Let’s face it, moving into your first apartment can be overwhelming. These first apartment tips are going to help you know all of the things to do to make moving in way less stressful.
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Ever feel like renting an apartment for the first time comes with more questions than answers? If you’ve never had to do this process before, how are you supposed to know all of the things you don’t know? Enter me: I’ve learned a lot in the years since moving into my first apartment and I’m here to share with you my top first apartment tips that will help you be extra prepared to move in.
By sharing all of the things I wish I knew when getting my first apartment, you’ll learn from my mistakes and experiences so that you won’t have to go into this situation blind. From tips to furnishing your first apartment to tips for decorating your first apartment, I’m your girl.
This post is all about the first apartment tips you should definitely take notes on.
FIRST APARTMENT TIPS:
1. Create a budget.
I’ve always been told that if you aren’t using some sort of budget, then you’re just kind of guessing when it comes to your finances. If you’re anything like me, then uncertainty with your hard-earned money does not sound appealing. When I moved into my first apartment, I was the one who kept track of all the expenses we had and when they were due. I developed a first apartment budget using Google Sheets that I still use to this day. Everyone’s preferences are different, but I’ve found that this is the easiest way for me to make sure I know exactly where my money is going and how to stay on track with my financial goals.
Here are some things I think you should budget for when you are preparing to move:
- Rent
- Application Fees
- Security Deposit
- Utility Setup
- Renter’s Insurance
2. Save, save, save.
I cannot stress this one enough. If you have some time (and the means) before your move-in day, be intentional about saving to build up a buffer and have extra money to help you pay for all those fees and deposits upfront. This will take a huge financial burden off of you during the first month of living in your new apartment! I took a small amount from each of my paychecks I got and put it in a separate “apartment” checking account that I was then able to pull from once rent and utility bills came around.
3. Make a list of non-negotiables.
Depending on your location, there could be tons of apartment options that you have no idea where to even start your search. Rather than get overwhelmed early on, sit down and make a list of your “non-negotiables.” Think of the things that you absolutely need from an apartment and apartment complex. It could be a balcony, a garage, a storage unit, a certain rent price, a pool, a number of bedrooms… the list goes on. The important thing is to nail down exactly what you have to have to fit your lifestyle and then only look at apartments that accommodate that.
Here’s my disclaimer for that though: do this within reason and be as flexible as you can. If you are looking for the perfect apartment, you’ll be looking forever.
{RELATED POST: 21 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting My First Apartment}
4. Ask potential roommate questions.
This is one of the top things I wish I knew before getting my first apartment. I cannot recommend asking these potential roommate questions enough because it will save you SO much stress in the long run. I made this mistake when I moved into my college apartment. Not asking the necessary questions meant that I had a year full of tension and conflict.
Here are my top three questions I think you should be asking:
- How do you usually handle conflict?
- What are you looking for in a roommate?
- How often do you like to clean?
If you want more potential roommate questions to ask, I’ve written a whole blog post on just this!
5. Research the location.
I cannot stress this one enough. It is so important to know the area where you will be living for both your safety and your sanity (lol). You’ll definitely want to check out the crime statistics and read reviews about the location/complex while also taking note of what things there are to do. If you’re someone that loves nightlife or has access to fun activities, then you’ll want to make sure that your apartment is not in the middle of nowhere. On the other hand, if you hate traffic or want somewhere quiet, then you’ll want to look outside of the city.
6. Read your lease (like actually read it).
When you are moving into an apartment for the first time, a lease document is a little overwhelming. There are a lot of legal words and it’s just long. But it is so important to actually read the whole thing before signing so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. It would be terrible to breach the contract down the road because you did not know what your lease said. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the leasing office questions if you don’t understand something!
7. Set up utilities in advance.
Put this one at the top of your first apartment checklist. I was surprised at how long it may take to get all of your utilities set up so make sure you leave yourself enough time. When you show up on move-in day, you’ll want to have everything taken care of so you don’t have to worry about not having wifi for days.
8. Update your address.
Every time you move you should follow this first apartment tip! Update your address for all of your online shopping, and important documents, and forward your mail from your previous residence. I forgot to do this one time and turns out, a family member had been sending me cards to my old address and I never got them (yikes). It’s super easy to do this with your local post office!
9. Thrift & DIY.
One of my favorite first apartment money saving tips is to take the extra time to thrift and DIY as much as possible. Anything can be made beautiful with a little bit of TLC. I love to look on Pinterest for inspiration then try to get creative on how I can achieve that look for the least amount of money possible. It definitely comes in handy when apartment decorating on a budget.
My favorite places to thrift are Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity Restore, local vintage stores, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist.
10. Space out your purchases.
My rule for moving into an apartment for the first time has always been buying your NEEDS first, then your WANTS. This is a key first apartment tip if you want to stick to your budget and not cause financial strain on yourself. Practically, you need kitchen essentials, groceries, and a bed to sleep in before you need the fake plants and coffee table decor. I know that those are the fun things, but they are also the things you can live without until your budget allows for those purchases.
11. Measure all of your furniture.
If I could go back in time and tell myself this first apartment tip, I would in a heartbeat. Make sure you are taking note of your apartment’s floor plan measurements and then taking the measurements of all your furniture so you can be confident that everything will fit. The last thing you need on move-in day is to realize that your couch won’t fit in your living room and that you need to come up with a different plan.
12. Make a cleaning schedule.
Start your time in your new apartment on the right foot by developing a cleaning schedule. This will help you keep your space free from clutter and save you from having to clean for your entire day once a month because you realized you are behind on your cleaning duties. I’ve also found that you can avoid conflict with roommates by doing this because everyone has their assigned tasks and no one feels like they are the one doing all of the cleaning.
WANT MORE FIRST APARTMENT TIPS?
HERE ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS I WISH I DID DIFFERENTLY WHEN I MOVED INTO MY FIRST APARTMENT:
1. Buying decor before I moved in.
I was so excited to move into my first apartment and decorate everywhere that I spend tons of money before moving in on things for the walls and shelves. Unfortunately, once I actually got in the apartment, I had way too much and some of it did not even work with the space. Learn from my mistake and wait to buy this kind of decor after you move in. This is one of my favorite tips for decorating your first apartment because it will save you so much money and hassle in the long run.
2. Not using a packing list.
When it comes to all of the things you actually need for your apartment, it is A LOT. I did not use a packing list for my first apartment and let me tell you, that was not smart. I was just packing as I went and by the time I got finished, I really had no idea whether I truly had everything I needed. A first apartment checklist is going to be a game-changer for you to ensure that you aren’t forgetting any of the essentials.
3. Looking for the "perfect" apartment.
Remember when I said, “if you’re looking for the perfect apartment, you’ll be looking forever”? I learned that from experience. I spent (and wasted) SO much time on my apartment search because I was being too much of a perfectionist about every little thing. If I could go back, I would be a little more flexible and realize that when it comes to apartment living, nothing is ever “perfect” and some things you just have to live with.
