8 Things to Consider Before Moving Into a New Apartment
Give yourself the time and the budget to make your next rental home truly yours
Mitchell Parker
March 1, 2018
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
I recently moved into a new apartment after being in my old place for more than five years. I’ve moved into countless apartments before, but this is the first case in which I’ve had plenty of time — a little more than two months — to consider the move. Every previous move felt rushed, which meant making a lot of compromises in terms of location, furniture selection and post-move setup. I’ve noticed a few things this go-around that smoothed the process or benefited the outcome in some way. Maybe they’ll help make your move into a new apartment a success.
1. Give yourself lots of time. This seems obvious, but it also may seem impossible for people who are in a time crunch because of work, a move to a new city, a competitive rental market or a current rental contract that leaves little option besides packing up and moving in a flash. But it’s worth noting that, whenever possible, you should give yourself more time than you think you need to consider several apartments and locations.
Don’t be afraid to start looking well in advance of your move-in date. Apartments often go on the market six or more weeks before they’re actually available for move-in. That gives you plenty of time to plan the move, map out your new furniture arrangement and start shopping for new pieces — and getting rid of or selling what you don’t want to bring with you.
Another way to give yourself more time is to talk to your current landlord about going to a month-to-month lease after your lease is up. You may have to pay a little more monthly rent, but that could give you an extra four weeks to look for the perfect new place.
More drastic measures for giving yourself more time to look might involve you moving your things into a storage unit and staying with friends or family while you hunt for an apartment. All this will, of course, cost you money, which brings us to my next point.
A Guide to Self-Storage: Is a Mini Storage Unit Right for You?
Don’t be afraid to start looking well in advance of your move-in date. Apartments often go on the market six or more weeks before they’re actually available for move-in. That gives you plenty of time to plan the move, map out your new furniture arrangement and start shopping for new pieces — and getting rid of or selling what you don’t want to bring with you.
Another way to give yourself more time is to talk to your current landlord about going to a month-to-month lease after your lease is up. You may have to pay a little more monthly rent, but that could give you an extra four weeks to look for the perfect new place.
More drastic measures for giving yourself more time to look might involve you moving your things into a storage unit and staying with friends or family while you hunt for an apartment. All this will, of course, cost you money, which brings us to my next point.
A Guide to Self-Storage: Is a Mini Storage Unit Right for You?
2. Start saving now. Moving costs money, and not just for the obvious things like moving trucks, security deposits, application fees, and new furnishings and decor. As I mentioned, you might want a financial cushion for things like renting a storage unit or paying a little extra rent if you go to a month-to-month lease.
You also want to budget for putting money down on a holding deposit. In hot rental markets like the San Francisco Bay Area, where I live, units get snatched up quickly. A holding deposit, often a couple of hundred dollars, takes the unit off the market for you while your application is being run. These deposits are nonrefundable 48 hours after your rental application is approved.
If you’re in competition with a lot of other renters, that deposit gives you a few days to further consider the unit and location. That way you can put a hold on the unit and then check out what the commute might be like at different times of the day, or see if the street below your window turns into a popular gathering spot for smokers outside the nightclub.
You also want to budget for putting money down on a holding deposit. In hot rental markets like the San Francisco Bay Area, where I live, units get snatched up quickly. A holding deposit, often a couple of hundred dollars, takes the unit off the market for you while your application is being run. These deposits are nonrefundable 48 hours after your rental application is approved.
If you’re in competition with a lot of other renters, that deposit gives you a few days to further consider the unit and location. That way you can put a hold on the unit and then check out what the commute might be like at different times of the day, or see if the street below your window turns into a popular gathering spot for smokers outside the nightclub.
3. Know what you’re getting into with online secondhand marketplaces. Hey, I’m all for deal hunting on the web, but it’s not always convenient, and you usually have to wait around for what you want, sometimes forever. Scouring Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist every day and obsessively refreshing the feed looking for a deal on the exact piece of furniture you want — or something even vaguely close to it —can consume a lot of your life.
Once you do find something, you often have just a few low-resolution pictures to go off of and the trust of the person on the other end. That’s basically it. Plus, there’s generally no return policy or customer service, two things that can go a long way when you’re buying something important.
And let’s not forget about the hustle and bustle of scheduling the pickup. I’ve had people flake on me, stop responding after agreeing to the sale, run hours late and list a product in the city where they work only to then say it’s actually at their house 30 miles away. Jumping through these hoops on a Sunday afternoon can wear you down. Sometimes it’s just better to hand your money over to a company whose brand, service and merchandise you trust. That way you know what you’re going to get and when you’re going to get it — and if it doesn’t work out, you can get your money back.
One more thing on buying secondhand: In my experience, the more you assemble, disassemble and reassemble furniture, the more rickety it gets. This is, of course, truer for cheaper furniture, which, it turns out, is mostly what is for sale on those online secondhand marketplaces. You might be getting a good deal on that Ikea bed frame, for example, but it may have been screwed and unscrewed so many times that the holes will be so stripped by the time you get it home that it’s guaranteed to be a rockin’ — and not in the good way.
Once you do find something, you often have just a few low-resolution pictures to go off of and the trust of the person on the other end. That’s basically it. Plus, there’s generally no return policy or customer service, two things that can go a long way when you’re buying something important.
And let’s not forget about the hustle and bustle of scheduling the pickup. I’ve had people flake on me, stop responding after agreeing to the sale, run hours late and list a product in the city where they work only to then say it’s actually at their house 30 miles away. Jumping through these hoops on a Sunday afternoon can wear you down. Sometimes it’s just better to hand your money over to a company whose brand, service and merchandise you trust. That way you know what you’re going to get and when you’re going to get it — and if it doesn’t work out, you can get your money back.
One more thing on buying secondhand: In my experience, the more you assemble, disassemble and reassemble furniture, the more rickety it gets. This is, of course, truer for cheaper furniture, which, it turns out, is mostly what is for sale on those online secondhand marketplaces. You might be getting a good deal on that Ikea bed frame, for example, but it may have been screwed and unscrewed so many times that the holes will be so stripped by the time you get it home that it’s guaranteed to be a rockin’ — and not in the good way.
4. Talk to your new landlord about paint. Most of the time, before you move into your new apartment, the landlord has to clean it, install new flooring and paint the walls. This is a good time to ask about paint and finishes.
When I recently moved into a unit in a high-rise building, I knew that the property management company would be painting the walls. I noticed that the model unit I viewed was painted beige (nothing against beige, it’s just not for me). The manager mentioned that she wasn’t sure what my unit would be, since they were in the process of switching over from white to this new beige color. I kept in touch with her after my visit and found out that they were planning to paint my unit beige.
I asked if there was any way I could have it painted white instead. All it took was a quick consult with the maintenance staff to confirm that there was still some white paint left over, and then they offered to paint my unit white instead of beige, saving me a huge hassle of repainting it myself.
Another option could be to ask if you can supply the paint color of your choosing. After all, they are going to paint it anyway, and it’s hard to imagine they would care which paint is being used.
Apart from paint, property management companies often gradually change things like flooring materials to save money and to fit with design trends and current demand so as to stay relevant and attract new renters. So if a particular material doesn’t appeal to you, just ask about your options. My property management company was transitioning from a darker stained engineered flooring to a lighter stain. Had I not favored the light stain anyway, perhaps I would’ve inquired if they had any leftover dark stain. The point is, it never hurts to ask.
When I recently moved into a unit in a high-rise building, I knew that the property management company would be painting the walls. I noticed that the model unit I viewed was painted beige (nothing against beige, it’s just not for me). The manager mentioned that she wasn’t sure what my unit would be, since they were in the process of switching over from white to this new beige color. I kept in touch with her after my visit and found out that they were planning to paint my unit beige.
I asked if there was any way I could have it painted white instead. All it took was a quick consult with the maintenance staff to confirm that there was still some white paint left over, and then they offered to paint my unit white instead of beige, saving me a huge hassle of repainting it myself.
Another option could be to ask if you can supply the paint color of your choosing. After all, they are going to paint it anyway, and it’s hard to imagine they would care which paint is being used.
Apart from paint, property management companies often gradually change things like flooring materials to save money and to fit with design trends and current demand so as to stay relevant and attract new renters. So if a particular material doesn’t appeal to you, just ask about your options. My property management company was transitioning from a darker stained engineered flooring to a lighter stain. Had I not favored the light stain anyway, perhaps I would’ve inquired if they had any leftover dark stain. The point is, it never hurts to ask.
Keep in mind that this may take a little extra coordination on your part. You never know what your landlord can do. And not all landlords are used to this sort of extra attention, so you might have to stay on top of them with follow-up calls and emails. They might have to ask a supervisor and so on, but it’s worth it to get what you want.
I also found this is a good process for determining how your property manager or landlord will assist you in future dilemmas. If someone is being combative or altogether uninterested in helping you with your new place, then you might not be able to count on that person when the water heater goes out or you have some other problem. This is a good time to see how the relationship will go. It might be the factor that causes you to decide you want to keep looking.
In my experience, a good landlord will want to keep good renters, and will go above and beyond to keep you happy if you’re a good tenant. A previous landlord let my wife and me go to Home Depot to pick out new appliances ourselves. And after we lived there a year, he offered to rip up the carpet and put in engineered wood flooring for us.
I also found this is a good process for determining how your property manager or landlord will assist you in future dilemmas. If someone is being combative or altogether uninterested in helping you with your new place, then you might not be able to count on that person when the water heater goes out or you have some other problem. This is a good time to see how the relationship will go. It might be the factor that causes you to decide you want to keep looking.
In my experience, a good landlord will want to keep good renters, and will go above and beyond to keep you happy if you’re a good tenant. A previous landlord let my wife and me go to Home Depot to pick out new appliances ourselves. And after we lived there a year, he offered to rip up the carpet and put in engineered wood flooring for us.
5. Be prepared to fend off donations from friends and family. I don’t know what it is, but as soon as word gets out that you’re moving into a new place and shopping for furniture, everyone you know jumps out of the walls to pawn their unwanted furniture off on you. You must remain vigilant.
By all means, if it’s a piece you want or need, accept the offer graciously, but don’t think that you have to, even if money is tight. There are a lot of deals out there, so don’t think you won’t get what you want. It’s better to eat takeout food on the floor or on your lap than get stuck with a table or sofa that you absolutely hate. So stick to a refrain like, “I’m waiting until I move in and get a feel for the place before I choose what I’ll do for a table/sofa/rug/etc.” And hope it never gets brought up again.
By all means, if it’s a piece you want or need, accept the offer graciously, but don’t think that you have to, even if money is tight. There are a lot of deals out there, so don’t think you won’t get what you want. It’s better to eat takeout food on the floor or on your lap than get stuck with a table or sofa that you absolutely hate. So stick to a refrain like, “I’m waiting until I move in and get a feel for the place before I choose what I’ll do for a table/sofa/rug/etc.” And hope it never gets brought up again.
6. Sign up to monitor products. Some companies allow you to monitor products and get updates when an item has dropped in price or is back in stock. This can come in handy when you are trying to save money or are unsure of buying something because it’s too expensive. If you’re worried about spam, create a new email address solely for products or mailing lists associated with your new apartment. When you’re done with it, just deactivate it or abandon it altogether.
7. Take this as an opportunity to purge and declutter. There’s no better time to really pare down your possessions than a move. Giving yourself plenty of lead time before your move will allow you to carefully go through your things and donate, throw away and organize.
Most people don’t move that often. Even if you think you won’t stay in your new place for very long, things can happen, and before you know it, years have flown by. Take advantage of this moment to really think about what you want your new home to look like and what you dislike about your current home. Maybe now is the time to change your style, buy that sofa you always wanted or finally adopt a minimalist approach to living. We don’t get too many reset buttons in life. Creating a new home can feel like a refreshing one.
8. Budget for movers. I cannot express enough how joyful it is to not do any heavy lifting. If you can’t afford to spring for the whole white-glove package that involves a company packing your things, bringing a truck, loading and then unloading your belongings, don’t fret. There are plenty of options.
Besides, I think you’re better off packing your own things anyway, so you can declutter as you go and take extra care with the pieces that are fragile or meaningful to you. And if you’re moving nearby, rental trucks for a one-bedroom apartment start at about $20 for the day through places like U-Haul and Home Depot.
I’ve had a lot of luck with doing the packing myself, renting the truck and then hiring a couple of people to load up the truck. Once I arrive at my new place, I hire the same folks or two new ones to unload everything. It’s like magic. One minute all your stuff is stacked in one home, and a few hours later, it’s all there waiting for you to unpack it. And your back doesn’t hurt for days.
Your turn: What are your tips for moving into an apartment? Share in the Comments.
More
Top 5 Areas to Declutter Before You Move
11 Apartment Hunting Tips for Renters
Houzz TV: How to Paint a Wall Faster
Bulletproof Decorating: How to Pick the Right Kind of Paint
Other Resources on Houzz
Find a designer or decorator
Browse furniture and decor products
Most people don’t move that often. Even if you think you won’t stay in your new place for very long, things can happen, and before you know it, years have flown by. Take advantage of this moment to really think about what you want your new home to look like and what you dislike about your current home. Maybe now is the time to change your style, buy that sofa you always wanted or finally adopt a minimalist approach to living. We don’t get too many reset buttons in life. Creating a new home can feel like a refreshing one.
8. Budget for movers. I cannot express enough how joyful it is to not do any heavy lifting. If you can’t afford to spring for the whole white-glove package that involves a company packing your things, bringing a truck, loading and then unloading your belongings, don’t fret. There are plenty of options.
Besides, I think you’re better off packing your own things anyway, so you can declutter as you go and take extra care with the pieces that are fragile or meaningful to you. And if you’re moving nearby, rental trucks for a one-bedroom apartment start at about $20 for the day through places like U-Haul and Home Depot.
I’ve had a lot of luck with doing the packing myself, renting the truck and then hiring a couple of people to load up the truck. Once I arrive at my new place, I hire the same folks or two new ones to unload everything. It’s like magic. One minute all your stuff is stacked in one home, and a few hours later, it’s all there waiting for you to unpack it. And your back doesn’t hurt for days.
Your turn: What are your tips for moving into an apartment? Share in the Comments.
More
Top 5 Areas to Declutter Before You Move
11 Apartment Hunting Tips for Renters
Houzz TV: How to Paint a Wall Faster
Bulletproof Decorating: How to Pick the Right Kind of Paint
Other Resources on Houzz
Find a designer or decorator
Browse furniture and decor products
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I've owned and rented. I've moved roughly 15 times as an adult so I would consider myself an expert. I've been fortunate to have landlords that always allowed me to paint (I'm an interior designer and professional organizer.) Another way to personalize a rental is overhead light fixtures. You definitely want to check with the landlord first but this can really add some personality. When buying furniture, consider pieces that could be repurposed if you moved again. I have an armoire that I've had for 20 years that I've used for a TV (before flat screens!), I've used it for my off season clothing (it came with shelves AND a rod) and currently the kitchen in of my current rental, is very small and lacks sufficient cabinet space. So....that 20 year old armoire is now my appliance and china pantry. Other than my bed and possibly my dining table, every piece of furniture I have could be used in another room. That is the fun part of a move....figuring out where you'll use your pieces in a new space.
Being organized maximizes storage space in your apartment!
Consider designing your own organizers to contain the stuff you use the most.
Organize My Drawer
I hate painting. We had the misfortune to live in a rental apartment for over 10 years which had been a sublet, so the landlord didn't paint it for us as he'd have had to do if we'd been original renters.
Over the many years we lived there it needed painting in a very bad way, such as when there had been a leak in an apartment upstairs which damaged our ceiling and wall in the living room. After repeated requests the landlord sent somebody to plaster the wall and ceiling but no painting was done. Many more requests later, including a complaint to the Rental Board, the landlord said they'd give us the paint and we could paint.
That's when I told them "no, we'll give you the paint and YOU get it painted". We only ever wanted plain white anyway, so no fancy painting was involved. After a few months we finally took the bull by the horns and painted ourselves. Of course the bigger issue was that the living room ceiling and walls extended into the dining room and hallways, so in the end everything needed to be painted. A month after we'd painted we came home one day and found out the landlord had painted yet again the living room ... without protecting our furniture or rugs, so we had paint drops everywhere. And instead of plain white he'd used off-white which didn't blend with the rest of the areas we'd previously painted plain white. What an idiot!
We moved out from there after another year or so when we bought our first house. It was new construction so we didn't have to paint.
5 years later we sold and bought another new house. Again we didn't have to paint. But eventually after many years we had to paint and after my husband and kids attempted to paint the basement and botched it, I found a painter who did the whole house quite nicely. Remember, all white. Consequently the painter kept on grumbling all along that he could have given us great colors ....
Hubby was angry and probably felt insulted but honestly he and the kids had done a lousy job in the basement.
Now it's time (way past!) to paint again, but I dread the process. We'd need to move all the furniture away from the walls, and to do that we'd need to empty all wall units, and roll up all the rugs. It's a big house. I am not ready for this at all.