4 Tips for Moving Into a New Apartment in 2023

Are you a new college grad planning to move to a new apartment this year? We all know the moving process can be daunting and overwhelming, but finding ways to make the transition smoother is key to a successful move. So, what are the best tips for moving to a new place? Start by establishing a moving budget, researching apartment locations, creating a moving plan, and making a shopping checklist. Keep reading below to dive deeper into essential tips for moving into a new apartment. 

Establish an Apartment Budget

First things first: You should figure out how much you can afford to pay for rent before jumping into apartment hunting. The last thing you want is for all the money you’re earning in your new job to go right to your living expenses. Setting financial goals for yourself will help keep you accountable when learning how to use your money and budget wisely.

To find out your rent budget, start by evaluating your total monthly income. Next, calculate any monthly expenses you have, such as car payments, groceries, phone bills, or internet and cable. Subtract these expenses from your pay and see how much money you have left for the month. The portion of your income that’s left, while still leaving some for savings, should be put towards your rent. It’s important to live within your budget—especially when you’re just starting out—so you can start saving up for your future financial goals. These might be investing in a 401k, putting money aside each week into a savings account, or saving up to purchase a home in the future. In the not-so-distant future, you might find yourself wondering, “How much house can I afford?” By determining this, it’ll help you understand how much money you should be saving for a down payment and closing costs—and that might change the way you think about non-essential expenses like vacations, nights out, and shopping. Although big financial goals may take time to achieve, you should be working towards these every chance you get and being more aware when handling your finances. Once you’ve established an ideal budget for how much you can comfortably spend on rent each month, you then can start searching for possible apartment options.

Research Apartment Locations

Now that you have a better understanding of how much you can comfortably afford to spend on rent, it’s time to start researching ideal locations. Create an apartment checklist of things that adhere to your wants and needs. These might include neighborhood, distance to your job, parking situations, amenities, entertainment nearby, the size of the apartment, storage available, and the lease terms. Make sure you read through the lease agreement carefully before signing any paperwork. The lease agreement may contain the current tenants, terms of the lease, rules, policies, landlord disclosures, and the monthly rental price.

Take your time when apartment searching because you don’t want to rush into a new place and find out it’s not the right fit for you. Narrowing down your search to a few options that fit within your budget and checklist will ultimately help make your decision easier. Once you’ve found a place and you’ve signed the lease, start prepping for the move!

Create a Moving Plan

OK, it’s time to start packing up your belongings to prepare for the big move. If you’re not sure where to start, sort through your items and make a list of things you want to pack, sell, and donate. If you’re looking for a fresh start, donating or selling the items you don’t use is the best way to declutter before moving. Your school might have an option for you to donate any unneeded items to incoming students who could use them. Donating or selling is especially helpful when it comes to any bulky or oversized furniture you have so it’s one less thing to worry about. Once you’ve sorted through everything, gather the packing materials you’ll need, such as boxes, tape, and bubble wrap. If you’re looking to stay super organized, you might also want to consider getting packing labels so you know exactly what each box contains when you open them in your new place. This all may seem like a lot, especially if you’re moving by yourself. If your budget allows it, perhaps hiring a moving company to help is ideal, especially if your current living situation involves a lot of floors and limited elevator access. Now that you know what to pack, sell, or donate, it’s time to create a shopping checklist of the items you’ll need for your new apartment.

Make a Shopping Checklist

When putting together a list of things you’ll need for your new post-grad apartment, remember that you don’t need to purchase everything at once. Shop around, find inspiration, and get a sense of what will work best in your new space. To help you stay organized, make a room-by-room checklist. This will allow you to visualize exactly what you need and help you avoid overspending on things you don’t need. If the apartment is on the smaller side, finding furniture that fits is important so you’re taking advantage of every inch without making the space look cluttered. Look for furniture with storage space built in so you can utilize as much room as possible, such as storage ottomans, bookcases, side tables, and coffee tables.

Moving doesn’t always have to be a hassle. By staying organized and following these helpful tips and tricks, your first move as a new college grad will be a piece of cake.