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What to Do After Moving into a New Apartment

What to Do After Moving into a New Apartment

You’ve finally signed your lease, paid your deposit, and received the keys to your new place. It’s an exciting time. It might be tempting to dive into the process of unpacking and getting settled, but before you unpack your first box there are a few things you should do beforehand. These shouldn’t take too long, but by taking the time to follow this checklist you can make your first few months much easier.

As tempting as it might be to kick back and relax,  take the time to follow these new apartment tips to know what to do after moving:

Document Everything and Revisit the Apartment

If you’re renting an apartment, chances are you had to put down a security deposit. If this is your first place, a security deposit essentially is money your landlord/building owner can use to fix your apartment if there is excessive damage. Unfortunately, many landlords do their best not to pay back security deposits after a tenant moves out. If you don’t take pictures of how the apartment looked before you moved in, you could be on the hook for damages made by the previous tenant.

It might seem silly, but take the time to take pictures of absolutely everything no matter how small. Note every knick or scratch you find and create a folder on your phone and compute for later reference. You should also email these to your landlord/building manager so that you can have a paper trail in case they say that you changed the timestamp on your photos. Many bad landlords and building managers will pull every trick in the book to keep you from paying back your security deposit. Be vigilant!

While you’re documenting everything, also make a note of items that need to be fixed such as:

  • Leaky faucets
  • Clogged drains
  • Windows that won’t shut properly
  • Doors that don’t lock
  • Bug infestation
  • Broken heating system

And so on. Immediately report these to your landlord to get them fixed. If you let these issues fester until you move out, the landlord can withhold your security deposit! A more serious problem like the last two are very important to document to your landlord immediately. Should they not fix it ASAP, you can take your landlord to small claims court.

Get Friendly with Your New Neighbors When You Move

You don’t have to bring over homemade cookies to your neighbors, but it’s a good idea to say hello to them if you happen to come across any when you first move in. Simply say hello and let them know what apartment you’re in. You don’t have to chit-chat too long, but don’t just ignore them. Your neighbors can be your biggest allies and can help you out in times of need, but that’s only if they know you. You don’t need to become their best friend, but make the connection and maintain it for as long as you are living in your new apartment. You never know when you might need help.

Better yet, people are less likely to be jerks to neighbors when they know them. If your neighbors are loud, they are more likely to turn down the volume if they know the person complaining. After all, no one wants to be considered a jerk by people they know! This goes both ways, of course. You must be also a good neighbor. Even if you’re a night owl, avoid doing loud things like hanging paintings or vacuuming late at night. Your neighbors are just trying to enjoy their lives as they normally do so save the extra noisy stuff for earlier in the day.

Organize Your Belongings by Priority

You don’t need to unpack everything yet, but if you went the DIY moving route then you should at least move all the boxes into the appropriate rooms. You can even organize the boxes by order of importance in the rooms so you can focus on unpacking essential items first. So whether you unpack all at once or over the course of a few weeks, it’s much easier to do so room by room than darting between the different rooms. If you hire professional movers you should direct them where to put the boxes so you don’t have to do the work afterwards.

Speaking of unpacking, make sure to take out and arrange your daily items. This includes items such as:

  • Toiletries
  • Towels
  • Coffee-making supplies
  • Cooking utensils
  • Bedsheets
  • Pillows
  • Clothes for the next few days

And so on. Even if it’s only a handful of things, organizing and placing these items can really make your apartment feel more like a home and encourage you to keep unpacking. Plus, you won’t have to worry about digging through boxes to find your toothpaste or hairbrush before going to bed the first night in your new apartment. Speaking of, you should also take some time to pick up some essentials you might have tossed for the move such as body wash, soap, hair care products, and so on.

Update Your Information and Note the New One

The best time to your address for various bills, insurance, etc. was before you moved. The next best time is right when you move. It’s easy to let your address change fall through the gaps especially for things like your regular mail. After all, who gets paper mail anymore? While you can set up mail forwarding with USPS, it will only continue this service for 60 days. After that, they will stop the service so it will be up to you to update your address directly with these companies.

Beyond the obvious ones such as banking institutions, insurance companies, etc. don’t forget to notify your place of employment and update your tax documents. You should also update your favorite shopping sites and medical providers. If you have kids, make sure to notify their school of the address change if you are still going to the same school.

Speaking of updating information, if you have rental insurance, you might need to adjust it. If you don’t have one, now is a great time to get it as it can protect you against fires, floods, theft, natural disasters, and more. Rental insurance costs vary based on location and amenities, but the average cost is around $180 a year.

Try to Finish at Least One Selected Room

Yes, you might be exhausted after the move, but try to set up at least one room the day of the move. Choose an important space like the living room or bedroom to tidy up. Unpack the boxes and place the items in the appropriate areas while also noting any storage solutions you might need for that space. You don’t have to hang up all the decorations at this stage, but you do at least want to get the majority of the boxes out of the way.

Don’t get too carried away! The goal is to complete a single room as much as possible. That way in the coming weeks of unpacking, you at least have one spot in your home where you can relax. As you continue to unpack, follow this same method where you unpack to completion. That way you’ll see the progress you’ve made as each room comes together in the coming weeks.

Hire the Best Professional NJ Movers

Moving apartments can be a daunting and tiring task. If you want to make it easier one yourself, why not let professional NJ movers take the load off your shoulders and do the moving part for you.  Heck, many also offer packing and unpacking services so all you need to focus on is making sure you document everything in your new apartment and updating your information. Whatever option you choose when moving, following these tips can make your life in your new place go a lot smoother.

Categories
Moving Tips

How to Create a Couple’s Moving Checklist

Moving in Together Checklist

You’ve found ‘the one’ and now you’re both ready to take it to the next level and move in together. Moving in with your significant other can be both exciting and terrifying at the same time. For many, the benefit of living together means more affordable home costs as they are now splitting rent and utilities. With that said, moving in together can feel overwhelming as you both need to figure out how to merge your belongings together.

One of the best ways to reduce stress during your move is to create a move-in checklist together. This will help streamline your to-dos and prioritize responsibilities. It will also help you assess if you’re making the right decision to move in together.

Figure Out Your Why and Discuss with Your Partner

Before you decide to take the plunge, the first thing you should figure out is the real reason why you’re moving in with your partner. You should ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is your lease up and does moving in together make financial sense?
  • Do you look at moving in together as a prelude to marriage?
  • Are you spending a lot of time at your or your SO’s homes so it makes sense to downsize?
  • Is this the next logical step to move your relationship forward?

Once you’ve figured out your reason, make sure to discuss this with your partner. Be as open as possible and make sure you’re both on the same page. If you’re the one who wants to move in, make sure you’re not pressuring your partner to accept the terms, especially if they are hesitant. Sure, it might make sense to you, but if they’re not onboard with the idea, forcing the issue could lead to resentment.

Once you and your partner have decided to move in together, you’ll want to move on to the next step.

Make a List of Your Belongings for an Easier Move

Living together might sound great on paper, but it can lead to complications, especially when it comes to your belongings. Before you decide to pack everything up and move, you should do the following:

  • Take an inventory of your respective belongings.
  • Choose items that will stay and what items will be donated, thrown out, or sold. This step might require you or your partner to make some tough choices depending on the moving situation. If you are planning to get an apartment together, both of you will need to get rid of some stuff. However, if you are moving in with your SO or vice versa, the person moving might need to get rid of more than the other person.
  • Declutter your apartments
  • If necessary, get storage for items that won’t fit in your apartment

One of the most important steps that many couples forget to do is carving out personal space for themselves in a shared apartment. If you are moving into your partner’s apartment or vice versa, make sure that you both talk about your personal space requirements and needs. This way you can make sure you don’t immediately get on each other’s nerves. Living together with someone is completely different from simply dating them as you will see them 24/7. So those cute quirks could turn into annoying habits when you have to deal with it every day. That’s why it’s so important to have your own space.

Make sure to communicate often about your wants and needs as well. This is especially important when the two of you have different living habits. Perhaps they are cleaner while you are more laid-back on that front. This can lead to serious arguments down the line, so make sure to talk about chores and how you can both match each other’s expectations. While chores aren’t fun, it’s important you divide the work as equally as possible so that no one feels like they are doing the bulk of the work. Even if your partner enjoys cooking or cleaning, you should take the initiative and take over these chores at least twice a week.

Figure Out and Compare Where to Live

When deciding where to live, ask yourself one question: do you want to move into a new apartment? Some couples prefer this option as it feels like a fresh start and you both have input on important factors such as location, neighborhood, layout, etc. And since a new apartment is a blank slate, you can also choose decor, paint colors, and so on to match both of your aesthetics. It’s also a great way to make sure you both can carve out some space just for yourself.

If you do decide to go for a new apartment, you should talk with your partner and think about your requirements:

  • What neighborhood do you want to live in?
  • What is the maximum time you want to spend on your commute?
  • How much can you both afford when it comes to rent? Also consider what one of you can afford in case you or your partner becomes unemployed
  • What public transportation is nearby?
  • How much space do you both need? Is a one bedroom large enough or do you need a two bedroom so you can have a home office?

When you go apartment hunting, make sure you’re taking both of your requirements into consideration. It might take longer to find something, but it will be worth the wait! Once you find a new place, make sure to include both your names on the lease. If you do break up, it’s better to have both individuals as the person moving out can show to the next landlord that they are responsible renters.

Once you have found your new place, avoid moving drama by hiring trustworthy movers. Moving is stressful as is so why not make it easier on yourselves by having professionals load and unload your belongings. This way, you can avoid a potential argument on your first day of living together.

Discuss Important Financial Matters Before Your Move

No one likes to talk about money. For many couples, finances are one of the biggest issues in a relationship. Sure, living together doesn’t mean you have to combine your finances, but it does mean you should talk about how to split bills. Unlike a roommate situation, you’re not necessarily splitting things 50/50. While this might be a difficult conversation, it’s important to:

  • Discuss who pays for what
  • Decide how much you’ll each pay for rent and utilities. This might be dependent on your salary. If you are the higher earner in the relationship you might end up paying more.
  • Figure out which utilities go in whose name
  • Discuss who will pay for day-to-day expenses such as groceries, household supplies, etc.
  • See if it makes sense to create a joint account for household expenses or keep everything separate. Even if you create a joint account, you can still have separate bank accounts so you each have your own spending cash. The joint account could be used only for household expenses, utilities, and rent.

You should have this discussion before you move in together. That way, you both will know what to expect and have an arrangement in place. It might be uncomfortable, but it’s an important and responsible step to take as it can prevent resentment in the future.

Consider the Worst-Case Scenario

The last thing you want to do once you decide to live together is talk about breaking up. However, it’s a conversation that you shouldn’t skip. While it would be great if things go smoothly and you and your partner never split, it’s just as likely that things don’t work out. In fact, around 40 percent of couples split up about five years after they move in together.

It might not be the most romantic topic, but it’s always good to have a plan in place. This plan can include details about handling the expense of breaking lease, splitting belongings, sublease options, and so on. You might want to think about drafting a cohabitation agreement, which is a legal document that both partners sign to clarify things such as division of assets and other logistics. Of course, not everything works out perfectly. If the break up is sudden, you or your partner might not have enough time or money to move out immediately. In these cases, you should consider how much time you will give each other to find a new place as well as more personal details such as inviting new partners over when your ex is still living with you.

Hire Professional Movers for a Happy Move

Moving in together is an exciting moment. While it might seem overwhelming, by following these steps you should be able to make it a bit more manageable. With that said, things don’t always go as planned, but as long as you communicate what you feel and encourage your partner to do the same you should be able to solve whatever issues come your way. Just be patient with each other and work together.

Whether you plan on moving to a new apartment together or moving into your partner’s place, you can make the actual moving process a lot easier by hiring professional movers. Make sure to get in contact with us for a quote and we can get you both on your way to your new life together.