Before you move: budget, set up utilities, and get renters insurance. On day one you need a bed, basic kitchen and bathroom supplies, cleaning stuff, and a few tools. Everything else you can add room by room as you go.
Before you move in
- Confirm the move-in date and how you'll get keys.
- Set up electricity, gas, water, and internet so they're on day one.
- Get renters insurance (it's cheap and often required).
- Measure doorways and rooms so your furniture actually fits.
- Change your address with USPS, your bank, and your employer.
Night-one essentials
- Sleep — bed or air mattress, sheets, pillow, blanket.
- Bathroom — toilet paper, shower curtain, towels, soap.
- Kitchen — a pot, a pan, a knife, a plate, a cup, utensils, dish soap.
- Cleaning — all-purpose spray, sponges, trash bags, paper towels.
- First-day box — phone charger, snacks, meds, a few clothes.
The move-in inspection (don't skip this)
Before you unpack, walk every room and photograph anything already damaged — scuffs, stains, broken blinds, dripping faucets. Email the photos to your landlord the same day. This is how you protect your security deposit when you move out.
A security deposit is money the landlord holds in case of damage. You get it back if you leave the place in good shape — which is exactly why move-in photos matter.
Buy it later
Couch, TV, dining set, dresser, decor — none of it is urgent. Add one room at a time as your budget allows, and check marketplace listings, thrift stores, and 'free' curb finds before buying new.
Before you sign anything, read 'How to read a lease before you sign.'
Get your DadgreeCommon questions
How much money do I need up front?
Often first month's rent, sometimes last month's, plus a security deposit — so budget roughly 2–3x the monthly rent to move in, plus a little for essentials.
What's a good budget for setup?
You can do the true essentials for a few hundred dollars if you shop secondhand. Spread the rest over a few paychecks.