Ready to move into your first apartment?

Are you ready to make that big, serious plunge into adulthood? Of course, you’re not, nobody is. But that doesn’t matter, because you’re doing it anyway, and you will laugh at yourself at just how stressed and anxious you were now. However, we know all these “you’ll understand when you’re older” things don’t really help. What does help is having an actionable plan that can help you make this transition as smooth as possible.

 You want this move to be as painless as it can be, and to avoid any unnecessary stress that may rear its ugly head. For this reason, we compiled a list of the main things to watch out for when moving into your first, real apartment.

Budget properly

Above all, be honest with your budget. Don’t make the mistake of minimizing all your costs, thinking you will be able to cook for yourself every single day, catching every sale at your local shop, and expecting utmost frugality from yourself. Trying all these things is admirable, but not feasible. Furthermore, don’t count on getting a bonus every other month at your place of work, and know that if you’re in the service industry, sometimes tips just aren’t as good as they can be.

Taking all of this into account, you can pretty much decide what the size and state of the place you want to live at ease. Don’t force yourself into a three by three coffin, but at the same time think long and hard if you can afford that loft you set your sights on. And you, of course, want to eat healthily, and not actually subsist on ramen and oats.

Think about your location

There are a couple of factors regarding location that you need to know about. Sure, everybody wants to live as close to downtown as possible. But know that you will be going out to party once or twice per week. What is more important is how close your apartment is to your place of work or school. Furthermore, are you living in a “food desert” i.e. no shops or markets anywhere near you? Having to take the bus for 20 minutes in one direction every day in order to get basic groceries will add up over time, not just financially, but stress wise as well. And of course, the neighborhood is important. Do you really want to be afraid for your life every time night falls at your place?

Be on the lookout

Check the actual state of the apartment. Is there any mould or water damage? Are there strange and strong smells that permeate the place? Then, how thin are the walls? The last thing you need is signing a lease, and not being able to sleep because you can hear everything the neighbors are saying. Is the building ok? How old is it, and in what condition?

Get the essentials

There are certainly universal, and specific, essential things you will need. The basics are things like an internet connection, utensils, your own towels and sheets, pots and pans (if there aren’t any at the apartment)… You should also probably call in advance if things like cable and internet aren’t already set up. Getting your TV antenna installation done properly may take some time, as can set up an internet connection. These things are completely natural, and if your work hinges on actually being online all the time, well, losing a day or two from work will certainly not be fun.

Be a valuable tenant

Now that you’re finally living inside your new home, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. Namely, the amount of respect you show to your landlord, the same amount of respect (hopefully) will be given to you. This means a couple of things.

First, when living here, any damage you do to the apartment will warrant you losing your deposit. That may not seem like an issue now, but you will most likely not live the rest of your days in this new place. This means that deposit can come in pretty handy one day. Also, know that things will break, and these won’t be your fault.

If you’re on good terms with your landlord, any leaky pipe, blocked radiators, and clogged pipework will be handled rather quickly. On the other hand, if your landlord receives daily noise complaints because of the parties you throw every night, well, just be thankful you aren’t out on the streets. Act in the manner in which this person will actually want to keep you here.

Conclusion

And there you have it folks, a quick list of tips for your first apartment. This can be a very challenging and stressful time for anybody, and having it all run smoothly will save you a world of hurt. So remember – try to be a nice tenant, check everything twice before you move in, get the essentials, think about the location, and be honest about your budget.