No, Hill is not a fairy-tale princess with a magic wand, although she does seem to perform miracles for her clients from time to time. She does, however, have a very unique set of skills. LIC Courier Magazine recently had the pleasure of chatting with Ms. Hill at the bustling Starbucks, located on 31st street and Astoria Boulevard. “I really get what newcomers to the city are going through.” said Hill, over an iced coffee. “ Looking for an apartment can be more than a little intimidating, even if you grew up in the city. The process is much worse if you are moving here from out of state or, say, the Hudson Valley.” A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Hill recalled the horrors of her own move to Queens a few years ago. “I received a last minute job offer at a mid-town real estate firm. In order to keep the job offer on the table, I had literally only a few days to move from my family’s home upstate to Queens. I never, ever want to go through that again. But, it made me a stronger person.” Unlike traditional brokers who are focused mostly on getting a commission and “ closing the deal,” Hill gently guides her clients through what can be a difficult transitional moment in their lives. Hill will give you savvy tips on city living and walk you through various neighborhoods to see what feels right for you. Hill makes the whole process of finding an apartment or roommate less challenging and a lot more fun. Hill will help to ease you into the New York lifestyle, as well. A proud daughter of Rochester, New York, Hill was always very entrepreneurial. ”I always had an interest in a career that combined my love of architecture and homes with my passion for people,” she said. “Everyone should have a special place that they can call their own.” While attending high school in Rochester, Hill worked part-time for a local real estate developer. “ I couldn’t get enough of it “ Hill said. “I knew, right then that real estate was destined to play a big part in my life.” While attending the University of Massachusetts, Hill did an internship with a prominent realtor. The next step in Hill’s life journey was in jolly olde England. Hill lived in London for awhile while she worked with the city’s planning and development board. Once she was back in the states, Hill went through what most of us do when looking for a place to live. Endless false leads on Craigslist, meeting “strange mates“ who you‘d never want as a roommate and landlords who demanded perfect credit led Hill to think, “there has got to be a better way to do this.” It turns out, there is, thanks to Hill and Perfect Strangers of NYC. In her spare time, Hill started to blog about the hits and misses of finding an apartment in New York. Her candor and insight was refreshing. Men and women all over the city began to respond to Hill’s blog and they loved the sense of humor she brought to the table. Eventually, Perfect Strangers of NYC was born and looking for a roommate or apartment would never be the same again. “I am available to my clients just about 24/7. I want to make sure that every question that the client may have is answered,” she said. “When performing introductions to potential roommates, everyone has to feel comfortable and be on the same page. If you have a doubt about a room mate who you just met, no problem, we will keep looking.” Hill’s clients are as diverse as New York City. She has found roommates and apartments for grad students, young physicians doing their first internship, servers and bartenders as well as artists and actors. Other clients have included a successful fashionista and hand bag designer from Saudi Arabia as well as the daughter of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. Among the services that Hill offers are helping clients to create a budget that fits your finances and a day-by-day plan to get you ready for moving day. She also offers neighborhood tours, temporary housing and sublets. Hill can also provide you with reliable U-haul drivers, refer you to an interior designer and get you some really great deals if you need to purchase furniture. Hill will also give you a heads up on the best restaurants and coffee bars, as well as the closest banks, organic health food stores, laundry mats and supermarkets in your new neighborhood. There is no detail that is too small for Perfect Strangers of NYC. Hill has lived in Astoria for seven years and, one day, hopefully plans to raise a family here. A resident of Ditmars, some of Hill’s favorite places are Alba’s Pizza , The Bonnie and New York Bagel and Coffee House on 23rd avenue. You can contact Hill at (585)-474-5836 and sarah@psofnyc.com.
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