Are you outgrowing your current space? Ready to say goodbye to sharing a wall with a complete stranger? Thinking about the possibility of having an actual yard of your own? There are many benefits when you transition from apartment living to homeownership, but you should also be sure you’re ready for this new chapter.
Whether you’re in the process of moving, have just started searching for a home, or are somewhere in between, we’ve gathered these nine tips to help you move from an apartment to a house.
Human, Meet Home – Home, Meet Human
It might seem obvious, but familiarizing yourself with your new home is a must. This process includes not only finding out what’s inside your walls and under your roof, but also exploring the surrounding area. Meeting your neighbors is exciting, but it’s also a safety factor to make sure someone’s nearby who might be able to recognize an emergency situation. You never know who lives down the street – could they become your child’s new friend, a resource if you need your car jumped before work, or even a contact that could help your business endeavor?
Regardless of your goals, make sure you exchange contact information with at least a few locals. They also know the area better than you, so it’s most likely a benefit to hear their opinions. If you’re moving to one of the most outdoor-friendly states, you’ll want to know your neighbors’ suggestions and hear about their most-visited spots.
From wiring and electrical systems to crawlspaces, your new home will be unfamiliar to you compared to your previous apartment. Make sure you get your bearings with these systems. Assess their current condition and learn how to identify issues that might come up in the future. Breakers in your electrical box are also something you should locate so you can reset them at some point if necessary.
Your home isn’t just your house; it’s also your location. Although we hope there’s never a concern, you don’t know what’s located just a few blocks in one direction or the other. Drive around your neighborhood to learn about new cut-throughs if traffic is ever an issue, identify any places you might avoid frequenting due to safety concerns, and figure out your new go-to stores, including groceries, pharmacies, and other convenience options.
Secure a List of Trusted Resources
It takes a village to make your new home truly livable. Identify local, trusted resources around you, including friends, electricians, appliance technicians, and other professionals that you can rely on should you need to reference them. Of course, you can never anticipate issues or emergencies, and we hope you never need to use them, but it’s smart to lock this down immediately instead of scrambling when something arises.
Your previous apartment most likely had a maintenance team or at least a property management company on standby, but being a homeowner means you will have to handle everything. That’s the best part about having neighbors and local resources, though. Now you have the luxury of finding people you know and trust versus relying on the point of contact you were mandated to use.
Stay Organized (Lists on Lists on Lists)
It’s no secret that moving is time-consuming, but lists can help alleviate any additional stress or anxiety as the final day draws closer. Lists can help you not only visualize what still needs to be completed, but also organize what to pack, whom to notify that you’re moving, what you need to finish before and after the move at your new home, and where you packed the items you’ll need on the first day.
Moving and packing lists are game changers, so be sure to make them. It’s also helpful to cross out items that are already done because it’ll not only help you stay organized, but also make you feel confident that you’re on the right path and being productive as you prepare for your next steps.
It’s up to you if you choose a handwritten or a typed-out list, but just make sure that you always have it nearby if you need to add or adjust anything on the fly. We all know that the best thoughts often happen in the shower or the car, so a list will be the best way to document those brilliant thoughts instead of trying to remember what you thought of during that morning commute weeks ago.
Schedule Movers (or Allocate Resources to Help You Move)
You’re strong, and you probably enjoy saving money, but hiring movers may be one of if not the most helpful investments you can make during your move. They’re trained and experienced, and they understand efficiency. Rather than unpacking a dresser and moving each piece yourself, movers can seal it and carry it out as is. Unsure if a table will fit through a doorway? Movers have dealt with concerned homeowners dozens of times, and they know how to make even the smallest of spaces work with your furniture.
Movers also have the right equipment and protective items to ensure your property isn’t damaged on the way out and in. They’ll help you avoid any charges that come from damaging walls or doors if you were to hit or scratch them as you’re leaving. It’s also effective time-wise to have movers handle at least the day-of items. That way, you can begin unpacking, cleaning, or handling smaller items while movers focus on larger furniture.
Clean Up and Clear Out
Just because you’ve accumulated clothing, decor items, and random trinkets throughout the years doesn’t mean they need to travel with you from your old apartment to your new home. While they may have fond memories associated with them, it’s important to declutter and donate some of your older items that you don’t need in your new house. You can also look into selling valuable items if you feel others could use them.
Cleaning and decluttering help in several ways. It cuts down on the number of items you have to pack up and then unpack at your new home. It also helps you boil down to the necessities that will truly bring value to your new location and start fresh. Giving away used or old shoes, donating books you’ve already read, giving away clothing that’s been gathering dust in your closet, and even selling art or decor that you’re ready to refresh are just a few ways you can clean up and clear out before moving to your new home from your apartment.
Figure Out Food (Before, During, and After)
How did food make its way onto the list? Well, homeowners have to eat! On moving day especially, the last thing you’ll be concerned about is ordering or cooking food, let alone where you packed plates, utensils, and napkins. Don’t let eating become a concern at the last minute. If you’re clearing out your refrigerator or pantry, see if there’s enough to set aside for moving day. Breakfast on this day is certainly the most important, as well as a mid-move snack. Moving day can be long and stressful, so making sure you’re fed and hydrated will help it go as smoothly as possible.
What about when you’re officially done transferring boxes and furniture from your apartment to your home? You’ll still need to eat then! You might want to try out a spot down the street, or you could even schedule delivery to your front door. Most people don’t anticipate how tiring and time-consuming moving can be, so you’ll probably want to avoid cooking that evening or for the first few days until you’re more settled.
It’s always a challenge to clean the kitchen, find your kitchen items inside boxes, clean those items, and then stock the fridge. Cut yourself some slack, and make the transition as easy as possible. And, don’t forget, your neighbors or friends may even offer to bring you a nice meal as well, which could be an incredible welcome gesture to pay forward when someone moves into the neighborhood!
Organize and Color-Code
Finding and locating your items in boxes can be a challenge in itself. Make your move as calm as possible by organizing and color-coding your boxes and lists. Have a marker handy as you’re packing boxes, and try to pack them by room so it’ll make your life easier when you’re unpacking after everything gets stacked together. Write what’s in each box and which room they came from on the top. It may seem unnecessary, but it’s helpful if movers or friends and family are trying to sort through the boxes quickly and help in your new space.
Color-coding comes into play when you’re packing and noting what goes where. Maybe you can use a different colored marker for each room. That way, you don’t need to remember if that item came from the kitchen or living room – it’s already doing the thinking for you. The goal is to try to make your move as easy and stress-free as possible
Snap Photos of Cords and Electronics
Cords, wires, and electronics can be some of the most frustrating items to pack and unpack. Locating the right cords for the TV, your chargers, and other electronic devices can be a serious source of frustration. Take pictures of your electronics as you’re packing. Doing so will help you identify which cords go with which devices after they all inevitably get tangled during the move.
There’s nothing more frustrating than knowing you packed up a cord or wire and not being able to figure out which one goes with which device in which room. You might even want to tag the cords and color-code them to ensure the unpacking process is as foolproof as possible.
Be Proactive … About Everything!
Proactivity is key when it comes to preparing for a successful move from an apartment to a physical home. Locking in movers ahead of time once you know your move-out date will make sure that portion of the process is checked off the list while you focus on other priority items. Disconnecting cable service and setting up water, internet, and electricity service in your new home are also easy items to knock off your list as early as possible to avoid last-minute scrambles. They will be inevitable, but it’s helpful to control the controllable and be as prepared as possible.
A unique aspect of no longer living in an apartment is that you’ll be free to select the utilities and service providers of your choice instead of using the ones that the building provided in your old place. Everyone likes saving money! A moving calculator can be incredibly useful and save you money in the long run, as it has everything you’ll be comparing all in one place.
Other items, such as updating your voter registration and your address, can be done well ahead of your actual move date. Did you know you might also need to register your pet in your new location after a move? You can take care of some of these items in advance.