Congratulations! You've successfully moved into your new apartment. You've unloaded your boxes, trudged in your furniture, returned the rental truck, and (hopefully) have done so without breaking anything. But now that you're finally here — what's next? Well, while preparing for and executing a move is undoubtedly the biggest hurdle to overcome, there's still plenty to get done once you're in the new place. Below, the property management team at Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP, outlines four things to get done first after moving into your new apartment.
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Many apartment communities require residents to fill out a conditions report on move-in day or within their first week. It's always best practice to do a walkthrough of the apartment and document any damages as soon as possible, ideally before unpacking boxes and hanging items on walls. Looking through the apartment before hanging décor and arranging furniture will make it significantly easier to spot damages and note them, so you don't end up being charged for them in the future and losing your security deposit.
Many people tend to pack all of their essentials, such as a change of clothes, medications, and personal hygiene items, in a box or overnight bag. Well, now is the time to unpack them and put them where they belong. Unpacking them early is especially helpful if you're just getting settled into your new place in the evening, as it means you won't have to worry about digging through a box when you need something the following morning. Once you've unpacked all of your essentials and put them in a spot where they won't get lost, it's time to start tearing into your other boxes.
The last thing you want is your future mail or packages to be delivered to the wrong address, so try to update your address as soon as possible. In addition, make sure your new billing address is updated for credit cards, bank cards, billing institutions, and through the postal service. Updating this information early on can help ensure that your bank accounts aren't flagged for suspicious activity, and your mail is delivered to the correct address. This can save you from a myriad of future headaches. Also, be sure to transfer prescriptions to a nearby pharmacy and have your medical records sent to your new primary care physician.
Now comes the fun part. Once you've taken care of the more pressing matters, it's time to begin transforming your new apartment into a welcoming, homey, uniquely-you space. Paint, decorate, arrange the furniture just right, and hang family pictures — feel free to express yourself when putting together your apartment. By the end of it all, you'll have an apartment you'll look forward to coming home to every day.