Graduation has come and gone, and the excitement of venturing out on your own has given way to a curious mix of elation and terror. Congrats, you’re officially an adult! You now need to make your own money, and find and pay for your own place to live. While that can be overwhelming, your first apartment move\u00a0is a rite of passage. With all the available information, resources and data online, there has never been a better time to locate exactly what you\u2019re looking for in the city where you\u2019ll live, work, and play.<\/p>\n
The best way to break down an overwhelming task like finding your first apartment is to break it up into bite-sized parts. And this transition is no exception, because finding your first apartment goes well beyond locating and securing your pad (although that’s pretty important, too). Once you’ve settled on your first place, you then should figure out how to pay for it, purchase furniture, not to mention pay someone to help you move in. Fear not, young Padawan. We\u2019ve been around the way a few times with helping people plan, prep, and move – and we\u2019ve broken down the process to help you set sail into this big, crazy, wonderful game called “adulting.”<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with money, as this will dictate what you can and can\u2019t do. If you\u2019ve just finished school, and you’re fresh out on your own, chances are you won\u2019t be taking home a huge paycheck to cover your first apartment move. You\u2019ll need to figure out how to make the most of what will surely feel like a tiny number (they take what<\/em> out for taxes, exactly?).<\/p>\n The standard rule of thumb for a housing budget has always been 30 percent of take-home pay. In larger cities, and with new jobs, that can be tough – but whatever you do, stay under 50 percent. There are several ways to reduce that amount (distance from hot urban centers, living with roommates), but first you need to build a budget. We know – this is exactly why you didn’t get an account degree! – but this painful process will save you from being heartbroken down the road.<\/p>\n Your best bet is entering your info into an online budget tracker like Mint<\/a>\u00a0or the aptly named You Need a Budget<\/a>. After initial setup, these tools give you a handy glimpse into your spending habits<\/em> over time<\/a>. This will help you adjust spending when you realize how much that morning latte habit costs per month, or how much you need to save to pay that pesky internet bill. Don\u2019t beat yourself up if you\u2019re not perfect with your spending the first few months. The most important thing is a regular view into how<\/em> you spend.<\/p>\n Now that you’re confident with a baseline number of what you can afford, it\u2019s time to start the hunt for your new pad.<\/p>\n For your first apartment, you want to live someplace cool, but also inside the budget. And if you’ve ever watched HGTV, you know how that battle will end. The three annoying rules of real estate are location, location, location – basically, everyone wants to live in the best possible places. So, you have to be willing to make sacrifices – either with high cost and a primo address, or affordability and an \u201cup-and-coming\u201d location. Be sure to do your research to make sure you\u2019re not paying for things you don\u2019t really need. Above all, try to ensure it\u2019s safe. If the only rent you can afford is in a dangerous area, it’s time to rethink your plan.<\/p>\n You may have had your fill of roommates – or, maybe you\u2019ve never had roommates at all. Either way, living with anyone can be a mixed bag. On the one hand, it\u2019s an affordable option, and can provide a regular social spark when you just want to chill in your jammies and binge Netflix. On the other, they can be overly OCD, regularly party till 4am, or be consistently late with their share of the rent and bills.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s focus on the good, shall we? Simple math: Roommates make renting more affordable<\/a>. And having more money to do cool stuff may be worth their random and sometimes maddening behavior.<\/p>\n Like moving, commuting sucks<\/a>. If you\u2019re lucky to live in a city with great public transportation, congratulations – you\u2019ve found a unicorn city. If, like many of us, you have to hack together a mix of buses, trains, and Lyfts to get to work and back, you\u2019re going to want to focus on minimizing your commute time. Sure, the closer you live to work, the more expensive it often is – but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t walk or ride a bike if it\u2019s somewhat flat and the route is safe. Get creative, do your research, and get familiar with the realities of your commute. It\u2019s going to be regular part of your life – just how painful it will be is up to you.<\/p>\n Working is just a way to help pay for the cool things you actually want to do – so it helps to live near where the cool stuff happens. When looking for your first apartment, consider proximity to coffee shops, bars, restaurants, music venues, theaters, bookstores, and other cultural centers. If you think you\u2019ll just jump on a thirty-minute train, or have no problem changing buses to reach the cool part of town, you\u2019re likely to change your tune when it\u2019s pouring rain, or 18 degrees and snowing.<\/p>\n Seeing apartments for the first time is a lot like going on a first date – everyone is on their best behavior and showing their most polished side. But just as there may be obvious flaws beneath the surface, you may find an apartments more endearing qualities will keep you from a quick break up. When visiting apartments for the first time, be thorough, ask a lot of questions, and don\u2019t be too visibly excited (it could hurt your chances to negotiate the final rent).<\/p>\n You\u2019re renting something, after all – and that means it\u2019s not yours. Typically, that also means the person lending it to you in exchange for money has a few rules about how you\u2019re allowed to use it and what happens if you misbehave. There\u2019s a fair bit you need to know before signing your first lease<\/a>, but don\u2019t be overwhelmed. A law degree isn\u2019t required, just a thorough read.<\/p>\n Planning your first apartment move is exciting and stressful – but the physical labor of moving your things from one place to another sucks. Before moving, research different types of moving services, apartment moving checklists, and costs and be sure you\u2019re clear on all the things you need to think about in in the days and weeks leading up to move day. Seriously consider hiring a pro. It reduces stress, potential for injury, and ensures your stuff arrives in one piece.<\/p>\n Want to take the stress out of moving? <\/strong>Download the Dolly app,<\/strong><\/a> get a guaranteed quote, and relax while our fully vetted Helpers take care of all the heavy lifting.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Your apartment is a place to keep your stuff – so you need some stuff. A lot of guidance and checklists out there will tell you all you need to buy – but when it comes to what you need for your first apartment, we recommend starting with the basics<\/a>. Take some time to get to know what you need, and how you live in the apartment before splurging at IKEA with your credit card in tow. Be conscious of the space you have to work with – and research designing for small spaces<\/a>. Think about hitting up secondhand stores, dollar stores and other discount retailers for basics, and stretching out your purchasing for a few months while you figure out your flow.<\/p>\n Resources: <\/strong><\/p>\n You can save a ton of money by cooking your own food. There are tons of services out that that can help you learn to cook for the first time<\/a> – and if you\u2019re not that handy, at least follow the directions to make a great meal. It helps, at least, to start with a first apartment grocery list to help get some basics in the fridge and pantry – items that will help you make different, interesting foods and don\u2019t cost a ton. Rule of thumb at grocery stores, is that if it’s mostly made for you ahead of time – think freezer meals – it’s either more expensive or tastes like cardboard with tomato sauce. Shop smart, keep it simple, and save more cash for your entertainment budget.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not talking about a raging kegger with Jaeger ice luge, but you should pause for a moment to celebrate. You\u2019re doing your best to \u201cadult\u201d now, which calls for a casual gathering of friends (plan a separate one for your family) to help christen your first apartment. This is a great time to stock the bar and fridge (or ask your friends to BYOB to help stock it instead!), and has the overlooked side benefit of forcing you to clean up and organize after your first apartment move. Keep the hours minimal, the times early – and move the party to the local dive bar for all the late-night tomfoolery.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve read this entire piece, you\u2019re likely the type of person who likes to be prepared. That said, you\u2019re still going to forget stuff. Moving never gets any easier, and even seasoned vets of apartment moves forget stuff in the tumult that is relocation. Prepare as much as possible, realize that unforeseen chaos will occasionally rear its ugly head, and enjoy the ride. Moving into your first apartment is one of life\u2019s most exciting moments – so don\u2019t get too wrapped up in the details to enjoy it (and, ahem, to start planning your housewarming party). Too overwhelmed and need help sorting out the details of your move? Give us a buzz<\/a>. We make moving easier, cheaper, and less painless than you’ve always feared it was.<\/p>\n City-Specific Resources<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Graduation has come and gone, and the excitement of venturing out on your own has given way to a curious mix of elation and terror. Congrats, you’re officially an adult! You now need to make your own money, and find and pay for your own place to live. While that can be overwhelming, your first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":29998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[644937427],"tags":[644935432,644937633,644937439,10049,644937440],"class_list":["post-1547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-moving","tag-featured","tag-first-apartment-move","tag-first-home","tag-moving","tag-moving-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBudgeting tips:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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A Place to Hang your Hat: How to Find the Best Neighborhood for You <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Apartment hunting tips:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Finding Roommates You Actually Like (and Who Help Split the Bill)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Learning to Commute: Love it or Loathe It<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Getting to Know the Local Nightlife<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Planning Apartment Visits – First Dates with the Places You\u2019ll Live (and Maybe Love) <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Legalese of Leases – Reading the Fine Print Before Signing a Lease<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Plan for a Painless Move-In (Yes, it’s Possible!)<\/h2>\n
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What to Buy, and Avoid, When Moving into Your First Apartment<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Shopping and Chefing <\/em>like a Pro: Your First Apartment Grocery List<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tips<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n
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Resources: <\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Planning Your First Housewarming Party <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Enjoying the Ride<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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