New Apartment Checklist (Printable, with Move-In Day Steps)

Before move-in

Do these in the weeks before you get the keys. Lead times for internet and parking are the ones people miss.

• Read the signed lease again: rent due date, late fees, notice to leave, guest and pet rules, who fixes what.
• Confirm the move-in date, key pick-up time and place, and how many keys, fobs and parking passes you get.
• Look at renters insurance. It usually covers your belongings and personal liability; your landlord's policy does not cover your things. Some leases require it. This is general information, not advice.
• Electricity: find out who supplies the apartment and ask to start service in your name on the move-in date (some buildings include it in rent).
• Gas: ask whether the apartment uses gas for heat, hot water or the stove, and whether you pay for it directly.
• Water, sewer and trash: ask whether the landlord bills these separately or includes them in rent.
• Internet: check which providers serve the address and book an install date. Installation can take a week or more, so book as soon as you have a move-in date.
• Change your address with the post office, banks, your employer and others. Use the change of address checklist
• Ask the building about moving rules: elevator reservation, loading zone, move-in hours, and any deposit for using the elevator.
• Ask how parking works: assigned space, permit, guest parking, street rules.
• Apply for the parking permit or garage pass and register your plate with the building if required.
• Check the pet policy and fees, and send the building your pet's vaccination records if they ask.
• Find a vet near the new apartment and ask your old vet to send records.
• Pay the security deposit and first month's rent by the agreed method and keep the receipt.
• Write a monthly budget with rent, utilities, internet, insurance and food, so the first month has no surprises.

Move-in day inspection

Do this before you carry boxes in. Photos with a date are your record of how the place looked on day one.

• Take dated photos or video of every room, including walls, floors, windows, appliances and the inside of cabinets.
• Fill in the move-in condition form, if there is one. Write down every mark, stain, chip or broken thing, and keep a copy.
• Press the test button on every smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm. Tell the landlord in writing if one does not work.
• Check that every door and window locks and that all keys work. Ask whether the locks were changed.
• Run every tap and flush every toilet. Look for leaks under sinks, slow drains and water pressure problems.
• Test the oven, stove burners, fridge, dishwasher, heating and air conditioning. Note what does not work.
• Plug a phone charger into outlets in each room to find dead ones. Check light switches and light fixtures.
• Look for signs of pests: droppings, chewed packaging, small dark spots on mattress seams or baseboards.
• Photograph the electricity and gas meter readings on the day you move in, if the apartment has its own meters.
• Email your photos and the list of problems to the landlord or manager the same day, so there is a dated record.

Living with roommates or family

Agree on money and shared things in writing before the first bill arrives.

• Agree how rent and each utility is split, who pays whom, and by which day. Put it in a message everybody can find.
• Check whether everyone is on the lease, and who is responsible if one person leaves.
• Make a shared supplies list (toilet paper, dish soap, trash bags, cleaning spray) and decide how it is paid for.
• Agree on cleaning days, quiet hours, guests and shared spaces.
• Decide who sets up the internet and electricity accounts, and share the login or bill split.
• List who owns which furniture and appliances in shared rooms, so nobody has to guess later.
• Make a simple weekly chore plan for the household, including who takes out the trash and recycling.
• Check the school, childcare or daycare options near the new address and the registration deadlines.
• Walk the apartment looking for hazards for small children: window guards, outlet covers, cords, stairs, balcony railing.

Kitchen

• One pot, one frying pan, a lid that fits both.
• A good chef's knife, a cutting board, a peeler and a can opener.
• Plates, bowls, glasses or mugs and cutlery for each person plus two guests.
• Wooden spoon, spatula, ladle, tongs, a colander and a measuring cup.
• Food storage containers with lids and a few zip bags.
• Dish soap, sponge or brush, dish rack and dish towels.
• Kitchen trash can with a lid and trash bags that fit it.
• Pantry starters: salt, pepper, cooking oil, coffee or tea, rice or pasta, and something for the first breakfast.
• Baking sheet, mixing bowls and a casserole dish.
• Kettle or coffee maker, and a toaster or microwave if the place does not have one.
• Fridge thermometer and a box of baking soda for the fridge.

Bathroom

• Shower curtain, liner and rings (or check the apartment has a glass door).
• Two towels per person, a bath mat and hand towels.
• Toilet paper (a multi-pack), a toilet brush and a plunger.
• Small bathroom trash can and a soap dispenser.
• Basic first-aid kit: bandages, pain reliever, thermometer, antiseptic.
• Shelf or caddy for toiletries.

Bedroom

• Bed frame and mattress, unless the apartment is furnished.
• Two sets of sheets, a pillow for each person, a blanket or comforter and a mattress protector.
• Hangers, and a laundry basket or hamper.
• Curtains or blinds for privacy, if the windows have none.
• Dresser or shelves for clothes, if there is not enough closet space.
• Bedside lamp and a phone charging spot.

Living room

• A sofa or at least two chairs. Measure doorways, the elevator and the stairs before you buy.
• Table or desk and a chair, for meals and for work.
• Lamps or light bulbs, so rooms with weak overhead light are usable. Check the bulb type before you buy.
• Power strip with surge protection and a couple of extension cords.
• Rug, wall decor and plants, once the essentials are in.
• TV stand or wall mount (ask first before drilling), if you have a TV.
• Bookshelf or storage cubes for loose items.
• Pet bed, food and water bowls, a litter box or leash, and a few familiar toys.

Cleaning supplies

• All-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner and a few microfiber cloths.
• Broom and dustpan, and a mop or vacuum that suits your floors.
• Bathroom cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and rubber gloves.
• Trash bags in two sizes and a recycling bin or bags.
• Laundry detergent. Find out where the laundry room is and how it is paid for (coins, card or app).
• Wipe down shelves, drawers and appliances before you unpack into them.

Tools and safety

• Basic tool kit: screwdrivers, a hammer, pliers, a tape measure and an adjustable wrench.
• Flashlight and spare batteries, in case of a power cut.
• Fire extinguisher for the kitchen, if the building does not provide one. Ask where the nearest is.
• Find the breaker box and the main water shutoff valve, and label them.
• Learn the nearest fire exits and where the stairs are.
• Save the landlord, building manager and maintenance request contacts in your phone, including the after-hours number.

First week

• Submit maintenance requests for everything you found on the inspection list that still needs fixing.
• Check that your name is on the mailbox and that you have the mailbox key. Note when mail is delivered.
• Say hello to the neighbors on either side and across the hall.
• Walk the area: nearest grocery store, pharmacy, transit stop and a late-night place that is open.
• Update your driver's license and vehicle registration for the new address, by your state's deadline.
• Learn the trash, recycling and bulk-item pickup days and where to put bins.
• Unpack the "open first" boxes: bed, bathroom, kitchen basics and chargers, then do one room at a time.
• Break down the boxes and ask the building where to recycle cardboard.