Apartment Moving Checklist

Apartment Moving Checklist

As you prepare for your apartment move, there are plenty of tasks to take care of before moving day. Although any move has a different set of challenges, apartment relocations have their own unique needs for you to consider as you go through the moving process. You may be feeling like it should be easier, considering you’re in a smaller space than a full house, but it has plenty of difficulties of its own. Are you in need of a checklist for your apartment move? Do you want to make sure you get everything done in time for moving day? If you’re seeking a moving checklist for all your apartment relocation needs, keep reading for our seven best tips!

• Plan ahead

One of the most crucial keys, as you prepare to move apartments, is to plan ahead as far in advance as you can. For numerous tasks you will need to complete, starting ahead of time will be extremely useful, and it will save you some stress too. First, you’ll want to give your current landlord proper notice about your move so there are no issues associated with your lease. Additionally, many landlords require a certain amount of notice, so be sure to check your current lease and make sure you meet their requirements. Next, it’s important to create your own to-do list of what you want to accomplish. It can be helpful to use a calendar format so you can prioritize things chronologically and not miss any important dates.

Along with your calendar, you’ll probably want to create a budget as well. This is a useful step in order to avoid incurring any unforeseen costs. You can account for emergency funds when creating a budget so you can be fully prepared for any costs that may occur. Additionally, if you’re moving long distances, it’s important to get any travel plans figured out ahead of time. Booking these accommodations in advance can be helpful, and it can also manage to get you the best costs possible.

• Clean and declutter

Ahead of your moving day, it’s necessary to complete a thorough declutter to cut down on the number of items you need to pack and bring with you to your new home. Especially because apartments tend to have less storage space than most single-family homes, it’s wise to simplify your belongings and reduce the number of things you need to find storage for within your apartment. To prepare for your move, sort your items into four different categories: donate, sell, trash, and keep. As you go through this process, try to accomplish a little bit at a time to avoid overwhelming yourself with the task. Of course, it can be stressful to determine what items you’re willing to let go of, so pacing yourself as you do it can be beneficial. Work strategically from room to room. It can be helpful to begin in places where a lot of clutter tends to accumulate, such as closets, cabinets, and drawers. Typically, the items that are shoved to the back of these storage areas and remain untouched for months at a time are a lot easier to let go of.

• Be organized when packing

As you pack your belongings, staying organized is an extremely important part of the process. Establishing an organizational system can go a long way in improving your move as a whole. Choose one room to start in, and dedicate yourself to only packing that room before anything else, rather than jumping from room to room randomly. This is a much more effective way to tackle the job. This is also better because it prevents you from putting things from different rooms into the same box. Ideally, you will want only items from the same room in the same box. This will be much better for when you unpack your belongings in the new apartment.

One of the most important things to do when it comes to packing is to label the boxes as thoroughly as possible. In large, bold letters, be sure to label the boxes on more than one side so it’s visible to you from more than one angle. Rather than simply writing the room the box corresponds to, be more detailed, listing the contents of the box or the categories the contents belong in. This makes the unpacking process a lot easier and less time-consuming. Another option is to create an inventory of your belongings by numbering your boxes and keeping a running list of what’s been packed inside each box. These organizational tools can improve the packing and unpacking process immensely.

• Sort out utilities

Your utilities are a vital aspect of any place you live in. You rely on these services every day, so they’re important to take care of as soon as you can. Be sure to contact your current providers and let them know when you’ll need your services turned off to prevent any outstanding bills after you move out. Next, contact the providers you will have in your new apartment, and get everything set up so you’ll have all of these utilities turned on and available to you for move-in day. Once you’ve contacted the companies for water, electric, gas, wi-fi, and any other services you need, make sure to follow up about a week before your move so you can confirm that everything will be there on time.

• Contact the right people

Aside from your utility providers, you will have other people and companies to contact ahead of your move. First, ensure everything is taken care of with your landlord. Next, you’ll want to reach out to a few different places to update your address. This includes the postal service, the IRS, your bank, your insurance provider, your job, your school, and any other necessary parties. Try to give ample time ahead of your move so everything goes to the right address.

• Book moving services

One of the simplest ways to make your move easier is to enlist the help of a moving company. Take the time to peruse the options in your area and read through reviews to ensure you’re only reaching out to companies that provide high-quality, reliable services. Once you’ve found a few trustworthy residential moving companies, contact at least three of them to receive an in-home quote. This allows you to get the most reasonable price. Be aware of any pricing that seems too good to be true – usually, it is. Anything suspiciously cheap should be seen as a red flag and a sign of a potential scam.

• Assess your apartment

Finally, one last step you’ll need to take right before moving out is documenting any damages or issues that are in your apartment. Take plenty of pictures after doing a thorough cleaning of the place, and if possible, do a walk-through with your landlord before leaving. Documenting these issues, big or small, can prevent you from being blamed for any problems incurred by the new tenants. Similarly, when you arrive at your new place, document the condition of your apartment before even moving anything in. This is important to have, especially for the sake of receiving your security deposit back in the long run.

Apartment moving – simplified

With these simple steps, you’re ready to move apartments easily and efficiently. And if you’re seeking a moving company you can trust during this process, rely on Hollander Storage & Moving Co. For over 130 years, Hollander has offered customers the best service for local, long distance, and international moves. Want to find out what we can do for you? Request a free quote today.