Life-Saving First Apartment Tips You Need To Know Before Moving In

This post is about the first apartment tips I wish I had known before moving in. These tips will save you money and avoid the anxiety of forgetting something important.

You’re moving into your first apartment and feeling a mix of excitement and overwhelming emotions. You’re excited about being independent but anxious about the many uncertainties ahead.

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably doing a lot of research to ensure you don’t forget anything important before moving into your first apartment. To help make your transition smoother, I want to share tips that I wish someone had told me before I moved in.

These first apartment tips cover budget worries, essentials, safety, and more. I can confidently say that tip number 7 is one of the most important, as it could have saved me SO much money!!

A few years after moving into my first apartment, I became skilled at identifying tips that will help first-time renters succeed when moving in. This video has a ton of views and goes over everything I am mentioning below. The viewers suggested tip number 7 is insanely genius, and thanked me so much for it!

This post is about first apartment tips.

Best First Apartment Tips You Need To Know Before Moving In

1. Be Patient, Plan, & Save

Moving into your first apartment is an exciting step, but it’s very important to remember a key tip that many people take for granted, at least I certainly did. And let’s be honest, we have all said it! It’s so cliche, “I can’t wait to move out!” While I was so ready for independence and to escape my parents’ rules, I learned that being patient and planning ahead ultimately saved me SO much money.

Be patient with yourself, especially in this economic. I am so very thankful for my parents. I stayed with them into I graduated with my MBA. It was annoying having to follow rules as an adult and “respecting their home”, however, as I look back, I would do it all over again.

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! I planned for over a year! I created spreadsheets and notes on my phone of every single essential I needed before moving in. If you are unsure of the essentials you need for your first apartment, especially ones you do not want to forget: I created The Ultimate First Apartment Essentials Checklist that spills all the tea. I am so happy I had that list handy because I would have forgotten so many first apartment essentials. There is never a such thing as overplanning!

2. Budget Beyond Rent

A huge mistake that first-time renters do not consider is budgeting beyond rent. There are so many additional expenses that come with renting your first apartment. Some of these expenses include utilities, groceries, internet, cable, the list goes on. So take some time out and thoroughly examine your expenses.

STOP moving into apartments you cannot afford! Most apartments ask for 3x of the rent. i.e. if your rent is 1K, you need to make 3K. Just because you are approved to move into that apartment, does not mean you can afford to move into that apartment. If you like to get your hair, nails, lashes, etc done monthly, make sure you are budgeting this as well. I would hate for you to move into your first apartment and no longer be able to experience things that bring you joy!

3. Don’t Rush Fully Furnishing Your Apartment!

One of the biggest things I regret doing is buying all the tinnie tiny decoration pieces for my first apartment upfront. Please do not be like me, I guarantee you, your style will change once you move in. (My mom told me not to, and I wish I would have listened, lol!)

I have several decor pieces and furniture items that I do not like, especially my TV stand. I wish I had waited before buying it because it wasn’t essential and didn’t match my style or the theme of my apartment. Now, I’m stuck with a TV stand I don’t like but have not replaced because I want to avoid spending unnecessary money.

Don’t be like me and get too excited and start buying unnecessary furniture items. Move in, get settled, measure, and see what you actually like and do not like. Save some money!

4. Start Buying Apartment Essentials ASAP

Let me tell you, my bedroom at my parents’ house was filled with apartment essentials, and I barely had space to walk! I started purchasing my first apartment essentials over a year in advance.

When you move into your first apartment you have first month rent, utility deposits, and so much more to pay for. I wanted to make sure I had all my essentials and avoid spending so much money upfront.

I truly took advantage of Black Friday and Amazon sales. If you plan early, you can get these essentials for a fraction of the price!

5. Safety and Research!

The most important first apartment tip anyone can give you is to be safe! We often overlook our safety because we think we are grown, but the world can be a scary place.

Before moving into my apartment, I researched like crazy the exact apartment I was considering. I read reviews from various sources, not just the apartment’s website, and spent a lot of time driving around the neighborhood. My top priority was safety, and it should be yours too! Make sure to ask friends and family if they know the area, and don’t hesitate to ask questions at the leasing office. It’s their job to provide information, and before you invest your money, you want to ensure that you choose a safe place to live!

6. Tour Your Exact Layout

Make sure you are touring your apartment before signing your lease! Please do not assume the pictures on the website will look exactly like the apartment. I know plenty of family and friends who thought they would be getting the apartment they saw on the website.

Leasing offices often showcase their best properties, especially on their website. If you sign the lease, before viewing your layout, you will be stuck! Be sure to request to see the EXACT layout of the apartment and ask plenty of questions! I’m telling you, I asked SO SO many questions and happy I did. Please confirm that your apartment includes everything you want. I would hate for you to invest in an apartment only to find it doesn’t meet your expectations!

7. Negotiate Your Rent!!!

When I moved into my first apartment, I was so excited! The rent price was perfect, until I later found out, I could have negotiated my rent! This is the biggest tip, I wish I had known before moving into my first apartment because it would have truly saved me SO much money! (the worst the leasing office can do is say no, but at least you tried!)

I have since decided not to make that mistake again and have encouraged my family and friends to do the same. When it comes time to renew my lease, I make it a point to review rental prices in my area and negotiate for a better rate than the renewal amount. This was truly a lifesaver and has saved me a significant amount of money!

So many people have thanked me for this tip, because more than likely, the leasing office will agree to at least go down in price a little. Be smarter than me and make sure to ALWAYS negotiate your rent, lol!

8. Renter Insurance

Accidents are unpredictable, which is why they’re called accidents. Please make sure you protect yourself and your belongings and get rental insurance. It would be unfortunate to see all your hard work in getting your apartment and every item destroyed or damaged.

Rental insurance is very affordable, and most apartments require it. I bundled it with my car insurance, and it costs less than $20 a month! I feel much better knowing that if a neighbor forgets to turn off a hair tool, my belongings will be protected.

9. Be Sure To Complete Your Maintenance Checklist & Take Pictures!

I believe that first-time renters often overlook the importance of completing the maintenance checklist before moving in. This checklist helps ensure that you won’t be held responsible for any damages that were present in the apartment prior to your arrival.

I’ve heard about terrible situations where renters had to pay for damages because they didn’t inform the leasing office before moving in. Please take some time to complete this checklist. It might be annoying, but it will save you from potential issues later! For example, I found several outlets that didn’t work in my apartment before moving in. If I hadn’t completed that checklist, I would have been responsible for fixing them.

I understand that moving into your first apartment can be so stressful, I’ve been there too. However, I’m confident that this list will provide you with helpful tips to navigate the process. I’m really excited for the next chapter in your life! You’ve got this!

This post was about first apartment tips I wish I had known before moving into my first apartment.