It?s always a great feeling when you move into a new home. your first apartment! It's your own place to do whatever you want - no one's going to tell you to clean your dishes or pick up your socks off the floor (unless you live with a picky roommate). But first, you'll have to move. Moving can be stressful, especially if you've never done it before and don't know what to expect. Here are five tips to help you through the process.
1. SAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT FOR YOUR APARTMENT MOVE
Here's the golden rule when moving: it's going to cost a lot more than you think. You may know that you'll have to pay the first and last month's rent. But you'll also pay a variety of move-in fees. These may include a security deposit and notary fees. Be sure to ask the landlord if there are any additional costs, such as parking or storage fees.
Next, you'll need to set up your utilities. You may have to pay a deposit on them to get them switched on before you move in. Find out what utilities (if any) are included in your apartment rental. The utilities you'll need include water and sewer, electricity, garbage collection and Internet. You'll also want to obtain renter's insurance.
If you use a moving service, you'll have to pay the movers. You may need to buy specialized boxes, packing materials, markers and packing tape. If you're using friends and family, you may want to provide them with food. Those pizzas don't come cheap, especially if you have a whole team helping you on moving day. Speaking of pizza delivery and moving services, make sure you have money on hand for tips.
You may want to have some money available on moving day to store your refrigerator, buy necessary items that went missing during the move, and get cleaning supplies.
2. HOW TO PACK A BOX?
First of all, make lists. You should write everything down and check items off as you complete them. There's a lot to do when you move, including filling out a change of address card with the post officeYou may even want to make lists as you pack to keep track of what's happened during your move. You may even want to make lists as you pack your boxes to keep track of what happened during your move. Label each box. If you don't, you'll end up having to open and sort each box to find your coffee maker.
Don't store towels in your linen cupboard. They'll come in handy when packing. Use them to fill the bottom of boxes and pack delicate items. Place them in empty spaces in boxes to prevent your breakables from moving around in the box. And keep at least one outside to clean your old apartment one last time after you've emptied it.
Don't buy boxes if you don't have to. Local grocery stores and other businesses will often have boxes you can take away for free, so call and ask when the best time to get boxes might be (some places have more boxes available on their delivery days).
Keep a few blankets on hand to wrap large, fragile items like your TV. Simply wrap the blanket around it and secure with packing tape.
Before you disassemble anything or unplug the wires from your TV or computer, take pictures. When the time comes to reconnect and reassemble them, you'll be glad you did.
Use plastic bags to keep small items contained. If you're dismantling furniture, you'll probably have screws or nails that you'll want to find quickly when you put things back together. If nails and screws are floating around in a box somewhere, they'll get lost.
You can't have too much wrapping paper or too much tape. You'll probably need more of both.
3. READ YOUR LEASE AGREEMENT AND ASK QUESTIONS
Although it's tempting to scroll (or flip) to the last page and sign your name, you need to read your rental agreement. This document contains very important information, and if you don't read it, you could inadvertently breach your lease or jeopardize your security deposit. Your rental agreement lists everything you can and can't do in your new apartment. It provides information on rent and late fees, what you need to know about having a roommate, and guests, and it tells you what your rights and responsibilities are as a tenant. Make sure you know what you're agreeing to before signing, and ask lots of questions.
Before you move in, schedule a visit with your landlord or real estate agent. During the visit, take lots of photos and videos of the empty apartment. You want photos of every scratch, carpet stain, wobbly handle, dented cabinet, kitchen appliances - everything. Send photos and videos by e-mail as soon as you can (the same day, if possible) to your landlord. This way, you'll both have a time-stamped record of the results of the virtual tour.
When you move out, you'll need these photos for reference if the landlord keeps your damage deposit. If the damage was there when you moved in, you're not responsible.
Your landlord or property manager will probably have a checklist to use during the visit. If there's something you want to fix before you move in, ask the landlord to make repairs. If the owner agrees to make the repairs, get it in writing.
4. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BUY WHEN YOU MOVE INTO A NEW APARTMENT?
There are some things you will need on day one. Other items, such as decorations and small electrical appliances, can be purchased at a later date. Here are the essentials, room by room:
Bathroom essentials
- Towels and face cloths
- Shampoo
- Soap
- toilet brush
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Piston
- Shower curtain (if there is no shower door)
- Shower curtain rings (if using a shower curtain)
- Bath mat
- Trash can
- Toothbrush holder
Bedroom Essentials
- Bed frame and box springs (yes, technically you can put the mattress on the floor, but we're getting old here)
- Mattress and undersheet
- Pillows
- Sheets, blankets and pillowcases
- Hangers for the closet
- Drapes
- A laundry basket
Kitchen Essentials
- Plates and bowls
- Cups and glasses
- Silverware
- Some pots and pans
- Knives (at least one chef's knife)
- The scissors
- Cutting board
- tea towels
- Paper napkins
- Sponge
- Dishwashing detergent
- Toaster
- Coffee maker (if you consider coffee essential)
- Can opener
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Plastic storage containers
- Ice cube trays (if your fridge doesn't have an ice maker)
- Kitchen trash bags
- Trash can
Household essentials
- All purpose cleaner
- Window cleaner
- Broom and dustpan
- Floorcloth
- Bucket
- Bulbs
- Clips and elastics
- First aid kit
- Laundry
- vacuum
Pantry essentials
- The vinegar
- Baking soda
- Flour
- Bread
- Coffee tea
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Rice
- Cereal
- Sugar
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Canned vegetables and beans
5. ASK FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP YOU MOVE
If you need help moving, be sure to ask well in advance. If you ask the day before the move, it will be difficult to find someone available. Remember, you're asking for a huge favor, so don't be offended if they refuse. Be kind when you ask and let them know you'd really appreciate the help.
Try to move at weekends, if possible, when more people will be available to help you. And even if you want to control everything (it's your decision, after all), try to step back and let your friends do what needs to be done. You'll have plenty of time later to make sure the boxes are in the right room.
Provide food, snacks and drinks. Your friends will get tired, so give them plenty of water and other drinks. Snacks will help maintain energy levels and morale, so provide some of your friends' favorites. At the end of the day, reward them all with a pizza or dinner out. And, of course, offer to return the favor.
If you can't find anyone to help you, or if you're moving out of state, you'll want to hire movers. Do lots of research and read reviews. Beware of moving companies that want money up front or give you an estimate over the phone (they should want to see how much they'll be moving before quoting you a price). Review moving companies' red flags to make sure the company you choose is reliable.
Moving into your first apartment is an important step. Hopefully, these tips will help you navigate the moving process with ease. Once the dust of moving day has settled, you can start decorating and personalizing your apartment. But first, let the search for the bubble wrap begin!