Some may think, “moving is moving; apartment moving isn’t special”. And while it’s true that all moving is a hassle, there are significant differences when it comes to moving into an apartment. Here’s just a few things you can do to make moving into your apartment a bit easier.
- Before even moving one toothpick, find out what the move-in policies are at your particular complex. Some apartment communities have specific times for moving-in. Make sure you find that out before you bring the moving truck on property. The last thing you want to do is find a place to sleep at 7 pm on a Monday evening.
- If you are moving in anywhere above the first floor, make certain that you have a hand truck available to help you huff those heavy boxes up the stairs. And, if you’re bringing your own appliances, make sure you have an appliance dolly! Hand trucks and appliance dollies can be rented at most self-service moving companies.
- Find out if there’s a service elevator. How disappointing would it be to know that you moved all of that heavy (but beautiful) log furniture up three flights of stairs when there was a service elevator just steps away from your front door?!
- Prior to moving in, make certain you transfer the utilities over to your name. Not having electricity on moving day (and night!) makes your move more challenging than it has to be (ask me how I know!).
- Also prior to moving in, make sure you’ve gone through the move-in checklist with the property manager, noting any defects with your unit. This will help eliminate any possible problems with a security deposit refund upon moving out.
- Make certain all of your keys work prior to moving in! If you’re moving in after hours, it’s a bit late to discover that the keys you were given don’t open up your apartment! Once your property manager turns over your new keys, try each one, including any keys to common areas.
If you’ve never moved into an apartment before, you’re up for a bit of a different experience. However, you can make it enjoyable and ease the burden of the move by following the advice of those who have done it before! Remember, keep it simple and don’t reinvent the wheel!
