The process involved in shopping for a new home for the first time can be very tedious. That fact is undeniable. However, the real hassle starts when you start the process of making your dream house or apartment comfortable and/or functional. Remember that you still need to move your valuables from the old home to the new home, which can be an extreme sport if you are trying to save money, or if you are moving across the country. Sometimes you need to shop for new furniture and other household items. Don’t panic, though, for this article provides you with a list of everything you need for your move-in day. The list will help make your move-in day as hassle-free as possible.
But before we get down to the list, are you comfortable with the general appearance of the new home? Most often than not, moving into a new home necessitates minor renovations. You need to fix a few faults that the home’s ex-owner left and probably remove their personality in order to create room for your own personality. For instance, the colors they chose for the interior walls, the wallpaper they chose for the kitchen, and the lighting they installed could be outrageously out of your taste. It could also be that the kitchen and bathroom appliances in the home are outdated or malfunctioning.
Then comes another tricky part: Do you DIY or hire a contractor? Hiring a contractor is obviously expensive, but it is worth every dime in the long run. If you just moved to Sacramento, Ca. for example, hiring a reputable contractor for your home remodeling will save you lots of stress and confusion of traditional home remodeling. The contractor will share with you the best layout, find an ideal installation schedule, and determine the right materials for your remodeling project. That frees up your time so that you focus more on other core aspects of the move-in.
Once your home is move-in ready, go ahead and check out our move-in day checklist.
First apartment essential checklist all renters or buyers need for move-in day:
1. Cleaning Supplies
Suppose you do not have access and cannot clean your home before you move your things, you may want to have a cleaning kit. This kit should consist of, but not limited to, a broom, mop, dusting rugs, all-purpose cleaner, paper towels, a laundry basket, stain remover, laundry detergent, a dustpan, trash bags, light bulbs, and sponges. These key supplies will come in handy when you want to clean before you start unpacking. If you’re super busy or can simply not be bothered with that, you can hire a professional cleaning company, such as Optimal – a cleaning company in Zurich, or other providers local to where you are, to organize and clean your space so it becomes much easier for you to unpack.
2. Mattress and Bedding
When you first move into your home, the other must-have item is a bed frame, mattress, box spring, bedding (including a duvet), and some throw pillows and a throw blanket if you’re feeling fancy! Otherwise, you risk sleeping on the floor. The day you move, you will be surprised at how exhausted you will be at the end of the day. It is important to have clean sheets to spread on that mattress to sleep comfortably after a long day.
3. A Home Toolkit with Apartment Essentials
The time you begin unpacking, you will realize how essential a step stool is to elevate you to reach the ceilings or high walls. A tool like a screwdriver will be critical when you want to assemble a bookshelf or any other household appliance that needs to be put together. Other items such as extension cords will ease connecting electronics in your home. Lastly, you may require a flashlight to illuminate in the dark in case you are unable to set up your electricity or when there is a power outage.
4. Bathroom Necessities
Be sure to pack all the bathroom essentials: towels, toilet paper, a toilet brush to clean the toilet bowl, a toothbrush holder, air freshener, a bath mat, scrubber, bath towels, washcloths, hand towels, hand soap, a plunger, and bathing soap, as well as a shower curtain, and wall hooks because at some point you may need to use the bathroom and shower once you are done unpacking. A shower curtain will protect your newly remodeled floors and ensure that they remain dry. Lastly, pack as much toilet paper and as you can because you can never have enough of these toiletry items and bathroom cleaning necessities.
5. Kitchen Essentials
Pack enough paper plates. You may not have any plans to cook for the first couple of days but you will require somewhere to put the take-out that you order. These plates are easy to dispose of and you will not need to worry about cleaning them. You should also have mugs, cereal bowls, water glasses, cooking utensils, silverware, Tupperware (and other food storage containers), pots and pans, dish towels, a can opener, aluminum foil, dish soap, oven mitts, a coffee maker, a cutting board, a paper towel holder, a trash can, and other light equipment such as a microwave and toaster oven. Consider getting ready to assemble cabinets and coffee tables for your kitchen where you can store your kitchen items, this will come in handy on your move-in day when you’re trying to organize stuff, but also for the long-run, keeping kitchens organized can be hard in general.
6. First Aid Kit for the Living Room and New Apartment
A first aid kit is necessary for any home. The kit should be composed of essentials such as plasters, sterile gauze, safety pins, tweezers, muscle relief ointment, and medication such as anti-inflammatory drugs. It’s also a smart idea to have a fire extinguisher in your house. With all the activities you are involved in during the first couple of days when you move, anything could happen and you need to be prepared.
7. Overnight Bag and Moving Checklist
It is important that you pack a sleepover bag. It is likely that it may take you a couple of days to unpack and arrange everything in your new home. Having a bag with pajamas, a few clothes, toothpaste, oils, and lotions — as well as a comprehensive checklist of everything that will happen during the move — will help get through the first day and night.
Conclusion
Having these items will get you through the first days in your new home. Importantly, you need to ensure that you label the boxes correctly to avoid frantically looking for something in the wrong box.