Tips for Moving Into Your First Apartment

Moving into an apartment for the first time isn’t as simple as just signing a lease. Whether you’re heading to college, planning to live with roommates, or moving in with a significant other, there are a lot of first-time renter questions to consider when crossing things off your moving checklist. From calculating monthly expenses to ensuring you find the best location for your needs, these first apartment tips can help you get situated!

Research Apartments Thoroughly

Apartment search websites or apps like Zillow, Apartments.com, HotPads, Trulia, and tons of others can help you find everything from studio apartments to multi-bedroom apartments in your city. When conducting your search, use filters to narrow down your options by rent price, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and other desired amenities so you can find a home that fits your needs—and don’t forget to look through apartment photos and previous tenant reviews! Once you’ve found a few potential places, call the management company or landlord to set up an apartment walk-through.

Take Your Time on Apartment Tours

Of course, touring apartments can be exciting! Make sure you slow down and really take a good look at your prospective new home—both inside and out—before you sign anything. Don’t hold back with important questions to ask when touring an apartment—like how they handle maintenance requests, all monthly costs, and if the property has had pest problems. It’s your chance to get all the information you need.

Here’s what to look for when touring an apartment:

• Are parking lots or parking garages well-lit and close to the building?
• Are there any signs of damage or off-putting odors in the apartment building?
• Are there security measures in place to ensure resident-only entry?
• Are the floors, walls, countertops, and windows clean?
• Are appliances, lights, outlets, sinks, toilets, and showers in good working condition?
• Are there enough closets and storage spaces within the apartment?

Understand Your Budget & Other Expenses

Regardless of whether you’re going to be living by yourself or moving in with roommates, you need to know how much you can afford to spend each month. If you’re concerned about how much to spend on rent, stick to the “30% rule,” which advises spending no more than 30% of your gross income on rent. You should also be prepared to pay for the move-in rent payment, upfront deposits and fees, monthly utilities, and other daily living expenses—and if you’re moving with pets, there will likely be an additional monthly fee. If you’re trying to move on a budget, consider saving on moving expenses like hiring movers and buying moving boxes by enlisting friends and finding free and cheap boxes in your community.

Check Out Your Potential Neighborhood

Especially if you’re a first-time renter moving to a new city, it’s a smart idea to explore the neighborhood or area you’re thinking about living in before choosing your apartment. Research local crime rates. Walk around the area to get an idea of the traffic and noise — and try to go at different points of the day. Test the commute times to your university or office. Figure out where the nearest grocery stores, coffee shops, pharmacies, and banks are. Visit restaurants, bars, and shops in the neighborhood. Consider what parking will be like for guests. This will help you determine if you’ll like living here!

Carefully Review Rental Application & Lease Terms

How long does an apartment application take to be approved? While it can vary, it typically takes one to three days to approve an apartment application. To help keep the process going, it’s best to be proactive. In fact, one of the most important first-time renter tips is to have your apartment application documents ready—this can speed things up in a competitive rental market and show you’re an active prospective tenant. Once approved, make sure to thoroughly read through and ask questions about the lease or rental agreement before signing. The lease contains important information about payment due dates, community rules, maintenance, inspections, your security deposit, and lease-breaking terms or lease renewal details. Remember, these are legally binding documents, and missing a key detail could lead to unexpected costs. If anything in the lease is unclear, always ask the landlord or property manager to explain it.

Make an Apartment Shopping List

Moving into your first apartment likely means you’ll need to invest in some furniture—if you can, take measurements of your new apartment to ensure beds and couches will fit. You’ll likely also need to acquire various household items. If you’re on a tight budget, however, you don’t need to get everything all at once. Start with the absolute essentials you’ll need for your first night in a new apartment—including toilet paper, paper towels, soap, toiletries, a shower curtain, towels, cleaning supplies, a trash can, first-aid kit, dishes, silverware, basic household tools, and a few kitchen basics for simple meals.

Consider Getting Renters Insurance

While some apartment landlords will require proof of renters’ insurance before you move in, others won’t require it at all. That said, renters insurance can be a life-saver. Though insurance policies will differ from company to company, there are plans that can help you cover the loss of items due to fire, theft, water damage, and natural disasters. In addition, renters insurance is pretty affordable, with the average being around $22 per month. Even if it’s not required by your apartment, it’s worth considering!

Meet Your Neighbors

One of the best apartment living tips is to get to know your neighbors. This makes future interactions easier, such as discussing noise or asking them to watch for package deliveries. They can also offer insights into building life or what it’s like living in the neighborhood. This may even help you make friends in a new city!

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