Congratulations. You’ve had your co-op application scrutinized by a broker, repackaged by the managing agent, reviewed by the board, and have finally been asked in for an interview.  You are 75% of the way home. Most boards won’t waste their time (or yours) with an interview, if they, or the managing agent, didn’t like what they saw in your application.  But let’s not start slapping each other’s backs quite yet; approval is now yours to lose.

There are a number of Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to the co-op interview, but there are three (3) that you absolutely have to commit to memory and I’ve trademarked a new acronym to help you remember them:  NRA (oddly, RNA and NAR were both taken).

Never Ask Questions

Review your application

Arrive on Time

1. Never Ask Questions. This is the suggestion I get the most pushback about, but ignore it at your own peril.  I may be paraphrasing a bit here, but this is how some of my clients have responded: “What do you mean, Jim? We have a lot of questions for the board. We want to know when the co-op is going to replace the building’s windows. When will the exercise room be completed? When is the maintenance going up? Are there any assessments? When will we be able to start our gut renovation?”

No, no, no.

The purpose of this meeting is to decide whether you are going to become a member of this co-op, a neighbor of the people sitting in the room with you. They ask the questions. You answer them. Coffee is for closers, diamonds are forever, politicians are for sale, and questions are for shareholders. You may ask questions once you are a shareholder. Let me also say, that the co-op interview is not the time to be deciding if you want to purchase the apartment. That ship sailed at the end of the due diligence phase. If you have questions because you think you may have been misled, because you didn’t look over all the meeting minutes, because you didn’t read your contract before signing it, or haven’t reviewed the co-op’s financial statements, then have a conversation with your attorney.  If you have general questions about the co-op or your apartment, you should ask them before you sign a contract or direct those questions to a third party – the managing agent, your lawyer, or your broker.

Remember, you are being evaluated, so when you ask questions (even ones you think are insightful and show how thoughtful you are), you run the risk of raising a red flag (Troublemaker! Usurper! One-Who-Doesn’t-Follow-Directions!), even if that is not what you meant to do.  So answer their questions accurately, politely, and don’t ask any yourself.

2. Review Your Application. You should be familiar with your application, so at the very least read it again before your interview. You will be expected to answer questions about it quickly and accurately.  Also, bring a copy with you.

Another reason to review your application is for accuracy. Always be honest and accurate with your answers. Don’t try to impress anyone and never exaggerate. You have been asked in for an interview. This is great. It indicates that on paper, you are liked.  Relax and answer everything honestly.

Lastly, couples should decide who is fielding which questions. For example, one partner may be assigned to answer financial questions, while the other fields the rest.  Avoid discussing answers with your partner during the board interview and be sure that whoever is charged with answering questions about information in the application has reviewed the application.

3. Arrive on Time. Enough said.

Here are a few more helpful tips.

• Just the Facts, Please. Don’t volunteer additional information about yourself and don’t show off.  Specifically, it’s best not to identify Twisted Sister as your favorite band, you don’t play half-court ball in the kitchen, you are not suing your last co-op (assuming you’re not), you have no plans to host a casino night once a week, and if you see any Yankee hats in the room, you are not to bring up the Mets.

• Privacy. Be prepared to answer personal questions without being angered or upset, or at the very least, without indicating that you are angered or upset. The board has a lot of leeway as to what type of questions they can ask you. Answer their questions honestly and do not avoid answers to personal queries. Note, however, that boards are prevented by law from asking questions of a discriminating nature. But questions concerning money, assets, income, smoking, drug use, job history, landlord history, criminal history, etc. are fair game.

• Dress Well. Treat the interview as you would a job interview and dress appropriately.

• Pets and Kids. There is a good chance that the board will want to meet them, so (try to) make them behave if they are interviewed as well.

• Leave it at the Door. Whatever it is, a bad day at work, a fender bender, the Mets losing another game, put it behind you, put your smiley face on, and enter the room like life couldn’t be any dreamier. If something truly traumatic has taken place in your life, and this is not possible, then reschedule the interview.  One more point: if you have just had a fight with your spouse, do not continue it during the interview. I mention it because this happens. Kiss, make up, and tell each other you were wrong – you have the rest of your life to fight in your new apartment.

• Be Confident. And relax! Remember, being granted the interview is a good thing.  They wouldn’t have asked you in if they didn’t think you were a good fit for the co-op.

Please share your own co-op interview experiences and tips in the comments section and keep an eye out for an e-book with comprehensive information coming soon.  Thanks for reading.