This guest post was submitted by Matt Madsen. Matt writes about home-improvement and gives moving advice for You Move Me. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, Kelley and their new puppy, Reggie.
Moving into an apartment can be both exciting and exasperating. While the idea of a new home is stimulating and offers a sense of new adventure, the reality is often a great deal more frustrating and confusing. Without a clearly defined list of “wants” and “to-dos,” you can easily be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things to take into consideration – before you sign on the dotted line of your lease. Below are four key tips to keep in mind:
- Know how much money you actually make and what you can afford
Seems simple enough, right? But depending on your current living situation, you might not realize how much money you can actually allocate towards your new home. A friend of mine recently started a new job in a new city. Fresh out of college and never having to pay his own bills, he had no idea what a realistic expectation of monthly expenditures was. Despite this, he rushed through the apartment search and ended up in a place that he honestly can’t afford. He’s making it work, but do you really want to eat ramen noodles every night?
- Don’t commit to a roommate, unless you take the time to get to know them
Here’s something you might not know: TV shows lie. Although it can be great at times, different personalities can cause conflict, especially if you don’t know your roommate well. If you’re committing to a roommate (or roommates) make sure you understand their lifestyle and how they like to live (are they night owls, neat freaks), and determine if that jives with your own lifestyle. Remember: when you sign that year-long lease with someone it’s a financial commitment that you cannot back out of or simply request a room change like you did in college. You better know exactly what you’re doing.
- Take a tour of at least five places – get an idea of what is out there
When you walk into that first apartment on a “look-in” tour, you might be enchanted. You might think it’s everything you thought it could be and more. And it could end up being so; however it’s in your best interest to look at a handful of places within your selected region and price range. You may not have realized you needed extra closet space until you come across it in apartment number three, and know it is a requirement for your search. Once you’ve found THE place, take a visit at a different time of day then your first tour. You may not realize the neighbors are loud or primetime traffic can be heard clearly from your kitchen window or church bells ring every morning at 6 AM. It’s best to double check before committing!
- Don’t forget about Fido
Do you have a pet or are you considering getting one after the move? Most apartment complexes have a policy more complicated than a legal textbook. Mine, for instance, doesn’t allow several different dog breeds (think pit bulls) or animals over 40 pounds. If you’re an animal person be sure to inquire about this up front so you don’t fall in love with an apartment, and then have to walk away because your furry family member isn’t welcome.
- Bonus Tip – Get the right number of boxes for moving
Using You Move Me’s Moving Box Calculator, you can eliminate the stress of guessing how many boxes you need for your move.
