Apartment Move-in Essentials

By Timothy Hayes on July 17, 2015

This article is brought to you by CORT, a subsidiary of Berkshire-Hathaway and the world’s largest furniture rental and relocation services company. To learn more about how we can help college students like you, click here.

School’s a scary place. There’s so much to worry about from grades to jobs to internships to just generally learning how to be an adult. Those things alone will make some quiver.

While it’s a scary prospect in some ways to move out of your parents’ house and get an apartment, it holds its own appeal. You’ll be free to do as you see fit, select the apartment you want (or can afford, depending), decorate it your way, and get it set for you. Ultimately, it can be frightening, but then the beginning of any memorable adventure is.

Photo by Beth Kanter via flickr.com 

Make lists. List of lists. A list is an essential tool to pack with, allowing you to better plan for what you need and prepare for bumps and hurdles. Sit down with your parents and/or friends and develop a list of what you’ll need; furniture, kitchenware, appliances, linens, toiletries, food, et cetera.

Share the list around with people who’ve already made the move out from their parents’ home. Older siblings are an excellent choice for this. They might give you a thumbs up on the list or else offer suggestions for things you forgot.

Start packing early. The sooner you begin this massive undertaking, the better. There are a lot of things you’ll have to check and check and check again before you’re ready to leave. Essentials you’ll need up to the day you leave like clothes and toiletries will obviously be needed sooner so will be packed later, but things like books, their cases, desks, fans, mirrors, posters, and similar large or heavy items should get packed up first.

Don’t forget the dry erase marker board. This will seriously help you so much if you have roommates. The bigger the better. These tools are simply too useful to avoid. You can keep track of the groceries you run out of, take a picture, and run to the store with the whole list on your phone. You can leave notes or information for roommates (just makes sure to stay away from the passive-aggressive type). The versatile surface lets you keep track of ideas and can even help you brainstorm on projects and study for tests. Just remember to bring the Windex to clean it if it gets dirty.

Bring duct tape. This magical creature, similar to the Force, has a light side, a dark side, and binds the universe together. The great thing about duct tape is its endless utility. Need a wallet? Got it. Want to hold down the pesky chair seat that keeps popping up? Duct tape’s there for you. How about a way to make clothes on a budget?

Image by Jason Eppink via flickr.com

This and products like Gorilla Glue will be able to fix any breaks and problems in the apartment pretty easily.

Post-it Notes make the world go round. The best part about Post-it Notes is they are simply too useful. Need a note to yourself? Stick it on the door the night before to make sure you see it. Want to let your roommate know that the ice cream is yours and yours alone because you just went through a breakup? Post-it Note. They can be used for expiration dates, recipes you want to remember and stick on the inside of the kitchen cabinets, and as great pranks in a pinch. My personal favorite is covering your roommate’s room in Post-it Notes.

Bring an emergency kit. This is simply the most important thing you’re going to bring. This should include among other things batteries, flashlights, a first-aid kit, emergency medication doses, and perhaps emergency food supply. This is really just a “oh no everything went wrong” kit. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in one place. You just have to know where everything is and be able to access it.

No one likes a bland room. So bring decorations. These are a fantastic means of making a place your own. They’ll be the best of everything including your favorite band memorabilia, movie posters, kitchen knickknacks, and wall decals. Make sure you check with your landlord about putting things on the walls and windows before you do this though as some will have terms or may not even allow it at all. It is better to ask for permission from your landlord than to ask for forgiveness, because forgiveness has a price tag.

Plan the move-in. If you’ve got to take multiple trips to your new place, you’re going to need to prioritize what you need first and what you can do without until the end.

Photo via Ryan Hyde on flickr.com

This way, important furniture and material gets to your apartment first and can be unloaded accordingly. Look at the stairs or doorways leading to your apartment and maybe take some measurements. Then you can use these to plan how the couch, bed, or other large objects are going to be brought in without having to worry about them when you’re carrying the furniture.

When you move in, ask friends for help to get the big stuff. A good reward for faithful friends could be drinks or dinner. Remember, just because you’re moving doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Play some music, mess around with friends, and have a good time. It will make the adventure memorable.

Looking for a more convenient way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Rent stylish furniture from CORT and save time and money. For more information on furniture rental packages, click here.

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