Make the New Apartment Checklist with the Help of Our Tips

Don’t let the new apartment checklist become something scary and unreachable. Every cross country moving is stressful and takes a lot of time and patience, so you have to do something to make this easier for yourself. Having a ready-to-go checklist of what you need to buy is a big step forward. You’ll be able to express your style while being in control of how much you spend and what you actually need.

Have you learned all the packing tips and tricks? Did you find a reputable and reliable long-distance moving company for your moving across the country? Then the only thing left is creating a list of things to buy for a new apartment. We’ll walk you through the whole process – from the moment you leave your former home to entering a new one so that you can be sure that you didn’t forget anything and nothing is bought twice. After all, being organized has always been one of the crucial moving hacks.

If This Is Your First Time Moving Out, You Must Check Out This Article. Here’s Why

In case you’re moving state to state, and this will be the first time you’re living alone, pay special attention. A lot of these things are something that you probably have in your parent’s home, but you can’t take them with you. That makes it even harder to remember what are the things you need for a new apartment because most of them are regular everyday stuff that don’t easily come to mind. Moving to a new city alone is hard enough, not to mention moving to another state alone. To help you out, we made this list from scratch. Try to save up a lot of money and get your moving out for the first time budget ready, especially if you’re moving without a job, and you have no monthly salary waiting for you.

A girl sitting on the floor holding a laptop
If this is your first time creating an apartment checklist, be extra careful

Before We Start With the New Apartment Checklist, Check Out the Tips on What Are the Essentials You Should Get First

Ok, so you’ve got your cross country moving services, you packed all of your items, have them loaded on a truck, and now you’re on your way. So, what are the first things to buy for a new house? You can’t just arrive in an empty place and start unpacking if you sold your furniture on Craigslist or if you left them in your parents’ place. That’s why you should buy another mattress and take it with you if you’re not bringing the old one. A good night’s sleep will significantly lower the moving stress, and you’ll probably arrive tired, so the last thing you want then is to sleep on the floor.

Your New Apartment Checklist Must Have the Following Cleaning Supplies

There’s no point in unpacking if the place isn’t clean, and you shouldn’t waste time buying cleaning supplies when you arrive – you’ll just have so much other stuff to do. Be sure that you have a box with essential cleaning supplies ready and prepare for a lot of trash from unpacking. Here’s what you’ll require:

  • Vacuum cleaner
  • A mop
  • Detergent for floor cleaning
  • Broom and a dustpan
  • Sponges for dishes and bathroom
  • Dish soap
  • Rubber gloves
  • Hand soap
  • Garbage bags
  • Paper towels

Don’t Forget About the Basic Tool Kit

Another crucial thing you can’t go without is a tool kit. That includes a screwdriver and bits, tape measure, a hammer, nails of different sizes, a utility knife, scissors, and Allen wrenches. You’ll require this for fixing any possible damages, or for assembling the furniture you bought. It might seem that you won’t use half of these, but trust us, you will. You can also add a few more things that shouldn’t be bought later:

  • Batteries
  • Extension cords
  • Outlet adapters
  • Lightbulbs
  • A step stool
Man looking at the woman holding a painting
You can't hang a picture without a small hammer and a nail

Begin Creating Your Apartment Move-in Checklist: Here’s What You’ll Need for Your First Bathroom

Now that you have the essentials, you can focus on the first most important room – the bathroom. Imagine coming in your place after long-distance moving and not being able to wash your hands. Sounds awful, doesn’t it? You’ll want to take a shower or simply use the toilet, so be sure that you make it ready for use. You will require:

  • Toilet paper
  • Towels – for hands, face, and body
  • Soap dispenser
  • A cup for toothbrushes
  • Bath mat
  • Shower curtain (and a shower curtain rod and rings that are holding it)
  • Toilet brush and a holder
  • A trashcan
  • A hamper
  • All of your toiletries for personal care (toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, hairbrush, etc.)

You Can Now Buy the Rest of Your Cleaning Supplies That You’ll Keep in the Pantry or in the Toilet

Only a few products are missing from the list of detergents. You’d might also want to add several more:

  • Laundry detergent
  • Fabric softener
  • A product for the cleaning of a bathtub/a shower cabin
  • Glass cleaners
  • Wood cleaners
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Antibacterial spray or wipes
  • Bleach
  • Stain remover

 

In case you’re moving with pets, disinfect their bowls after unpacking and get them wet wipes for paws or a special cloth you will use for them.

An excited man sitting on a couch with a dog
Moving into your own place is exciting, but don't let that distract you from getting organized

What Do I Need for My First Apartment Kitchen?

Ordering take-out is the best solution while your whole place is a mess full of boxes. Even though you learned how to pack glasses for moving and the tutorial on how to pack plates for moving worked perfectly, it’s still a pain to take everything out of the boxes, to cook, and clean afterward. But, once you settle the bathroom, you can start unpacking the kitchen as well. Take a look at the following list, see what are you missing from it, and decide what do you need to buy for the kitchen area:

  • Plates of different sizes – for soups, the main dish, and desserts
  • Bowls – for cereal and bigger ones for fruit or salads
  • Glasses
  • Mugs and cups
  • A few different sized pots
  • A pan for eggs and bigger ones for cooking
  • Cutlery
  • Utensils
  • Dishtowels
  • Cutting boards – plastic or wooden ones
  • Dish drying racks
  • Oven mitts
  • Plastic containers for food storage
  • Ice trays
  • Tongs
  • Whisk
  • Can opener
  • Bottle opener
  • Peeler
  • Straws
  • Measuring cups
  • Set of knives
  • Aluminum foil
  • Plastic wrap
  • A microwave oven
  • A toaster
  • A blender
  • A mixer
  • A trashcan
  • Garbage bags
  • Paper towels
  • Paper towel stand
  • Table and chairs

A Few More Tips for Kitchen Essentials

Before you go out to buy some food and put them in their storage containers, make sure you disinfect the fridge and the freezer. They should be defrosted by the previous tenant, so you can clean them nicely. You can also clean all the storage spaces before washing and putting all of your dishes inside. If you prefer to have everything organized, take dimensions of the drawers in the kitchen and buy some plastic organizers for your silverware and utensils. If there is a dishwasher in your home, buy a dishwasher detergent or pods, whatever you prefer. You don’t have to spend a fortune on your new apartment shopping list – you can find many of these in “dollar shops”, Costco, Walmart, or Ikea, at very good prices.

A man and a woman sitting in the kitchen looking at a paper
Get everything on this list so that you can enjoy your kitchen to the fullest after moving cross country

What Are the Things You Need for a New Apartment Bedroom?

It’s finally time to take that mattress, and to combine him with a proper bed frame. It (and you) definitely deserve it. What else will you require apart from the mattress and a bed frame? Here are our suggestions:

  • Pillows
  • Blankets
  • A few sheets and pillowcases, enough for changing
  • Nightstands
  • A dresser
  • Mirrors
  • Lamps
  • Hangers
  • Curtains
  • Pajamas
  • Robe
  • Slippers

Decorate Your Bedroom Like You Always Wanted

Entering your first solo home is an opportunity to finally live in a space that you always imagined. After learning how to pack clothes for moving, you can choose the dresser you like, the furniture you like, arrange items how you like, and make your home feel like one. Enjoy the endless possibilities of designing and creating. Decide whether you want to paint the walls in any other color, and pick curtains and sheets according to that. With the right colors, even small places can look big.

What Are the New Apartment Essentials That Belong to the Living Room?

The living room is definitely supposed to be the last area you should unpack and decorate. What are the things you need for a new apartment living room is only up to you, but of course, there are essentials:

  • A couch or something to sit on
  • A coffee table
  • A bookshelf
  • Lamps
  • Curtains
  • Artworks
  • Flowers and plants

The things you need for an apartment don’t have to be brand new. You can check out nearby thrift stores, Craigslist, or any other source to see whether you can save a couple of bucks when furnishing.

Decorate Your Living Room Depending on Whether You’re Working From Home

If you don’t have another separate room to furnish as a “work room”, then it would be best to leave one corner of the living room and to make a small office out of it. Putting your office in the bedroom wouldn’t be the smartest idea since psychologists suggest that people shouldn’t be working and sleeping in the same area if they wish to be more productive. You already know what you require in your office – a desk, comfortable chair, a PC or a laptop, and all other kinds of items your work asks for.

A girl talking on the phone while a guy is looking at her
If your home is also your office, make sure you leave some space for it

Getting Professional Long-Distance Moving Services Will Make Your Relocation Much Easier

Every relocation is time-consuming, so if you wish to feel more rested during this process, you should hire a reputable cross country moving company. State to state movers will not only do the packing and loading of your stuff, but they will also help you unpack and arrange heavy items in rooms you ask them to. If your place isn’t ready, you can always ask to use their storage unit until you can move in. After the help from an expert team of cross country movers your relocation will feel like a breeze, and you will be able to fully focus on your new apartment checklist.

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