Getting your first apartment can be very exciting; however, it can sometimes be very stressful and costly. From picking the best and most convenient neighborhood to finding the perfect color of paint for your rooms, there are a thousand decisions you must make.
It is, therefore, important to have a first apartment checklist of all the things you will need for your new apartment as well as their associated costs to help you make the right decision when moving into your new apartment.
Main Sections in First Apartment Checklist
It would be best if you considered this segment as a condensed version of your first apartment checklist: everything listed below is a must-have. It is, therefore, important that you check off all these items before moving to your apartment.
Mattress, mattress topper, bedding, and pillows
The first thing you should buy after signing your lease is a mattress. Between the stress of moving, packing, changing your address, and then the physical move, you will most definitely get tired after doing all that work. The first thing you would need to unpack is your mattress, mattress topper, bedding, and your pillow.
A toolkit, Nails, and Wall hooks
When unpacking your things in your new apartment, you’ll probably need to decorate it somehow. And you may have to put something together such as a bookshelf. It is always good to be prepared. There is nothing as infuriating as rushing to the store to buy nails and hooks.
When dealing with nails, accidents may occur. You’ll also need to furnish yourself with the following in case of an accident
- Cold pack and ointment for muscle pain
- Antibiotic ointment
- Band-aids and bandages
- Pain relief and cold medicine
- Antiseptic wipes
A Step Stool
When you are unpacking, a step stool will come in handy, especially if you are short if or if your apartment has a high ceiling. Since you will be moving from one room to another trying to nail things on the wall, you must get a step stool that is easily portable, light, and easy to store.
Extension cords, power strips, and batteries
To ascertain that everything is working correctly, it is important to have extension cords, power strips, and batteries to test everything from the Television to the blenders, fridge, and microwave. This will also give you an easy time setting everything up.
Cleaning supplies
This is very important. You don’t want to sleep in a dirty room after moving in. Even if you have the rooms cleaned before moving in while unpacking, you may make a mess or find spots that the previous tenant forgot to clean. It is important to have your cleaning supplies ready so that you have everything cleaned up and ready for use. Here are some items to add to your first apartment checklist that you may need:
- A mop, sponges, and a cleaning cloth
- Air freshener
- Disinfectant spray
- A toilet scrubber and cleaning solution for toilet bowls
- Trash bags and paper towels
- Stain remover
- Cleaning wipes and a Multi-surface cleaning spay
Shower Curtain
After a long and tedious day unpacking, you’ll probably be dying to hop in the shower. Having a shower curtain prevents water from ruining the floors and soaking your mats. It is, therefore, important that to have all the toiletries you may need, including a shower curtain.
Kitchen essentials
When doing the laborious task of unpacking and moving in, you’ll want to grab something to eat and drink. Here are some kitchen essentials you must mention in your first apartment checklist when moving to your new apartment:
- Cooking utensils
- Frying pan and pots
- Bowls and plates
- Toaster, microwave, and a blender
- Food storage containers and sandwich bags
First Apartment Checklist: Breakdown of what you need to buy for each room
Kitchen
Several things are essential for use in your kitchen when moving into your new apartment. Due to the vastness of the things to buy in your kitchen, you may end up forgetting to buy some things. Here is a first apartment checklist to guide you when doing your shopping for kitchen wear.
- Kitchen furniture, i.e., kitchen tables and chairs
- Spice rack
- Pots and pans
- Spices
- Mixing bowls
- Cutlery and cutlery tray
- Can opener
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board
- Glasses, cups, and mugs
- Serving and cooking utensils
- Dishtowels
- Tupperware
- A knife set
- Dish drying rack
- Vegetable peeler
- Napkins
- Microwave
- Aluminum foil
- Blender
- Toaster
- Countertop storage
- Coffee maker
- An instant pot or slow cooker
Living Room
You’ll probably spend most of your time in the living room so you must make it nice and comfortable as possible. Here are some of the things to add to your first apartment checklist to make a stunning living room:
- A couch
- Chairs
- Coffee table
- Bean bags, cushions, and other sitting alternatives
- Bookshelf
- Desk and a chair
- Rug
- Tv and a TV stand
- Curtains or blinds
Bedroom
Where you sleep matters a lot. When you have a hectic day, and you would like to have some rest, you don’t want to go to a disorganized room. Here are some things you should buy to help make your bedroom more comfortable:
- Dresser
- Hangers
- Bedframe and box springs
- Mattress and a mattress pad
- Full-length mirror
- Show rack
- Alarm clock
- Pillows and pillow cover
- Desk and a chair
- Over-the-door storage unit
- Several sets of beddings and sheets
- Curtains
Bathroom
You don’t want to leave out some essential things you require when starting your day. Here is a list of all the things you will need to mention in your first apartment checklist for your bathroom:
- Shower curtains and a shower caddy
- Toilet seat
- Bath mats
- Toilet paper and toilet paper holder
- Cleaning supplies and air freshener
- Scale
- Trash can
- Over-the-door towel hook
- Storage for toiletries
- Toilet brush and a toilet plunger
- Toiletries, i.e., bathing soap. Hand soap, lotion, etc.
Laundry
For laundry, the first apartment checklist contains:
- Garment bag
- Lingerie bags
- Iron and ironing board
- Laundry hamper and laundry bags
- Drying rack
Entrance Area
You want to make anyone visiting you fall in love with your new place as soon as they come in. some of the things you must add to your first apartment checklist to place in your entrance area or corridor include:
- A lamp
- Wall hooks for jackets
- A welcome mat
- A small rug
- A small bench or table for shoes
Other things you should consider buying include:
- Candles
- Batteries
- Light bulbs
- A broom and a dustpan
- Drawer organizer
- Extension cords
- Flashlight
- Swiffer sweeper
- Trash bags
- A fan
- Fire alarm
- Chip clips and rubber bands
Things to Do upon Moving in
After preparing your first apartment checklist and everything is set and you are ready to move in, here are a few things you should do upon moving in:
- Assemble your bed as soon as you move in
- Put each box in its designated room
- Document the condition of all the rooms and save copies
- Take a walk around the neighbourhood and introduce yourself to the neighbours
First Time Apartment Checklist
You can download our ready-to-use first time apartment checklist templates to make your work much easier when getting ready to move to your new apartment.
Conclusion
Of course, all the items listed above can be customized to suit your specific needs, so there is much leeway in finding out exactly what suits you based on your living circumstances. Once you have acquired all these essential items listed above, you’ll feel quite comfortable in your new apartment.