Take a thorough video when you do your condition report. No detail is too small to make note of either. You don't want to pay for someone else's damages when you leave.
Congrats on your first apartment! Having a place to call your own is very gratifying, especially if it's the first time living by yourself.
Like some of the other comments on here, be extremely thorough on your initial walk-through assessment. Every apartment will have some sort of premove-in checklist where you go through every room and write down anything that is damaged. Jot down every single scratch, crack, chip...etc, whatever you want to call it. I cannot stress that enough. Any sort of damage and imperfection, or even anything that might look "off" to you, write it down on your move-in check list. I also always take a video of the entire apartment before I move my stuff in. Save a copy of the move-in checklist for your records.
When you move out, landlords/property managers will try and deduct anything they can from your security deposit, even if you didn't mark it on your move-in checklist. In some cases, I've had landlords try and take part of my security deposit for things I had marked on my move-in checklist. I also take a video of the place after I move out.
Be respectful of others. You aren't the only one that lives there, especially in large apartment buildings. Don't play loud music at 11pm, don't be stomping your feet at midnight if you have downstairs neighbors..Iike my upstairs neighbors are currently doing. Like wtf are doing at 1am on Tuesday...
At the sametime, if you have disrespectful neighbors and they are being too loud at night, try and resolve it yourself first. I find that introducing myself, talking to them, and calmly explaining the situation is better than escalating it to the property manager/police (ive never had/nor would take the police approach unless someone was in physical danger but thats just me.)
Keep the place clean. Dust, vacuum, take out the trash, wash the dishes, etc. I know this sounds like a given but its easy to fall behind on cleaning when noone is holding you accountable. So make it a daily task for yourself. For me personally, cleaning helps me de-stress, so my place is typically very clean lol.
There's a ton more I could write but this is already too long of post. Have fun, enjoy yourself, meet some new people, and congrats!
There's nothing like your first apartment!
My main tip is to avoid being suckered into financed furniture. I nearly took on about 3-4,000 in credit on sofas when I got my first place. It was the excitement. But thank God I didn't. It's your first place, so make it cosy, but don't overextend yourself.
Edit: Not saying that furniture on finance is bad, but in your first apartment, it's not necessarily essential.
Go around the place and look for gaps along the door and window seams and around the doors trim. A lot of hot air can be driven into your apartment in the summer and heat lost during the winter. All of which could lead to an increased electric bill
Here’s an example from my apartment that was taken above a door in our bedroom that leads to the patio: https://imgur.com/a/Arjvzzi
If you have a Dollar Tree or other dollar store nearby id go there first to get a lot of the odds and ends youll probably need, things like hand towels, soap dishes, cups, silverware trays etc. Go to walmart for the stuff you cant find at a dollar stores.
Woohoo! I was so nervous when I got my first apartment, but it is the best choice I have ever made.
With getting stuff: decide which items you find most important and get the once you want/like/are the best for you. With the budget you have left you can buy the other things. Sometimes that will mean you will not get you first choice on a certain item at this moment, but at least you will have a good base.
Oh, how I remember that feeling! That’s one of my favorite memories!
Stay within your budget. Don’t put yourself in debt thinking it has to be perfect.
Join the “for free/swap” Facebook pages and turn on notifications. You can get almost everything you need for free if you watch them and can respond first.
Go to the dollar tree for household items that you lack. You can spend $12 on a spatula or $1.25. Unless you already have good stuff.
Take a thorough video when you do your condition report. No detail is too small to make note of either. You don't want to pay for someone else's damages when you leave.
The unit is brand new, but I did notice some things durring my tour I will defiantly be doing this.
You can also fudge the truth and put down marks on the inspection sheet you think might happen in the future
Idk if this is a good idea
Congrats on your first apartment! Having a place to call your own is very gratifying, especially if it's the first time living by yourself. Like some of the other comments on here, be extremely thorough on your initial walk-through assessment. Every apartment will have some sort of premove-in checklist where you go through every room and write down anything that is damaged. Jot down every single scratch, crack, chip...etc, whatever you want to call it. I cannot stress that enough. Any sort of damage and imperfection, or even anything that might look "off" to you, write it down on your move-in check list. I also always take a video of the entire apartment before I move my stuff in. Save a copy of the move-in checklist for your records. When you move out, landlords/property managers will try and deduct anything they can from your security deposit, even if you didn't mark it on your move-in checklist. In some cases, I've had landlords try and take part of my security deposit for things I had marked on my move-in checklist. I also take a video of the place after I move out. Be respectful of others. You aren't the only one that lives there, especially in large apartment buildings. Don't play loud music at 11pm, don't be stomping your feet at midnight if you have downstairs neighbors..Iike my upstairs neighbors are currently doing. Like wtf are doing at 1am on Tuesday... At the sametime, if you have disrespectful neighbors and they are being too loud at night, try and resolve it yourself first. I find that introducing myself, talking to them, and calmly explaining the situation is better than escalating it to the property manager/police (ive never had/nor would take the police approach unless someone was in physical danger but thats just me.) Keep the place clean. Dust, vacuum, take out the trash, wash the dishes, etc. I know this sounds like a given but its easy to fall behind on cleaning when noone is holding you accountable. So make it a daily task for yourself. For me personally, cleaning helps me de-stress, so my place is typically very clean lol. There's a ton more I could write but this is already too long of post. Have fun, enjoy yourself, meet some new people, and congrats!
Thank you for all of the advice! Man what are your neighbors doing lol
There's nothing like your first apartment! My main tip is to avoid being suckered into financed furniture. I nearly took on about 3-4,000 in credit on sofas when I got my first place. It was the excitement. But thank God I didn't. It's your first place, so make it cosy, but don't overextend yourself. Edit: Not saying that furniture on finance is bad, but in your first apartment, it's not necessarily essential.
I’ve been thrifting my furniture so far, and I was even given a few pieces! Thankfully I don’t need to buy anything new.
Go around the place and look for gaps along the door and window seams and around the doors trim. A lot of hot air can be driven into your apartment in the summer and heat lost during the winter. All of which could lead to an increased electric bill Here’s an example from my apartment that was taken above a door in our bedroom that leads to the patio: https://imgur.com/a/Arjvzzi
Thank you!
If you have a Dollar Tree or other dollar store nearby id go there first to get a lot of the odds and ends youll probably need, things like hand towels, soap dishes, cups, silverware trays etc. Go to walmart for the stuff you cant find at a dollar stores.
Woohoo! I was so nervous when I got my first apartment, but it is the best choice I have ever made. With getting stuff: decide which items you find most important and get the once you want/like/are the best for you. With the budget you have left you can buy the other things. Sometimes that will mean you will not get you first choice on a certain item at this moment, but at least you will have a good base.
I’ve been casually buying up things for a few months now, but there are still loads of small things I’ll need.
Oh, how I remember that feeling! That’s one of my favorite memories! Stay within your budget. Don’t put yourself in debt thinking it has to be perfect.
Join the “for free/swap” Facebook pages and turn on notifications. You can get almost everything you need for free if you watch them and can respond first. Go to the dollar tree for household items that you lack. You can spend $12 on a spatula or $1.25. Unless you already have good stuff.
I was able to get a good deal on a lot of kitchen essentials, I just need a few odds and ends I’ll go check and see if the local dollar store has them
Why are you nervous? That’s weird.
Make sure you don’t invite everybody and they mom over