13 Things To Do After Renting An Apartment
Renting an apartment can be exhilarating, especially if it’s your first time. But before you relocate, you should ensure you can settle in nicely in your new home. Admittedly, the process can be stressful, from packing boxes to cleaning and decorating your new living space. Nevertheless, you can achieve this without stressing yourself. Here are some practical things to do after renting an apartment.
- Get your bedroom essentials
A comfy mattress is one thing you can’t overlook after getting your new rental apartment. If your old mattress is not in good shape, you probably don’t want to carry that along to your new home. Instead, consider a new mattress and other bedding like pillows and bed sheets. While at it, purchase dressers and bed frames to enhance your bedroom. It’s necessary to design your new bedroom to suit your style. Therefore, shop for the pieces that matter the most. You can also grab some window blinds and curtains to cover your bedroom windows and secure your privacy. Getting some hangers is also vital for keeping your wardrobe or closet organized, so keep this in mind. The earlier you acquire the essentials, the sooner you can make your new home ready for your move.
- Verify your mail situation
Find out whether your building’s community has a mailbox so you don’t miss important documents. Some individual apartments may come with small mail slots around the door, so keep this in mind. While at it, verify if a doorman stores packages while you are away, or consider asking a neighbor to pick up your mail. If mail packages are usually left outside your apartment block, you can set up a post office box to improve your safety and security. Many post offices provide customers with 24-hour access to their mail.
- Buy a toolbox
You can also consider purchasing a toolbox for your recent apartment if you don’t have one yet. Your toolbox may contain hammers and screwdrivers to simplify DIY-fixing minor mishaps in your home. However, calling a professional is recommended for more complex faults to prevent further damage, so feel free to consider this.
- Purchase your furniture
Before moving into your apartment, consider measuring the dimensions of your rooms. This practice will allow you to determine whether your current furniture will fit. Many people moving into new properties discover they need to buy extra furniture. If so, weigh your budget and invest in a comfortable couch, bed, and other furniture sets to furnish your new place.
- Check your lock-in period and rent increase percentage
The lease agreement should accurately indicate your one, two, or three years duration. In most instances, the lock-in period is around a year, so keep this in mind. You will need to take notice of estimated electricity bill payments and other terms and conditions. Carefully read through your lease agreement and ask the apartment owner for clarifications if you find anything confusing. When signing the agreement, discuss the percentage increase in the rental fee. Rent increment and security deposits should conform to the Model Tenancy Act 2020 guidelines.
- Ask for the requisite documents
Before you pick your favorite apartment through a broker or directly from the building’s owner, ensure the real estate has no litigation or title issues. You can request apartment documents, namely chain of transfer, previous electricity and water bills, and layout. You may want to investigate further to obtain a basic knowledge of the most recent tenants who occupied the property.
- Get your kitchen essentials
Apartments vary; you could move into a small bistro-style set or an apartment with a complete dining room. Whatever the case, make sure your kitchen doesn’t lack any essentials. Modernizing your kitchen is good, especially if you love inviting friends and family to come over for house parties and the like. Moreover, creating a functional area for more convenient cooking and meal prepping is easier. You might have a few plates and cups, but adding more items to your kitchen would be better before moving in. This way, you will always have enough kitchenware for every occasion. You can also invest in kitchen appliances like a fridge, microwave, and so on.
- Make your apartment aesthetically pleasing
You may have a couch and coffee table, but these may not be enough. Therefore, consider investing in certain items that enhance your home’s visual appeal. For instance, you can invest in new lighting fixtures, especially if your apartment has only old bulbs. As a tip, purchase high-quality options to get the best value for your money. After this, storage may be your next priority. Bookshelves, television cabinets, and decorative storage compartments may be beneficial, so feel free to consider this. It’s vital to factor in your possessions to choose the best storage solutions.
- Prioritize safety devices
Your apartment may have some smoke detectors, but adding more may be necessary for your coverage in older properties. See that you install a carbon monoxide detector and invest in a standard fire extinguisher to improve your safety. Immediately after moving in, replace the batteries of your detectors with new ones. This isn’t just a safe practice to observe; it can prevent your smoke detectors from constantly chirping, so keep this in mind.
- Socialize with your neighbors
It’s important to interact with your neighbors and exchange pleasantries when relocating. Renting an apartment means living close to other tenants, and your experience in your new home would be better if you befriend them. This habit will give your neighbors a good impression of you, making associating with them easier.
- Clean the place
To improve hygiene, think about giving your apartment a thorough cleaning before your relocation. Admittedly, scheduling your move-in and cleaning simultaneously may be overwhelming and stressful.
Therefore, experts recommend tidying up your space a few days prior. It would also be best to pay special attention to the air quality in your home. Remember to ventilate the rooms by opening the windows to get much-needed fresh air indoors. Home air quality doesn’t end at the windows because there is more to do to rid your space of allergens that compromise the atmosphere indoors. Dust surfaces and corners to remove accumulated dirt, using a damp cloth
- Ensure your utilities are working
It’s advisable to ascertain that critical utilities are fully functional in your new apartment. Check your electrical systems, water, gas, and plumbing lines to ensure they work as they should. And if they aren’t, you should fix them immediately. If your lease agreement states it’s your landlord’s responsibility, you should immediately alert them. Otherwise, you may have to take care of them. As a tip, work with the right experts to prevent costly damage and repairs. However, you can DIY if you have the needed skills. For instance, you can purchase plumbing supplies from sites like plumbersstock.com if you are skilled at fixing water and plumbing issues. Your heating, cooling, and ventilation systems are also worth inspecting, so feel free to consider this.
- Explore your surroundings
Take time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. You can walk, drive or cycle around the area to explore it. This will give you a sound experience of what it feels like to live in your new neighborhood. Moreover, this activity will help you identify grocery stores, pharmacies, healthcare centers, schools, museums, libraries, and other amenities. As a tip, do this with interested neighbors to make the experience more interesting. You can even give yourself the tourist experience by visiting local restaurants and popular areas.
Renting a new apartment can be exciting and stress-free with the right steps. Fortunately, you can consider this checklist to ensure your move is successful. While at it, you can also research other helpful tips, so keep this in mind.