It’s moving day, and you’ve finally finished unloading the truck. All your belongings have been brought into your new apartment, but what now? It can be overwhelming at first, but don’t stress. Read on below to learn the most important things you should do once all your belongings are in your new apartment.
Clean up
Your brand new apartment should already be somewhat cleaned from when the previous tenant left, but now’s the time to make sure that everything is freshened up to your liking. Get everything cleaned before you arrange your furniture and other large items – if you do one deep clean now, you might not need to touch some spots again for months! Now is also the perfect time to vacuum, sweep, wash windows, and deal with any mold or spiderwebs.
Arrange your furniture and unpack your essentials
Before you start unpacking boxes, you’ll want to get all your furniture and appliances set up. It can be easy to overthink this, but just remember, you can always move things later! Just make sure you plug in anything that needs power. It can be a pain to move things away from the wall later to try to find an outlet.
Once you’re done setting up your furniture, you can begin unpacking! This will probably be a job that takes multiple days, so be sure that the first things unpacked are any essentials you’ll need for your first week in your new apartment. This includes clothes, toiletries, kitchen items, cleaning supplies, and bedding. This can also be a great time to declutter and get rid of anything that you don’t need or have a place for. A new apartment can be a fresh start!
Set up utilities
Your new apartment won’t quite feel like home if you don’t have the proper utilities, so make sure that you get your electricity, water, and WiFi turned on as soon as you can. Some of these might be set up already in your landlord’s name, so reach out to determine whether you’ll be taking over the bill directly. You’ll also want to reach out to your bank, cell phone provider, or any other organization that sends you mail regularly to make sure they all have your updated address.
Take note of any damage
One of the most important things to do when you move into a new apartment is to take note of any damage in the apartment and document it. Doing so will help you avoid losing your security deposit when you eventually move out.
It’s best to note these things when taking an initial tour of the apartment, but if you notice any issues for the first time after you’ve already moved in, make sure to tell your landlord and include pictures. Some things to look out for include holes in the walls, broken hinges on doors or cabinets, stains on the carpet or walls, or the smell of smoke or pets. You’ll thank yourself later!
