The excitement of starting this new chapter can quickly turn into stress as you try to figure out everything that needs to be done before move-in day. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Our ultimate new apartment checklist is there to help you ensure all your bases are covered and you have everything you need for a successful relocation. Read on – and start taking notes.
Decide What You’re Going to Bring From Your Old Home
One of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make during the whole process is deciding what to keep when relocating and what to leave behind. When making an apartment move-in checklist, it’s important to decide what you can bring from your old place – the more you bring, the less money you’ll spend on a new apartment shopping list. At the same time, remember that your goal is not to create clutter in a new space, so ask yourself whether you really need each item or if you can live without it. This will help narrow down the number of things you need to bring with you.
If you have items that you don’t want but that are still in good condition, consider donating them to the Salvation Army or some other charity, or selling them before relocation. This will declutter your home and give you some extra money to put towards the move. Best of all, you can also use this money to buy new things for your new home.
Make Sure Your Relocation Essentials Are Prepared
Relocation essentials are things from the old home you use daily, so they need to be prepared for the big day. These include medication and medical records, electronics, toiletries, change of clothes, bedding, and all other necessities you’ll need from the moment you step into your new residence. Essentials also include items you can’t afford to lose, such as important documents or, for example, valuable jewelry. Before long-distance movers come or you start packing the relocation truck, make sure you prepare and clearly label the box with your essentials.
New Apartment Checklist – There Are Things You Should Buy Before the Move
If you plan to bring some of your things to a new city, you’ll need suitable packing materials in order to protect them. Therefore, packing supplies are on a list of new apartment essentials – but how to decide which ones? During your relocation day preparation, consider getting the following:
- Boxes – when moving out of state, boxes are the most suitable storage spaces. You can either buy them new or find used ones for free at your local grocery or liquor store. Just make sure they’re sturdy enough to hold your belongings without falling apart.
- Bubble wrap or packing paper – quality wrapping materials are necessary to keep fragile items and other delicate objects safe during transport.
- Foam peanuts – they are a good choice for padding and immobilizing objects inside the boxes, but you can use excess wrapping material for that purpose, as well.
- Tape – once the boxes are packed, you’ll need something to tape them shut with. Invest in good quality packing tape so that your boxes don’t come open and ruin everything inside.
- A dolly – if you decide to move on your own, a dolly will make relocating furniture and other heavy items much easier.
Of course, if you plan to get long-distance moving services to help you move efficiently and swiftly, you can hire cross-country movers to help you pack your belongings. With professional packing services, gathering supplies won’t be your concern – you can simply jump to the next task on your relocating-to-another-state checklist.
Packing Services
Our professional packers have methods and techniques to ensure all your items are intact during and after the move.
Car Shipping Services
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Corporate Relocation
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What Other Items Should You Get Before Relocation Day?
Before you relocate to a new city, make sure you have gathered all of the following things – whether you bought them, stole them from your parents’ place, or scored them at your neighborhood garage sale:
Bedroom
Your first purchase should be a mattress – you need to have a place to lie down from your first day in your new home. Therefore, getting quality matters should not be one of the things you forget to do before the move. Also, don’t forget the linens, pillows, comforter, and other items you need to create your bed. A dresser and hangers are also desirable – your new residence will feel more like home the sooner you can unpack and organize your clothing.
Living room
Whether you plan to throw elegant cocktail parties or movie nights after you meet new friends, you’ll need seating that fits your style. A futon or a sleeper sofa is a good multi-purpose furniture piece that can allow your friends to sleep over if needed. The coffee table is also nice to have, as well as entertainment objects – which ones you’ll bring will depend on your preferences.
Bathroom
Bathroom essentials are, more or less, all the toiletries you’ll pack in your “open-first” box. Additionally, you can get matching towels and other bathroom accessories so that everything looks fantastic together once you move in. However, bringing used bath mats and shower curtains would be a relocation mistake – you’ll need new ones for your future residence.
Kitchen
Even when you move to a new city alone, a tiny bistro-style set, a couple of bar stools, or a full dining room table and chairs set are necessary. Remember – you’re going to need a place to share your meals with guests. While you could use paper plates and cups until you buy a complete dish set, you can always ask your parents to give you the ones they do not use. In this manner, you’ll at least have the necessities on hand. Additionally, if your new place doesn’t already have appliances such as a fridge or oven, you’ll need to get them too.
There Are Things to Buy for New Apartment After You Move
If you’re like most people, you probably won’t have all the furniture and household items you need to start from scratch – there will be a lot of things you should buy after the move. Although not essentials, these things are important for making your new place feel like home. Not all of them will fit into your future residence, so make your own list based on the following suggestions.
Bathroom and Kitchen
Window coverings, bathroom rugs and trash cans, a storage space for your toiletries, and air fresheners are things you should think of when you’re already settled in your home.
As for the kitchen, you can start gathering all the kitchen utensils and tools you are going to use. Don’t forget about those small kitchen appliances, either. Whether you’ll buy a coffee maker or blender first will depend on your personal preferences.
Bedroom and Living Room Space
Throwing the mattress onto the floor is effective, but purchasing a full bed frame will go a long way toward making your new place comfortable. There are numerous choices for bed frames, so be sure to look around, take your apartment’s size into account, and pick the one that best suits your style and requirements.
Additionally, make sure to account for all of your possessions (including those on this initial apartment checklist), then locate the appropriate storage for your requirements. At the same time, know that a bedside lamp, full-length mirror, and decorative items (such as wall art and decorative pillows), are also nice to have.
Note that there are many decorative items you can get for an affordable price to make your future place seem cozier – take a look at the video below for some excellent suggestions:
Food Is Also One of the Things You Need for an Apartment
When you start living on your own, it can be tempting to just eat whatever is easy and convenient, which is usually unhealthy processed food. However, if you want to save money and maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is important to cook most of your meals at home. This can be difficult if you do not know how to cook or do not have time, but it is possible with a little effort.
First of all, make a list of basic staples that you will need for cooking such as oil, salt, pepper, flour, and sugar, and make sure you buy them on your next trip to the grocery store. If you plan on bringing them from your old place, just note perishables are items movers won’t move – you’ll need to find another way to transport them.
Rice and beans are very cheap and versatile ingredients that can be used in a variety of dishes, so always have them in your pantry. Canned goods are also cheap and can be used to make quick meals when you do not have time to cook from scratch. However, try to buy canned vegetables rather than canned soup or other processed foods. In the end, frozen vegetables are a great way to always have vegetables on hand without having to worry about them going bad before you can use them all up.
Don’t Forget to Put First Aid on the New Apartment Shopping List
Relocating to a new home is an exciting time that can bring you a lot of relocation benefits, but it’s important to not get too caught up in the excitement and forget about important things, like having a first aid kit on hand. You never know when an accident may happen, especially with all the unpacking you’ll need to go through. Having a first aid kit readily available can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major emergency. Therefore, before heading out to the store for all those cute throw pillows and decorative kitchenware, remember to add a first aid kit to your shopping list. Your future self will thank you.
Where to Find Things You Need for a New Apartment?
Before you start visiting different stores, you need to set a relocation budget. Figure out how much money you can afford to spend on a new place. Once you have a clear number in mind, try to stick to it! It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of shopping for new things and end up spending more than you intended.
Next, try to get creative with what you already have. Just because you’re relocating to a new place doesn’t mean that everything in your old place has to go! Before you start buying new stuff, go through your belongings and see if there’s anything that could work in your new place. Don’t discount what you already have – you might be surprised at how much useful stuff you can find. Additionally, ask family and friends for hand-me-downs. Chances are they’ll be happy to get rid of some of their unwanted stuff, and you might be able to score some great items for free or very cheap
When you finally start shopping, start with thrift stores and yard sales – they are great for when you want to get some furniture and other household items for cheap. Of course, you’ll have to put in a bit more effort to find exactly what you’re looking for, but it’ll be worth it when you score that perfect piece for a fraction of the price it would cost brand-new. You can also try online marketplace platforms and contact people selling used goods in a good condition.
Hire a Long-Distance Moving Company, and Relocate Your Belongings Worry-Free
Chances are some of the items on your list will be belongings from your old home, so you’ll need to come up with a way to move them safely and damage-free. A professional cross-country moving company can make all the difference in your relocation process. Not only will they handle all the heavy lifting and transportation of your belongings, but they also provide added peace of mind knowing that your possessions are in capable hands. Don’t let the stress and hassle of an interstate move weigh you down – get movers from Seattle to California or movers from California to Seattle and focus on starting a new chapter in your life.
