Moving into your first apartment can be one of the most exciting times of your life. Moving out of the house you grew up in into a space of your own is freeing, and something is exhilarating about living somewhere that you can consider your own. With that said, moving is always stressful to some degree. There are many steps involved in the process of moving, and if you don’t carefully consider all of them, you may just be adding on unnecessary stress to your life.
Once you start looking for apartments, in addition to research, there are several things to consider, like how far the apartment is from your job if they allow pets, where you will do your laundry, and the list goes on from there. Here are a few other things to think about while you’re on your apartment hunting journey:
Your Budget
Having a set budget in place when you are moving into your first apartment is crucial. Whether this is your first time living on your own or moving from a house to an apartment, it is a big adjustment, and there will be costs that you may not have considered before. An important first step is to figure out how much you can afford to spend on rent. Most people choose to spend close to 30% of their gross monthly income on rent. Depending on the location, this can be a challenge and you may have to cut costs in other areas of your life to afford this. Beyond the cost of rent, it is essential to factor in other expenses like utilities, WiFi, household costs, and more into your budget and plan accordingly.
Insurance Needs
It’s important to consider your insurance needs when moving. Insurance can be easily overlooked as an extra expense or something that can be taken care of at a later time. What most people don’t realize is that emergencies can happen and having provisions in place is beneficial. In addition to things like renters insurance, it’s also important to consider your life insurance needs when moving into your first apartment. Life insurance is there to help protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of your passing. While insurance may seem like an extra expense now, it will pay off in the long run.
Apartment Tour
For some, scheduling a tour of an apartment may seem like a necessity, but many people choose to sign leases without ever stepping foot into their new place. This could be due to varying reasons. Some people may be moving across the country, so they can’t do a walk-through before move-in day. In other cases, there may be restrictions in place due to the current COVID pandemic. In any case, you can request a virtual tour of the unit before you sign any paperwork. This is so important because you want to make sure you know what you are signing up for and agreeing to pay for in your contract. The pictures of the place might seem nice, but there could be a crack in the wall that wasn’t pictured or a leaky faucet that needs fixing. Even though these are minor issues, it is important to know the details about the place you are renting before signing any lease for an extended amount of time.
Parking
If you have spent your life living in a suburban or rural area, then a lack of parking is something you probably haven’t faced that often. When moving into your first apartment, parking is a huge factor to consider. The first thing you need to do is determine if you need to have a car in the place you are moving to. If you are making the big move to New York City, Boston, or Los Angeles, there is likely public transportation. If you still feel that you need to have a car available to you, the next step is to budget for your parking space. Parking in some apartment complexes and cities can be extremely pricey, so if you choose to have a vehicle, make sure you factor parking into your monthly costs. It is also important to consider that some apartments only allow one car per apartment due to space limitations, so if you have a roommate or live with a significant other, you will have to discuss this with them.
Your Furniture
Whether you end up in a studio apartment or a place with multiple rooms, you’re going to need the right furniture to turn your empty space into a home. Before packing and moving in hand-me-downs from friends and family or items from college into your new place, consider what you will need your home to accomplish while you’re in it. If you’ll be temporarily working from home but don’t have the right desk or home office chair to comfortably accomplish your job, that’s going to be a problem. Also, think about other items like dishes and cookware for the kitchen or a bed and side tables for charging your devices while you sleep; these items are equally important.
Because your first apartment may not be your last, don’t make costly permanent purchases to outfit your space; instead, consider renting with CORT Furniture Rental. We have items for every part of the home, and we deliver them right to your door. All you have to do is choose your furniture, the lease option that works best for you, and you get to keep the furniture for as long as you need. When you’re all done, we’ll come and pick it up.
Moving into your first apartment is one of the most exciting times of your life. It is a huge accomplishment for any to take pride in. With planning and research ahead of time, you’ll be able to smoothly start a new experience.
