11 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting My First Apartment
Wondering how to prepare for your first apartment? Read this blog post on things I wish I knew before getting my first apartment!
Moving into your first apartment is such an exciting time! It may be your first time living out of your parent’s house, moving out of your hometown, or first time on your own.
You may be feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. What can you expect? What are some common mistakes? What do you need to know that will make your life easier?
With each apartment I’ve lived in, I’ve learned something new that I wish I’d known sooner. I’ve compiled all my tips and lessons learned along the way to help you have a smoother first apartment experience!
This post is all about things I wish I knew before getting my first apartment.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting My First Apartment
Things to Know Before You Sign a Lease
1. Always tour the exact unit (not just one in the building)
When you’re touring apartments, always make sure that the unit you’re touring is the exact same as the one you’re potentially renting. Sometimes property managers or landlords will show you one that’s similar in the building but not the exact same one. This is done for many reasons – it’s could be a new build so they just have “model units” to show, existing tenants were difficult to coordinate viewings with, etc.
But, your apartment is one of the most important and largest expenses you’ll have! So you want to see the exact unit. If you tour a different one, you may be surprised to find that your actual unit has worse lighting, is in poorer condition, or other small (but important) differences.
2. Read the terms and conditions of your lease!
This may sound obvious, but please make sure to read through your lease line-by-line before you sign! Are there hidden fees (ex. move-in fees) or responsibilities (ex. snow removal) that apply? Are your utilities included, or will you need to budget extra for these? All this information will be in your lease!
If you’re in the apartment hunting phase, find more helpful tips in my post on 20 Smart Questions to Ask Before Renting an Apartment.
Things to Know Before You Move In
3. Take pictures of your place before moving in
When you’re renting, you always want to make sure you have photos (and videos, if possible) of your apartment on the day you receive the keys. Having the state of your apartment documented may save you when you move out – if your landlord tries to say you damaged something, you can show them how it looked before.
When I moved out of my most recent apartment, my landlord tried to withhold some of my security deposit because there was excessive oven grease that she said was my fault. In reality, the oven was already dirty when I moved in. I wish I had photos to prove the condition it was in when I received the keys to the apartment, it would’ve made my life so much easier!
4. Set up utilities and internet in advance
Before I moved into my first apartment, I had no idea that setting up things like utilities and internet can take a few days. The last thing you want is to be sitting in your brand new apartment without these amenities!
The process of setting up utilities in advance varies from place to place, but make sure to call your provider in advance to either transfer your account or open a new one. For internet, most companies allow you to call in advance and schedule an installation date.
5. Measure before moving
I mentioned this in my post on 5 Tips For Moving Into Your First Apartment, but it’s worth repeating because it’s one of the most important tips! Do NOT order or pack any furniture that will not fit in your new apartment.
How can you avoid this? Measurements! Take as many measurements as you can in advance including wall length, window height (for curtains), countertop height (for barstools). If you skip this step, it could cost you time and money!
6. Set aside time to do a deep clean before you move anything in
There is no better or easier time to clean your apartment than when it is empty! That’s why I recommend setting aside some time as soon as you get the keys to do a deep clean. Trust me, it will be so much easier to do without boxes and stuff laying around!
Plus, although previous tenants typically are required to leave the apartment clean…. you can’t always trust they’ve done a good job.
I didn’t think of this when moving into my first apartment – I was so excited to start moving in and arrived with all my boxes and furniture. But, when I opened up kitchen drawers to start unpacking, I discovered they were dirty. So I had to pause all moving and rush to do a deep clean.
7. Only buy necessities first
After you’ve signed the lease on your apartment, you’re going to be so excited and it’s easy to want to rush to furnish and stock up your home. But, my advice is don’t rush to buy everything before hand.
Firstly, furnishing an apartment for the first time is expensive. Secondly, your opinion on what you need may change after living in the space for a bit! That’s why I recommend starting with the essentials first, and then building slowly after you move in.
For example, yes you will most definitely want a bed to sleep on for your first night in your new apartment. But do you need all your decorative pillows picked out before hand? Probably not.
Same goes in the kitchen! You’ll absolutely want dishes ready as soon as you move in, but can do without every kitchen gadget under the sun right away. I definitely made the mistake of over-buying (too much, too soon) for my first apartment, and I regretted it!
8. Prepare for upfront costs
One of the not-so-fun parts of getting your first apartment is being responsible for any up-front costs. Unfortunately, there can be a lot! Most landlords will require a security deposit. I’ve paid as much as a month’s extra rent as a security deposit!
Other upfront costs to prepare for include moving costs (if you’re hiring help), move-in fees (some buildings may require this), pet deposits, and more! Make sure to be prepared for some upfront costs so you’re not caught off guard.
Things to Know After You Move In
9. Communication With Your Landlord is Key
The importance of good landlord communication is definitely high on the list of things I wish I knew before getting my first apartment. While you can’t control who your landlord is (some are great, some are….not so great), you can control how effectively you communicate with them.
Always be prompt in letting them know when something is broken or needing their attention! When I rented my first apartment, I remember thinking that I was annoying or bothering my landlord when I contacted them.
But in reality, the apartment is their investment and they want to take care of it. So if you notice something (like a leak or something not working properly), let them know promptly so it can be resolved before it becomes a larger problem!
10. Set up a budget
Soon after you move in (if not before), it’s important to set up a budget. Especially if it’s your first time moving out on your own, a budget will help you stay on track during this new adjustment. If you’re brand new to budgeting, check out my post on How to Make a Monthly Budget: Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners.
Plus, don’t forget these 26 Commonly Forgotten Expenses You Need to Budget For. There were so many recurring and unexpected expenses that I didn’t think of before getting my first apartment, but getting a budget together helped me feel more in control of my finances. Sit down with your computer and a coffee – and put together a budget!
11. Adopt a cleaning routine
Another important habit to establish when you move into a new home is a cleaning routine! Especially if you’re living alone, having a cleaning routine will help you keep on track with all the duties that you’re now suddenly solely responsible for.
Etsy has tons of amazing pre-made cleaning schedules (like this one), or you can find tons for free on Pinterest!
This post was all about things I wish I knew before getting my first apartment.
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