The Ultimate First Apartment Checklist

Moving into your first apartment marks the beginning of true independence and a new chapter in your life. However, the process can be overwhelming because there are so many details to consider and plenty of tasks to complete. That’s why you need a comprehensive checklist to ensure you’re not missing anything when moving into your first apartment. 

To truly make your first apartment feel like a home, you’re gonna need to more than just the bare essentials! You need items that will give this new space your own personal touch. That’s why it’s important that you prepare thoroughly and carefully transport all your the irreplaceable items. That’s where Stack Moves comes in. With our moving boxes for rent, we ensure your belongings arrive safely, allowing you to focus on the fun parts of settling in. Schedule your move with us today!

In this blog, you’ll find a comprehensive checklist covering everything you will need to make your new place feel like home. We’ve also shared tips and suggestions to make the moving process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Checklist for Moving Into Your First Apartment

Indeed, moving into your first apartment can be a hassle when you are unprepared or do not plan ahead. To avoid such stress, we’ve come up with the ultimate moving into your first apartment checklist. With this guide, you are on the first path to enjoying your new home. 

Here’s a look at our first apartment checklist: 

• Set a budget: Determine your monthly rent and utility budget. It is helpful to balance your budget and prioritize essentials to make the most of the available funds without suffering financial strain. For example, splurge on an oven but save on items like a microwave or water dispenser.
• Secure your apartment: Once you know how much you want to spend on your first apartment and the relocation process, the next step is to secure your desired apartment. During your house hunt, pay attention to factors like location, accessibility, and amenities. Once you’ve found the perfect house, secure it by signing the lease agreement and paying the security deposit and the first month’s rent. 
• Plan your move: Now that you have secured your apartment, you should schedule a moving date. To make the moving process faster and easier, hire movers or rent a moving truck. Using a moving box calculator to determine how many boxes you need is also helpful. 
• Consult with roommates: Are you moving in with roommates? If yes, check what items they already have. This will help avoid duplicates and reduce the number of items you will need to pack. 
• Sort and declutter:  What are the essential items you need? What are the things you can do without? You should donate, sell, or dispose of items that you no longer need. These would be items that haven’t been worn or used in over a year.
• Gather packing supplies: The next step would be to gather the necessary supplies to move your items. Using high-quality moving boxes to protect your belongings during the move is essential. You’ll also need packing tape, bubble wrap, packing peanuts or packing paper, labels, and markers.
• Pack essentials and valuables: You should have a separate box for your essentials and valuables. This includes documents such as the lease agreement, passport, driver’s license, jewelry, etc. This way, you do not have to worry about your valuables being safe, and you can also easily access them. 
• Have your move-day essentials handy: What would you need to set up your new home on the first day? These should be easily accessible upon arrival. They include basic tools like cleaning supplies, snacks, phone chargers, and anything else that can help you settle in without stress.
• First night box: There should be a special box for items that would make your first night comfortable. These include bedding, basic toiletries, a change of clothes, and essential kitchen items such as utensils, plates, cups, and a pot or pan for cooking.
• Set up utilities and services: To get the best out of your first apartment, you should arrange for electricity, water, gas, internet, and cable services before moving in. Delaying this could mean spending the first couple of days without these utilities which could be really inconvenient.
• Furnish your apartment: The next step on the checklist is furnishing. Start by focusing on essential items and add more as your budget permits. 
• Ensure safety and security: Always change your locks when moving into a new apartment. You can also install a door jammer or security bar for added security. If your apartment has an intercom security system, learn how to use it for added safety.

Things You Need for Your First Apartment

To help you settle into your new space faster, we’ve broken down everything you need, room by room. This checklist covers the living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom essentials, along with estimated costs to help you budget accordingly.

Living Room Checklist for a New Home

In setting up your living room, you will need furniture, lighting, decor, and storage. Depending on what you’re getting, it would cost between $300 to $1,000 to set up your living room. 

For furniture, you should get chairs, a couch and coffee table. These items are essential for seating and entertaining guests. The coffee table can also double as some extra storage space as it can hold books and decor. If you have a television, you will also need a TV stand to support it and provide storage. For additional storage, think about getting a bookshelf or storage bins to keep your space clutter-free. If you have extra money from your budget, you can also decide to get throw pillows.

Getting floor lamps and table lamps ensures that you have enough lighting in your apartment. You could also go the extra mile and get rugs, curtains, and wall art to decorate your space, personalizing them to suit your style. 

What to Buy for Your Dining Room

Although not as common today, your first apartment may have a separate space for a dining room. The cost of dining room items varies significantly, and you could spend anywhere from $100 to $2,000 depending on the quality you opt for. It’s best to stick to your budget when deciding on the quality.

Aside from a dining room table and chairs, you’ll also need plates, glasses, cutlery, and even tablecloths or placemats. However, more often than not, the dining room tends to connect to a different area of the apartment, such as the living room or the kitchen. In these cases, you won’t have to overspend on more decorative items, such as curtains and artwork, to fill in the empty space and make it more homey.

Kitchen Essentials for Your New Home

A kitchen needs essentials like appliances, cookware, cooking utensils, dishware, and knives. Because this is your first apartment, you don’t need much to set up your kitchen. A budget of $150 – $700 is all you need to set up a modest yet functional kitchen.

When considering must-have appliances, it’s more important to focus on what suits your lifestyle and is truly beneficial to you. For example, if you don’t drink coffee, a coffee maker isn’t necessary. Appliances like a microwave and a toaster are often a staple in American kitchens, but that doesn’t mean you have to have them—choose to get those appliances that fit your needs.

On the other hand, you can’t not get cookware like pots and pans, measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, and baking sheets. Having three to four of each is sufficient for most first-time apartment setups.

Furthermore, you also need cooking utensils and kitchen tools like a chef’s knife and spatula. We recommend getting about three or four of each. This number also applies to dishware such as a cutting board, food storage containers, plates, bowls, and glasses. In addition, you should have cleaning supplies like dish soap, sponges, and trash bags in the kitchen. 

What Do You Need to Buy for A Bedroom?

You need around $200 – $1,000 to cover bedroom essentials like furniture, decor, storage, and a few other items. The most crucial purchases are a bed and mattress, and dresser. For bedding, you’ll need sheets, pillows, and blankets for comfort.

If you have extra money to spend, you should get storage items like a bed frame, closet organizers and under-bed storage and decor like curtains, lamps, and alarm clocks.  

What You Needed to Set Up A Bathroom?

Bathroom essentials include bath towels, a shower curtain, and a bath mat, which could cost you $20 – $70. A more complete setup will cost you an extra $30 for additional items like cleaning supplies, which include your toilet brush and bathroom cleaner. You’ll also have to get storage items like shelving units and baskets to store your toiletries.

Miscellaneous Must-Haves for Your First Apartment

Your first apartment checklist should also account for other apartment essentials that do not fall under any special section or category. For example, cleaning supplies like a vacuum, mop, and broom for cleaning your new apartment. A budget of $30 – $100 would cover these items. 

Tools like screwdrivers, hammers, and measuring tape would also be needed. These would come in handy for assembling furniture and fixing things. They cost between $10 and $30. 

For your electronics, its a good idea to have extension cords, power strips, and extra batteries. They make sure you have power when you need it and typically cost between $10-$20.

Importantly, your miscellaneous budget should cover safety items like a first aid kit and smoke detector in case of emergencies. These would go for $20-$50. A basic first aid kit should have gauze pads, adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes or solution, tweezers, scissors, thermometer, CPR face shied, disposable gloves, pain relivers, and a first aid manual.

How Much Does It Cost to Move Into Your First Apartment in CA?

Generally, when moving, you need to account for payment for professional movers, rental trucks, and packing supplies. You would also have to bother with utility setup fees for electricity, water, gas, and internet. All these will come together to determine the amount you will spend on the moving process. 

The cost of moving depends on the number of items you have, which also depends on the number of rooms in your new apartment. However, the moving cost for a one-bedroom apartment ranges between $300 and $1,500. 

Other factors that affect moving costs include distance, volume, weight of belongings, and accessibility. Furthermore, the time of the year also stands as a factor. Moving costs are higher during the peak seasons (summer months) and lower during off-peak times (late fall and winter).

Where to Get Moving Boxes for Moving?

People tend to struggle with deciding whether they should get cardboard boxes or plastic moving bins when moving. Although it’s easy to find cardboard boxes in a department store or from online retailers like Amazon and U-Haul, they are not as durable as plastic bins and do not ensure the safety of your belongings. 

You should use good boxes rather than flimsy cardboard boxes to protect your belongings while moving. Stack Moves offers durable moving boxes with dollies and labels that tend to be unaccounted for when using cardboard boxes. You can use our moving box calculator to estimate how many boxes you need for your move. 

Use special boxes or garment bags to pack hanging clothes for moving. This helps to keep them wrinkle-free. On the other hand, to pack weights for moving, distribute them evenly in boxes and use smaller boxes for heavy items like weights. 

Tips for a Smooth Move

With proper planning and a few handy tips, you can ensure your move goes smoothly and efficiently. Here’s a guide to help you through the process:

Plan Your Budget

Before moving, you should budget for your security deposit, first month’s rent, and application fees. There should also be a budget for your monthly expenses such as rent, utilities, groceries, and internet. We recommend the 50-30-20 rule to help you with budgeting and saving. This entails allocating 50% of your income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings. 

To save better, indulge in thrift shopping. You can find affordable items at Goodwill, garage sales, and Facebook Marketplace. You should also engage in DIY projects like creating your own decor and furniture to save money. Furthermore, budgeting apps like Quicken Simplifi, GoodBudget, and EveryDollar can help you track spending and manage your budget.

Prepare for Move-In Day

Before moving in, you must inspect the apartment to check for damages. If there are any, ensure that you document existing issues. You should also test appliances to ensure that everything works properly. 

Next, set up your utilities, such as electricity and water. For the internet, schedule installation as soon as possible. 

Additionally, you would need to change your address. This includes updating important documents like informing your bank, employer, and any subscription services. You should also fill out a change of address form. 

Then, plan your move by hiring movers. However, if you want to do it yourself, you should rent a truck. It also comes in handy to ask for help from friends and family to make the move easier. 

For a hassle-free move, consider renting our sturdy moving boxes. They come with dollies and other packing supplies to ensure your belongings are safe and secure.

How to Make Your First Apartment Feel Like Home

After moving, the next step is to unpack and settle in. When you get to your new home, try to unpack the items you need immediately. However, do not rush the process. It is best to organize as you go. 

Then to make this place home, you need to personalize it. You can add personal touches through photos, plants, and decorations. You can also use DIY projects to personalize the apartment. 

Furthermore, try to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood. You can do this by exploring local shops and introducing yourself to your neighbors. This helps build a sense of community. 

Once you’ve settled into your new home, call your friends and family over to visit. You are sure to create lasting memories! 

Ready to Move into Your First Apartment?

Moving into your first apartment comes with excitement and a fair share of challenges. You should use our first apartment checklist as a guide to ensure you have a stress-free moving process. 

Additionally, there are some important tasks you must do before moving into your own apartment. This includes inspecting the apartment, setting up utilities, changing your address, and planning your move. 

For a hassle-free move, Stack Moves offers reliable moving boxes for rent, complete with dollies and labels to ensure your belongings are transported safely. The best part? We offer all of these at affordable prices! Contact us today! 

FAQs

How Can I Avoid Damaging My Items During the Move?

The safest way to protect your belongings is to use a sturdy box alongside cushioning materials like bubble wrap. Try not to overpack your boxes, and make sure you clearly label boxes that contain breakable items.

What Should I Buy First for My New Apartment?

Start with essential items for your bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. This includes items like a mattress, pillow, beddings, a few plates, cups, and utensils for daily use. For your bathroom you’ll need basic toiletries like soap, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner. And finally you’ll need some cleaning supplies such as a broom, mop, and trash bags to keep your home comfortable. Additional items like home decor and furniture can be added over time.

How Can I Save Money When Moving Into My First Apartment?

Try to DIY some parts of your move by packing yourself or with the help of friends and family to save costs. Instead of buying everything new, explore thrift stores for gently used items at affordable prices. If you can, plan your move during off-peak seasons and also negotiate with your movers to get a better rate.

What Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Into a First Apartment?

The first mistake to avoid is not reading your lease agreement, without it, you’ll be in the dark when it comes to issues like pet policies, maintenance responsibilities, and even rent due dates. Next is overpacking, only carry things you need to avoid cluttering your house. Also, avoid moving in without taking measurements of your apartment and furniture to see if everything will fit.

How Do I Make My First Apartment Feel Like Home?

Start with taking your time to unpack and organize. Personalize your space with décor, photos, and plants. Create comfort zones like your workspace or reading nook to make your home more inviting.

How Do I Prepare for the First Night in My New Apartment?

Pack an overnight bag with essentials like toiletries. Apartments aren’t like hotels where you can expect stocked-up bathrooms, so it’s best to be prepared. You’ll also need a change of clothes because you might be too tired to unpack right away. Some bedding, pillows, and chargers are also important because you need to rest after the day’s hard work, and you wouldn’t want to start your morning with your electronics dead.