Save yourself a headache later on and make sure you’ve found your dream apartment. Here’s what to consider when moving apartments — most of these questions have one word answers, so this checklist should be easy to complete!
Looking back on my move from Indianapolis to New York City three years ago, I have to laugh at myself because I had no clue what I was getting myself into. My main concern was getting myself from Point A to Point B and not crying when I dropped my mom off at the airport for her flight back to the Midwest. Before hauling my stuff to the East Coast, I didn’t think to look up what documents I’d need to secure an apartment or research which neighborhoods I might want to live in. I did literally no research ahead of time and didn’t know what to look for in a new apartment, which caused a lot of stress in the long run.
It’s safe to say that I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I fully intend to go into my next move as prepared as possible so that it’s easy for me to say yes to an apartment right away (in a housing market like NYC, you have to be ready to sign the paperwork as soon as you see a place since apartments sell quickly here!). In all honesty, I’ve jotted down this list of questions to ask when moving to a new apartment as much for my benefit as for yours. I wanted to compile a list of all the things I should have considered when I moved into my current apartment, but didn’t.
I know this list looks lengthy and possibly intimidating, but so many of these questions have simple “yes” or “no” answers. Write these out and check things off as you’re viewing an apartment to help you decide whether or not you want to move in.
Location
- Where is the nearest grocery store?
- Is there a Laundromat nearby? (or laundry in the building or unit?)
- Are there restaurants in the area you can afford and are interested in checking out?
- Do you feel safe walking around the area at night? (You can check the crime rate online too)
- Do you like the vibe of the neighborhood you’re in?
- Is parking important to you? If so, can you easily park on the street or in a parking garage?
- What will your commute be like to get to work? To get to your friends’ apartments? To get to your favorite hangout spots in the city?
The Building & Unit
- Have you checked public records to see if the building has had issues in the past? (i.e. pests like cockroaches, etc)
- Does the building feel secure enough to you?
- Has the building been renovated recently? If not, are there plans to renovate in the near future? (This could prevent you from renewing your lease, should they plan on renovating your unit or floor).
- Are you happy with the building’s pet policy?
- Does the building have the amenities you’re looking for? (doorman, elevator, etc)
- Can you fit the furniture you’d like to have into the apartment? (bring a measuring tape with you to be sure!)
- How many power outlets are there? Will they be easy to access once your furniture is in place?
- Where in the building is your unit located? If you’re not on the top floor, can you hear your neighbors above you moving around and does that bother you?
- How much storage space will you have (in the kitchen, bathroom, etc)? Will you need to downsize your belongings before moving in?
Rent
- Have you taken utility bills into account when factoring the total monthly rent?
- Can you afford the apartment if your landlord increases your rent in the future? If so, how much of a rent increase can you comfortably afford?
- Have you read through the requirements you need to meet to get your full security deposit back once you move out?
- Does your landlord require you to have renter’s insurance before moving in?
Future expenses
- Will you need to buy new furniture for the apartment?
- When you decide to move apartments again, can you afford to hire movers or rent a truck to move your own things?
- What are the fees associated with breaking the lease? Can you afford to leave the apartment if you need to move out early?
- What costs will the landlord cover and what will you need to pay for out of pocket? (i.e. if the toilet breaks, etc)
If you’ve sailed it through this list of questions and are happy with the answers, congrats! You likely found your dream apartment. On top of answering these crucial questions, I also recommend going past your prospective apartment building at various times of the day on different days of the week. This will give you a better feel for the area and will (hopefully!) confirm that you feel safe in the area by yourself. My roommate came by our current apartment building in the middle of the night with her dad and confirmed that the area felt super safe after dark — that sealed the deal for us and we put in an offer on our apartment the next day!
Tell me: What’s one thing you always look for in a new house or apartment? I can deal with having a small bedroom if the kitchen has a good amount of counter space! (Strange tradeoff, I know. But I love to cook and have friends over!)
More posts you’ll love:
- My Top Tips for the NYC Apartment Search (these tips can be applied to really any move, though!)
- How to Support Your Friend Who’s Moving Out of State
- Prepping for House Guests: 8 Simple Ways to Spruce Up Your Space
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