To Do List for New Apartment Renters

You found the perfect apartment, paid the deposit and have started packing. Now you’re ready to mentally set up your new place.

But have you thought of everything? If you’re moving into your first apartment, make sure you’ve covered all your bases so you’re not left with a couch in the hallway, illegal appliances or no electricity. After all, it’s hard to have that first housewarming party with no lights, though that definitely would make it memorable.

Measure Your Space and Belongings

• First, measure your furniture to make sure it will fit.
• Measure your living room, bedroom and dining room to decide where furniture should go, so you can walk around in each room.
• Don’t forget to measure door frames to make sure big pieces will fit through.

Protect Yourself

• Look into renter’s insurance, which covers your property losses in a variety of situations, including fire, theft and electrical current damage, as well as your liability if someone is injured in your apartment or by your pet
• Store your valuables out of sight in your car, and pick out a well-lit spot to park your vehicle.
• Purchase a good fire extinguisher if your apartment unit doesn’t already have one, and consider purchasing a fire-proof safe if you really want to protect your valuables.
• Also, check into security systems and paper shredders.

Connect Your Utilities

• Ask your apartment manager if he or she has a list of utility providers and contact information, since for some utilities, you won’t have a choice of who to go with.
• Chances are that some utilities, such as water or trash service, are included with your rent. If not, ask your neighbors who they’ve chosen for these services: phone, water, gas (if applicable), electricity, Internet and cable or satellite.

Check Cell Phone Service

• Sometimes a lower-level apartment unit may not receive the full signal that its upper-level counterpart does. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, ask your apartment manager if you can make a call from your new apartment before you move in, and check the service in multiple rooms.
• If you don’t have proper cell phone service, you may have to switch providers – or talk on the phone outdoors.

Update Your Personal Information

• Update your driver’s license and car tags.
• Ask your bank and credit card companies about the process of changing or moving your accounts, and close any accounts you will not be transferring.
• For an in-state move, you may be allowed to update your address online for any of these services.
• Don’t forget to change the address on your checks.

Lastly, make sure all of the most important rooms – the kitchen and bathroom, especially – are well-stocked with all of the necessary items. To find out where to purchase budget-friendly furniture if you live in Chicago apartments, see Where to Find Nice, Cheap Furniture in Chicago.