This post is coming just a few days late because I’ve been SUPER busy moving, unpacking, and setting things up at my new apartment. Now that everything is almost completely put away, I can share with you my tips on how to ensure your move in day goes as smoothly as possible.

If you’re just starting your moving process, go back and read this post on getting ready to move. If you’re already packed & ready to go, first of all, congrats on making it this far! Moving is tough, but at least you’re halfway there! Now, here are 7 things you need to do before unpacking any boxes in your new home. The list is made for rental spaces, but can be adjusted for homeowners as well! Start at the top of the list with what can be done prior to move in day, and then go on to the things you should do once you’re in the space. Taking care of these items before you get settled can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run!

Before Move In Day

Check The Measurements

If you can tour your space before moving in, take measurements! Usually apartment complexes have printed floor plans available that you can write your measurements on. Take note of the size of the rooms, doorways, and windows. Will your furniture fit in the space? Will it fit through the door? Up the stairs? Keep all of those things in mind while looking at the space to avoid running into any issues when trying to move in.

Transfer Your Utilities, Subscriptions, etc.

This should be done before moving in so you can be sure everything will be set up properly & ready to go on move in day. I always start by setting up my utilities first—either transfer service to your new address, or cancel the old account and open a new account. Get all of the “must-haves” like gas, electric, and water out of the way first. Then move on to updating your address for subscriptions (magazines, recurring deliveries, etc.) or services (Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, the list goes on and on…).

Change your address

While you’re updating your address, be sure to change it in the important places too! (Netflix is important, but not as important as your bank!) Some examples of where you might need to update your address are:

• Your employer

• Voter Registration

• Bank/Credit Card Company

• Driver’s License

• Car Insurance

• Renter’s Insurance—If your old policy hasn’t expired, you’ll just need to update your listed address and the interested party on the policy.

• USPS—Get your mail forwarded to your new address. I use this as a “just-in-case” measure. If something accidentally gets sent to your old address, you forget to update your address somewhere, or you never told your grandma you moved and you’re waiting on birthday money, this is your catch all. USPS change of address requests will ensure any mail sent to your old address gets forwarded to your new address for 6 months. Just make sure that you contact the sender of any forwarded mail and give them your new address

Read Over Your LeasE

Take a second to look over your lease, since you probably didn’t read the whole thing the first time. Look for the section that mentions altering the space, like with paint for mounting the TV. If your lease doesn’t mention this, just ask the landlord/property manager. Also, ask if there are any fees associated with altering the space, or if you’ll just need to return it to normal before you move out. It good to know these things ahead of time so you aren’t stuck with a fine for putting holes in the walls.

On Move in day

Clean Everything

I worked in leasing for a couple of years (and I’ve had more than my fair share of apartments), so let me just tell you, I have seen some things. Clean. Everything. Even the things that look clean could benefit from one last scrub.

Here’s my thinking on the whole cleaning situation, from my own personal experience: When you move out of your apartment, you’re expected to leave it clean. A light cleaning makes sense, but I’ve lived in places that wanted tenants to practically scrub the baseboards before we turned in the keys. My problem with this is that I’m not a professional cleaner. I don’t have the proper sprays and scrubbers and end up just wiping everything down with a Clorox wipe. Then, when the professional cleaning crew comes in since everything looks clean, they don’t focus as much on cleaning the things that might be really icky. Obviously, that’s not representative of every cleaning company, just what I’ve seen in my years of living/working in apartments.

Sooo, because I have no idea how well the previous tenant cleaned (or didn’t) and no idea what was cleaned (or what was missed) by the cleaners, I clean everything again. It doesn’t take long, and it goes a long way for my piece of mind to know that the important stuff has at least been sanitized by my trusty ole’ Clorox wipes. Focus on these main spots first, working your way from the top of the apartment down, then clean room by room if needed.

1. Fans—Dust off the blades of the fans. This is especially important for people with allergies. You don’t want old dirt/dust/dander flying around the house when you’re just trying to cool down.

2. Cabinets—Here’s where I can always tell if the cleaners skipped a couple steps. There shouldn’t be any debris or crumbs inside the cabinets. Either way, I give all of the cabinets a good, quick wipe down.

3. Counters—You’ll be putting food and things on these, so again, wipe them down.

4. Floors—Sweep/vacuum the floors. I’ve found that even if the cleaners did a great job on the floors, things still get tracked into the apartment by maintenance workers, people taking tours, bugs that find their way in when the unit is vacant, etc.

5. Air filters—I usually request for these to be changed right when I move so I know they’re fresh. I once lived in an apartment where they never changed the air filters unless you requested it and the air filter ended up being totally black and gross by the time I asked for a new one. Yuck!

Check For Damages

Always, always, always check for damages. This is easiest before you start moving in all of your stuff and the apartment is still empty. Take 20 minutes and walk through the unit to make sure everything looks good, nothing is missing/broken, and everything works. You should also take pictures of each room and any damages you find. This way you have evidence that it was there before you moved in so you won’t get charged for it later. Report any damages you find to the apartment staff and/or place a work order to have it fixed.

Hire A Designer

Now you’re finally ready to make the space beautiful! After you’re moved in and unpacked, you might find that your old stuff doesn’t quite work in your new space. Or maybe you have a couple pieces you like and want to design around those items. People often don’t think about hiring a designer for help with their rental space because it’s only temporary or they think they’ll be wasting money on a space that isn’t their own.

In reality, anywhere you live should feel like home, even if you don’t plan on staying there forever. Having a space that welcomes you home everyday can go a long way for your overall happiness and comfort levels. Hiring an interior designer can also end up saving you a lot of time, money, and stress when it comes to getting your space to look just right.