be previous tenants, and move in without ever needing a brokers’ services. Costs for Joinery include up to half a month’s rent paid to the previous tenant and a 20% one-time commission.

We’re not associated with Joinery in any way. If you want to explore their services, proceed with caution and do your due diligence. We’re sharing the information because we know many of our clients are NYC movers who want to save money. Joinery appears to be a more formal iteration of what many New Yorkers already accomplish via word of mouth, workplace gossip or social media.

Whether you’re planning a neighborhood move or are moving a long distance, it’s important to make the most of your budget. Saving tips we can recommend with absolute confidence include strategically sourcing gently used moving and wardrobe boxes, rather than buying new; taking advantage of DIY scheduling to book your move during the most affordable periods (mid-month and mid-week); downsizing to move only the items you want to continue to own; and doing the packing yourself. Be aware that you can save on storage for long distance moves by choosing Shleppers – one month short term storage is complimentary!