The Ultimate Checklist for Renters Who Are Moving to a New Property

Moving into a new apartment can be both an exciting and stressful time as there is no way of telling how things will go or if you’ll actually enjoy your new space. You could also have to deal with unpleasant surprises once you get there.

Then there’s all the planning involved in a move, which can be a major headache if you haven’t prepared carefully. This is why you should have a clear plan in place before you leave if you want to ensure that the whole process runs as smoothly as possible. Here’s a checklist for renters who are moving to a new property.

Take Measurements of Your New Apartment

One of the most important things that you should do – and that is often overlooked – is taking measurements of every room in the house before you move in. This will allow you to plan how you lay out your furniture. In some cases, you might find out that some pieces will simply not fit in, so you might have to sell, give away, or store a few things before the move.

Another very important thing is measuring the entryways in the front and the back of the apartment. This is because some furniture, like some couch sets for instance, won’t be able to fit through certain doors. This is important if you want to know if your current furniture will fit, or if you intend to buy new furniture.

Check Everything is Working Properly

One of the first things you should do is make sure that there aren’t any plumbing issues when you get to your new apartment. One of the simplest ways that you can do this is to make sure you have access to your water meter. You should check the meter from the minute you get in the apartment, wait for 2 hours while making sure no one uses the water, then check it again – the readings should be the same. If they aren’t, then it could mean that you have a leak. Also, while you are there, replace the toilet seats for sanitary reasons.

Another thing you should check immediately is your HVAC system, especially the filters. Chances are these haven’t been changed in a while, and you don’t want to have to wait on your landlord to replace air filters for you. If you’re looking for a great source for filters, you can find air filters here. FilterBuy has all sorts of filters available, and you should have no trouble finding one for your system. Their order form is also very easy to use, so you’ll have no problem finding the exact model that you need with your preferred level of filtration.

Look for the Circuit Breaker and Shut off Valves

These are two components that will be very important and you have to locate them as soon as you can. You should also ask the landlord how to operate them if you don’t already. These will be

important if something goes wrong and you need to cut the water source. For instance, knowing where the shut off valve is could avoid a disaster if your toilet starts overflowing.

The circuit breaker is another thing you’ll need to be familiar with. There will be times when you might have to reset a circuit breaker or replace a fuse. The circuit box should be easy to reach, and you have to know what areas each breaker controls.

Make Copies of Your Keys

This is another very important step that a lot of people strangely overlook. We’ve all been locked out of our house at least once, and making copies could be a lifesaver. Make sure that you make multiple copies, then give them to people you trust and know you’ll be able to reach if anything happens.

Check the Smoke Detectors

This step is very important as well. You want to make sure that all the smoke detectors are in good condition and are working. Replace the batteries with new ones. Check if they respond to smoke by lighting a match underneath, and see if they react to heat by lighting a lighter. If they don’t respond to your satisfaction, ask the landlord for a new one or get one yourself. While it should be the landlord’s responsibility, you don’t want to stay in a home that isn’t safe, so you could buy it yourself and try to strike a deal with them to take it off your rent.

If you follow the items on this checklist, you should be able to avoid a lot of issues once you move into your new home and feel comfortable as soon as possible. Always plan your move well in advance, and make sure that you and your landlord are on the same page.

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