Joe Yatco is an architect in New York City who pays $1,550 per month for his Brooklyn apartment. Yatco spent nearly $14,000 renovating the apartment, including building a bar, bookshelf, and new sink. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Joe Yatco, a New York City-based architect whose apartment renovation recently went viral. Renovating a rental is worth itSome people are all upset, like, "Why would you spend $14,000 not on your own place?" When you move into a place, you're just inheriting what it is, and a lot of people don't make changes to their place and it doesn't truly reflect them.

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Persons: Joe Yatco, Yatco, —, I've, It's, it's, they're, hasn't, it'll, I'd, I'm, Kelsey Vlamis Organizations: Service, Eagle Scouts Locations: New York City, Brooklyn, Williamsburg , Brooklyn, It's, Philippines, kvlamis@insider.com