The Eugene, on West 31st Street, was closer to his office but farther from hers. They weren’t keen on the interior finishes or the location next to Dyer Avenue, the Lincoln Tunnel entrance and exit ramp, where impatient traffic seemed hazardous.

Image The Eugene, on West 31st Street, was close to their respective jobs, but they weren’t keen on the interior finishes or the location next to Dyer Avenue, the Lincoln Tunnel entrance and exit ramp. Credit... Regan Wood for The New York Times

Then there was Oskar, on 11th Avenue near 43d Street, with just 164 apartments. The Peppers found the small size more appealing than a massive building with hundreds of units. It felt to them like a boutique hotel.

When they visited, it wasn’t quite finished. “It seems like the apartment is being built for you,” Mr. Pepper said.

They saw several iterations of one-bedrooms, some with balconies and many with interesting hallways and curves. The building also offers access to most of the amenities at Sky, across the street, the largest rental building in New York, with nearly 1,200 units. (Both were developed by the Moinian Group.)

The Peppers were able to sign the lease nearly two months in advance. They chose a one-bedroom with no balcony but with an extra half bathroom for $6,200 a month, and received three free months on a 27-month lease, with the monthly rent netting out to $5,511. They also received six free months at Life Time Athletic at Sky, a gym and spa that normally costs $199 per person per month. The one-time pet fee for Andiamo was $750.

The Peppers, who arrived in late summer, faced some construction-related issues, like a sporadic lack of hot water and workers coming and going from their apartment.