15 Things to Do Before Moving Into Your First Apartment

The time between signing your lease and moving day is crucial. Here's everything you should do before you set foot in your new place with boxes.

Two Weeks Before Moving Day

1. Set up utilities — Electric, gas, water, internet. Don't wait until the last minute.
2. Change your address — USPS, bank, subscriptions, employer.
3. Get renter's insurance — It's usually $15-25/month and covers theft, fire, and liability.
4. Measure everything — Doorways, hallways, rooms. Know what furniture will fit before you buy.
5. Plan your layout — Use a free app like MagicPlan to visualize furniture placement.

One Week Before

6. Pack an "Open First" box — Phone charger, toiletries, snacks, paper towels, basic tools, medications, a change of clothes.
7. Buy cleaning supplies — You'll want to clean before unpacking.
8. Stock up on moving supplies — Boxes, tape, markers, furniture pads.
9. Confirm your moving help — Friends, family, or movers.
10. Take photos — Document every wall, floor, and fixture in your current place for deposit purposes.

Moving Day

11. Do a walkthrough — Check every outlet, faucet, appliance, and lock before unloading.
12. Take photos of the new place — Document existing damage before your stuff goes in.
13. Set up your bed first — You'll be exhausted by evening.
14. Meet a neighbor — A simple "Hi, I'm new here" goes a long way.
15. Order food — Don't try to cook on day one. Treat yourself.

The Most Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to check water pressure before signing
• Not reading the full lease (especially pet, guest, and noise policies)
• Underestimating move-in costs (first month, last month, deposit, utilities)
• Buying furniture before measuring doorways

A Realistic Pre-Move Timeline

Use this as a working calendar — most stress comes from compressing these tasks into the final week.

4 weeks out: confirm move-in date in writing, request the lease in PDF, start a moving folder (digital + physical), book movers or reserve a truck, request time off work for moving day.

3 weeks out: declutter aggressively (every box you don't move saves time and money), start using up pantry food and cleaning supplies, notify your current landlord in writing, schedule utility shut-offs at the old place and start-ups at the new place.

2 weeks out: change your address with USPS, banks, employer, insurance, doctors, subscriptions, and the DMV (legally required in most states within 30 days). Order renter's insurance to start on move-in day.

1 week out: pack everything except daily essentials, label boxes by room AND priority ("Kitchen — open first"), confirm movers, withdraw cash for tips, charge all devices.

2 days out: defrost the freezer, take final meter readings at the old place, pack the "first night" bag.

Utility Setup: The Order That Matters

Utilities have lead times. Set them up in this order so nothing gets missed:

1. Electricity — call 5–10 business days before move-in (some providers require an in-person ID check)
2. Gas — same lead time; some require an in-home appointment to light pilot lights
3. Water/sewer — often paid by the landlord, but confirm in writing
4. Internet — book installation 2–3 weeks out; install windows fill up fast
5. Trash/recycling — confirm pickup days and bin location
6. Renter's insurance — must be active on move-in day, not after

The "Open First" Box (Pack This Last, Unpack This First)

A single labeled box that lets you function for 24 hours without unpacking anything else:

• Phone and laptop chargers, plus a small power strip
• Toilet paper, hand soap, paper towels, trash bags
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, prescription meds
• One full change of clothes per person
• Bedding for one bed (sheet, pillow, blanket)
• Box cutter, scissors, tape, markers
• Snacks, bottled water, instant coffee or tea
• A basic toolkit (screwdriver, allen keys for IKEA furniture)
• Hand soap and a roll of paper towels for the kitchen

Move-In Day Inspection Checklist

Before any furniture comes off the truck, walk the unit with your phone in video mode:

• Open every window and door — they should latch and lock
• Run hot water at every faucet for 60 seconds; check under sinks for leaks
• Flush every toilet
• Test every outlet with a phone charger
• Turn on every light fixture and overhead fan
• Test the HVAC in both heating and cooling
• Open the fridge and freezer — confirm both are cold
• Photograph any scratch, dent, stain, or damage
• Check that all keys (mailbox, unit, building) actually work

Email the video and photos to your landlord the same day. This is the single most effective protection against losing your security deposit.

Costs People Forget to Budget For

• Moving insurance or valuation coverage (movers' default coverage is shockingly low)
• Tips for movers ($20–$40 per mover for a half day)
• Lunch + drinks for friends helping you move
• Cleaning supplies for the old place (deposit-saver)
• New keys, mail key, parking pass fees
• Pet deposits or pet rent (often non-refundable)
• First grocery run ($150+ to restock from zero)

What to Pack First and What to Pack Last

The order you pack matters as much as how you pack:

Pack 4 weeks out: off-season clothes, books, decor, photos, kitchen items you rarely use, anything in storage.

Pack 2 weeks out: most of your kitchen, bathroom items beyond basics, secondary clothes.

Pack 3–5 days out: remaining clothes, electronics other than phone and laptop, bedding (except what you'll sleep in).

Pack the morning of: sheets and pillows you slept on, toiletries, phone chargers, the "open first" box.

Label every box with room destination AND a numbered priority (1 = open first day, 2 = within a week, 3 = whenever). This single habit makes unpacking 10× faster.

How to Get Your Old Deposit Back

The pre-move cleanup at your old place often determines whether you get $1,500 back or lose it:

• Patch nail holes with toothpaste or spackle, then touch up with paint
• Magic Eraser every scuff on walls, doors, and baseboards
• Deep clean the oven — most lost deposits start here
• Clean the fridge inside and out, including under and behind
• Vacuum every corner, including closets and inside cabinets
• Mop hard floors and carpet-clean any stains
• Replace any burnt-out light bulbs
• Take dated photos and video of every room AFTER cleaning
• Provide forwarding address in writing for the deposit return — required in most states for legal protection

A Move-In Day Survival Schedule

Long days are a trap; structure helps:

• 7 AM: breakfast and coffee at your old place; quick final walkthrough with phone video
• 8–10 AM: load the truck (or supervise movers)
• 10–11 AM: drive, pick up keys, do the new-place video walkthrough before unloading
• 11 AM–2 PM: unload — bedroom and bathroom boxes first
• 2 PM: lunch break (delivery is fine; don't try to cook)
• 3–6 PM: assemble the bed, set up the bathroom, unpack the "open first" box
• 6 PM: stop unpacking; eat dinner; relax
• 9 PM: sleep — tomorrow you'll have energy to actually arrange the kitchen

Trying to fully unpack on day one is the #1 cause of move-in regret purchases ("I just need this NOW").

Ready to start? Build your personalized first apartment checklist in minutes — it's free and no signup required.

Want to go deeper? Read our guide on 10 First Apartment Mistakes Everyone Makes (And How to Avoid Them) for more tips.