Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Into Your Apartment

 In Blog

You’ve been planning it for a while, and now it’s time to make your move. You’re going to find your first apartment. And while you’re incredibly excited about putting your stamp on your place and decorating it to fit your style, there are some things you need to take care of before that happens.

You want to be sure you’re creating a list of things that need to get done to make life in your new apartment as easy as possible. But maybe, more importantly, you want to avoid some pitfalls that can happen when moving into your first place. Avoid these things to make apartment living the absolute best.

  • Not Creating a Realistic Budget: When you start looking at apartments, you’re going to see the good, the bad, and the amazing! But, not all of these apartments are going to meet your needs – and more importantly, they may not fit your budget.
    • It’s essential that you know what you can afford when it comes to an apartment. That means you need to create a budget. Be sure to list all of your current expenses and your current earnings. Then see how much you have left for your apartment, any utilities, and deposits. You definitely don’t want to cut yourself short each month, so be sure you’ve got enough built into your budget for incidentals, savings, and extras.
  • Skimming the Fine Print: When it comes to signing your lease, you may be tempted to just skim over it and sign on the dotted line, but don’t do it. Make sure you read everything – including the fine print. If you find that there are portions of your lease that you don’t understand, seek out someone to help clarify. 
  • Not Seeing Your Actual Apartment: Lots of apartment complexes have a “model apartment” that they can show to prospective tenants. While this apartment will give you a good idea of what your apartment looks like, you always want to see your actual apartment. Arrange to see your apartment, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
  • Not Knowing What’s Included for Utilities: When you’ve narrowed down your apartment choices, make sure you know what utilities are included, as this can have a significant impact on your budget. Does the apartment include heat? Do you need to pay for wifi? Ask these questions so you can make an informed decision that will meet your budgetary needs.
  • Skipping Renters Insurance: You may think, “Oh, I can skip renters insurance and save myself a few dollars.” But don’t do it. Renters insurance can help protect your goods if they are ruined in a fire, suffer water damage, or are stolen. Be sure to speak with your insurance provider to see what is specifically covered in your individual policy.
  • Not Noting Damage When You Move In: When moving day comes around, you’ll most likely be given a checklist from the apartment complex to fill out. It often asks you to note any damage you see and things of that nature. Don’t skip doing this. Carefully fill it out and take pictures to back up what you are noting. You don’t want to be charged for damage that you didn’t cause.
  • Buying Things You Don’t Need: As tempting as it can be to fill your apartment up immediately, you want to be sure you’re buying things you actually need. This will help prevent your apartment from becoming overcrowded and keep your budget intact.

Moving into your first apartment is exciting. Avoid these mistakes, and you’ll find that apartment living is all you hoped it would be – and more!

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