Don’t Move Into an Apartment Without Reading These Genius Apartment Moving Tips First
Moving into an apartment? Here are 16 insanely helpful apartment moving tips every renter should know (but probably doesn’t).
Moving into an apartment is so exciting! And whether this is your first rodeo, or you’ve done this all before, there are definitely some moving tips that will make your life a lot easier through the entire process.
No one talks about these tips, but they make such a HUGE difference, and will make you feel like a pro, even if this is your first time ( I won’t tell 🤫).
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the whole moving process and are looking for some tips that will actually work and take some stress off of your shoulders, you’re in the right place!
As someone who has done it all before, it definitely helps knowing these apartment moving tips (and they’re honestly not talked about enough). But that’s what this post is here for!
You’re going to learn the best apartment moving tips from tips for moving into a new apartment, packing for apartment moving tips, tips for moving in a small apartment, and more.
These are seriously the only apartment moving tips you need to know for smooth sailing! So grab a pen and some paper, or open your notes app, and write down these tips because you’re going to want these game-changing tips handy at all times during the move.
This post is all about the best apartment moving tips that will make your life so much easier.
The Best Apartment Moving Tips:
1. Pack a “First Night” Box
Pack all of your essentials and the items you know you’re going to need for the first day or so in a separate box. This will make your life soooo much easier and you won’t have to go searching through a ton of different boxes to find those essentials you need right away.
This includes a couple pairs of clothes, toothbrush, toiletries, chargers, electronics, a pillow and sheets, and maybe even a blowup mattress (if you know your bed isn’t going to be set up the first day).
Also keep this box with you, and don’t let the movers take it, or all of your smart planning-ahead will be pointless.
2. Create a Moving Checklist
Lucky for you, I’ve got you covered with this one. You can download your Apartment Move-In Checklist below!
This has everything you need to do when you move-in to your apartment, so you don’t forget anything. There’s also a moving timeline calendar to help you plan ahead for the move to make the whole process a lot less stressful.
3. Color Code Boxes or Label By Room
You HAVE to have a system for labeling your boxes. Otherwise, it’s just going to be a chaotic mess and you’re not going to know where anything is. And when you do label, make sure to label all sides of the box, so no matter how it’s packed, you know what’s inside.
This will also make it easier for movers so they can put each box in the room you labeled it as. I recommend writing the room in huge letters, and then a sub-category under it (e.g. dishes, utensils, and cookware).
4. Deep Clean Before Moving In
This is SO important! Don’t even think about saving this for later. I know, things will get messy when you move-in, but it’ll make your life a lot easier if you’ve done an initial clean before bringing anything in.
The truth is, it’s not as clean as you would think, so vacuuming, mopping, wiping down surfaces, and dusting are definitely things you’re going to have to do yourself.
You also want to do this before any furniture is in the space so you have an open area and can reach every nook and cranny you need to. That way you’ll know you got to every corner, and you won’t have to move couches and beds to get back in those spots.
Then you’re probably going to have to repeat the process a second time after everything is moved in. But the second time will be a lot less work since you’ve already done a deeper clean beforehand.
5. Keep Essentials Out Until the Last Day
This one goes hand in hand with the “First Night” box. You’re going to need toiletries and some clothes until the very last day before you move-in, so make sure not to pack them up with the rest of your items.
This will also make it easier to know exactly what you need to put in your “First Night” box as well.
You might even want to use a duffle or large bag instead of a box, so there’s no confusion and you don’t accidentally put it with the rest of your boxes. Anything you can do to make it clear to yourself, and anyone else helping you move, that it does not go with the rest of the boxes.
6. Take Photos of Everything
This is something you should always, always do when moving into a new place (and moving out of your old place)!
Take photos of your old apartment or wherever you’re moving out of, so there is no way you can be charged extra for anything (a lot of apartment complexes will try this and it’s super annoying so beware and be thorough with your pictures).
Make sure the photos are clear, and error on the side of taking too many photos, rather than not enough. This should be one of the last things you do before moving out of your old place.
And then when you move into your new apartment, make sure to take pictures of any scuffs and scratches that were already there before moving in, so they know it wasn’t you and you don’t get blamed for anything you aren’t responsible for.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry in these situations!
7. Disassemble Furniture Beforehand (And Bag Screws)
For the furniture you have to disassemble, like beds, and maybe couches, do this before the movers come.
Also, take all of the screws and any extra small pieces you have from disassembling that piece of furniture, and put it in a small bag that you either hang onto and put in a safe place, or tape the bag to the furniture so it doesn’t get lost.
If you want to be extra cautious (can’t hurt!), label the bags with the piece of furniture it belongs to so there is no guessing.
8. Pack a “Rolling Suitcase” With the Heavy Stuff
You can use a rolling suitcase, or any type of rolling cart or trolley for this one. But for items like books that might fall off of a moving trolley, a suitcase is the way to go!
Don’t make the mistake of packing your boxes full of books and other heavier items. This will make everyone’s lives a lot harder on moving day.
Do yourself (and everyone) a favor, and put these items in something like a suitcase where you can roll it around so you you don’t have to strain your back picking up a super heavy load.
You also won’t have to worry about the bottom of the box breaking through from too much weight if you use a suitcase.
9. Use Vacuum-Seal Bags for Bulky Items
Put bulky items like blankets and pillows in a vacuum-seal bag so they don’t take up more space than they need to. In the end, this will save you from having to make so many trips, or save you moving costs, because your bulky items will take up a lot less space in a vacuum-sealed bag.
It’s kinda crazy how much space these items take up normally, vs. when they’re compressed in a vacuum-sealed bag. 🤭
10. Declutter Before Packing… Not After
There is absolutely no point in bringing items that you’re just going to get rid of when you move in, or know you’re never going to use or miss.
In the weeks before moving, when you’re packing up, don’t put anything in a moving box that doesn’t serve a purpose in your new apartment, or doesn’t fit in your new space.
Moving is a great time to purge and donate or sell items that you no longer need. And trust me, there will be items that you question if they’re useful or not when packing. Be brutally honest with yourself in this process. If you know you’re not going to wear that sweater again or use all of the extra makeup you have in your vanity, GET RID OF IT.
Some questions to ask yourself when decluttering:
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Do I love this?
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Do I need this in my next space?
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Would I buy this again today?
Then sort into “Keep” “Sell” “Donate” and “Toss” categories to keep yourself organized.
You’ll be so happy you did this ahead of time, and didn’t wait until you’re in your new apartment to declutter. It’ll also save you time and money if you have to move less items.
11. Assemble a Mini Move-In Toolkit
This is something that comes in handy a lot more than you’d think!
Here’s what you should include in your toolkit:
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Box cutter
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Measuring tape
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Hammer + screwdriver
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Wall hooks, tape, or Command strips
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Scissors
If there’s anything else you know will come in handy, add it in. But these are just some of the basics that everyone needs to have handy while moving, both packing up your old place and moving into your new one.
12. Setup Utilities + Internet Before Move-In Day
Ugh, there is nothing worse than sitting in your apartment your first night, and not being able to use any of the utilities or internet.
Plan ahead, and make sure the utilities are ready to use when you move-in (they will be in most apartments but it’s good to double-check), and go in yourself a day or two before you move-in and set up the internet.
The more you plan ahead, the less you’ll have to do later and the less stressed you’ll be on the actual moving day.
13. Map Out Your Furniture Before Move-In Day
I like to use painters tape for this because it won’t damage walls or the floor, and outline where you want to put each piece of furniture. There is nothing more helpful than having a good visual beforehand so you know exactly how much space you have.
And if you know exactly where you want your furniture, you can tell the movers, so you don’t have to try to move the pieces to the exact spots you want afterwards.
You can also use Canva to help you get a good visual and then you’ll also have a virtual layout of your apartment that you can easily play around with and switch up.
14. Plan for Food That Day
As someone who can’t function without food in my system (I know I’m not alone when I say this!), I always make sure to pack bento boxes for moving days and such.
Choose foods that don’t make too much of a mess and are easy to eat on the go. This will keep you fueled throughout the day, which you’ll need because moving days are always exhausting.
It’s also nice because you won’t have to worry about taking a big break to go scope out food options in your new neighborhood.
I would be prepared with one or two local places you can grab takeout from on the first night because after a long moving day, the last thing you want to worry about is where you’re getting food from. And trust me, you’re not going to want to cook!
15. Use Painters Tape to Pre-Plan for Wall Decor
Painters tape is also great for mapping out where you want your different wall decor. Don’t just size it out with how big you think the shelves or picture frame are (it’s never accurate 😂). Use a measuring tape for this one and outline your walls with the different decor pieces you want (or already have) and how you want them to be arranged.
It usually looks a lot different in your head than it does when you actually start taking measurements and have a physical visual in front of you.
The last thing you want to do is “think” everything will pan out and fit perfectly together, and then when you go to put everything up, find out you were way off.
I know it can be annoying to pick up the measuring tape and get technical, but that’s the only way you’ll actually know if what you envisioned will work. And you’ll be happy you did it in the end!
16. Line Kitchen Drawers and Bathroom Shelves First
No one tells you to do this, but it’s SO smart and will save your butt! This will keep your kitchen drawers (you might want to do this with cupboards and pantry shelves too) from getting scratched.
And when it comes time to clean out these areas, all of the crumbs will be on the liners and you can just wipe them off instead of having to vacuum out the drawers from all of the buildup.
This will also save you from having to spend a ton of time cleaning out your fridge. Any sticky residues or spills will be on the liner, and not on your actual fridge shelves or in the drawers.
If you’re looking for some good fridge liners, I use these fridge mats and they’re great at keeping the mess to a minimum.
Quick Tips:
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Don’t overpack boxes—heavy = breakable.
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Use towels, socks, and blankets to wrap fragile items.
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Pack plates vertically like records—they break less.
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Don’t forget to forward your mail!
This post was all about the best apartment moving tips that will make your life so much easier.
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Insanely Helpful Apartment Cleaning Checklist
