I'm exhausted, but almost done with phase I. After looking with a broker at an apartment on the UES that was a studio for $1250 and rent-controlled, I showed up today to sign the lease, after agreeing to the standard broker's fee (which will be paid from my money back from my current apartment).

Yeah, it's a standard lease, not rent-controlled. I walk out to the main room and start a small scene. Two hours of negotiation later, I have the apartment on a 2 year lease for $1,300 both years, and a required option to renew for a third year at rent-stabilized prices. I even out-brokered the broker, since at the end of it all, he mentioned that since the rent was higher, the broker fee should be higher. I said, "sure, let's keep negotiating." He let me go with the priorly agreed fee just to get it over and done with :).

Of course, now I'm exhausted between apartment hunting, working 10 hour days, the stress of uncertainty about my living situation, and everything else. Tonight I'll take it easy, tomorrow I'll complete my 10 hour day, leave a bit before 8 pm before the power goes out for the weekend, and then start packing on Saturday. Sunday I'm working again to catch up on the queue, and then, hopefully, I'll be ready to make the arrangements for movers and finalize this deal.

I've done well; I'm proud of myself, and now, for one night at least, I can rest.