Tips for Moving into First Apartment?

Hey everybody!


Incoming analyst here. Nervous about moving to NYC for the first time. It'd be great if you could give me a few tips on how to get everything set up in a new apartment. I was originally thinking of moving in around a week before my start date, but I recently started thinking about getting internet, furniture, a desktop and stuff all set up and started getting anxious. Not sure how much time I'll need to order everything and get everything ready. Can you comment on this? What are some other must-do's I should think about? Thanks.

 

When you find the right place, make sure you have quick access to a cashiers check or whatever they need to close quickly. Hit up the Container store for space saving solutions.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
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Have you found an apt yet? I would make sure you understand the process for getting one in nyc (how early to start looking, what you need for proof of income, what you need for deposits, etc). 

Outside of that, my recommendations:

1) get a comfortable mattress, sleep is very important

2) if your building has fios, I have had better luck with that for internet than time Warner/spectrum 

3) I would get a laptop over a desktop, gives you flexibility of where you can work. Just get a desk (ikea is fine), a good monitor or two, mouse/keyboard and a docking station. If you have back issues or are concerned of developing any, get a good chair, I recommend Herman Miller, but I know I wouldn’t have wanted to pay that much for a chair just starting out 

4) move in a week or two early and walk around your neighborhood. Find bars/restaurants that could be fun and figure out where you’ll go for groceries or other random stuff (gym?) - also figure out things like laundry (do it yourself? Send it out? Laundry in building?)

5) buy kitchen essentials: a couple pots/pans if you plan on cooking, silverware, plates, cups, coffee machine if you drink coffee

I think that covers the important stuff (that I can remember)

 

The biggest tip i received when moving was to pack light and have things shipped. Idk about you but my place had a concierge service that was willing to store my stuff for a few days before i came. I also ordered one of those mattresses in a box which was super helpful, linked three below

https://www.oleesleep.com/

https://casper.com/

https://purple.com/

 

Seconding this but no need to buy something as expensive as purple or caspar

I have a Casper mattress and it was worth every penny. They aren't that expensive and if you think about how many hours you are going to spend in bed and how important proper sleep is to health, hell I'd probably pay $10K for it. A good sleep is essential. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Remember that your lease doesn’t just “end”. You HAVE to give 60 days notice prior to the end of the lease if you plan to leave or renew. Otherwise they will bump you to month to month at a crazy rate.

In student housing, they don’t do this. So almost everyone I know had to pay a couple of months of month to month rent on their first real apartment... 

 

Maybe it’s a DC thing but it was right there in the lease. Every lease I’ve signed has required 60 days notice to vacate. Obviously if I legally could’ve not payed them, I would’ve gone that route. One roommate’s dad was a lawyer and he confirmed for us.

We technically owed them two months and we got off paying like 3/4th of a month.

 

if I legally could've not payed them

payed hahaha 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Some key thoughts -

  1. Budget properly.
  1. Coupons are your friends.
  1. Buy what you need, but make sure they serve a specific purpose.
  1. Make sure to get blinds that will black out your bedroom at night (sleep quality).
  1. As mentioned before, sleep quality. Get a good bed, pillows and sheets.
  1. Move in a few weeks prior to start so you can adjust adequately to the new environment.
  1. If you need a car, get something that gets you from point A to B.
 

Before you move in/on move in day take photos of EVERYTHING in your apartment in case your landlord is a **** and tries to claim you did damage you didn’t do at the end of your tenancy. If something’s broken or doesn’t work right tell them then and there.

Also take photos of the meters so you don’t end up paying for water/electricity before your tenancy started.

Be prepared to give it a deep clean before you unpack (they say it’s been cleaned but standards are often questionable).

Work out which water/electricity/internet supplier you want before moving in (if you have a choice) - also how to pay local tax (eg. council tax in the U.K.). Set up a standing order for your rent so you don’t have to remember to do monthly transfers.

Tell companies (eg. your bank) your new address (unless you’re moving from your parents’ place and it doesn’t matter if bills etc get sent there).

Say hi to your neighbours - even if you don’t want to be friends they’re more likely to let you get away with noise etc if they know you. And they might know some useful things about the building (eg. my building has an online forum where ppl mainly compare how to fix stuff - all the units originally had the same fittings so ppl have v similar problems and can help each other find solutions). If you’re shy (like me lol) put a note under their door or something.

Do a ‘practice run’ to your office before your first day just to make sure you know how to get there and how long it takes.

Be prepared never to want to move again because of the effort all of the above takes.

 

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