Moving into or renting your first apartment can be an exciting and confusing time. What are the necessities needed? What items should you buy? What should you leave? To help you cut through the clutter, I’ve put together the First Apartment Essentials Checklist for renters. This list can be used as a moving apartment checklist for those looking to move as well.
Since there are wide variations in what people deem “necessity items”, I’ve made this list fairly broad, and hopefully helpful to a range of apartment renters. The essential items are grouped under these headings for best organization: Basic Furniture, Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Laundry, Cleaning, Closet & Storage, Personal, and Odds & Ends.
First Apartment Checklist
Use the free First Apartment Essentials Checklist to:
- Save money by avoiding the stuff you don’t need.
- Get organized before moving into your first apartment.
- Keep track of only the items you need.
- Identify items you may need to buy in a shopping list.
- Help organize your items into boxes for the move.
- Serve as a moving apartment checklist, or a checklist for moving into an apartment.
Other home moving checklists you may like:
- Printable Dorm Room Essentials Checklist
- 15 Free Printable Home Inventory Worksheets
- Printable Moving Checklist and Planner
What are your apartment essentials? Did I miss something important? What was your first apartment like? My first apartment had cockroaches. Not kidding.
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Your Two Cents:
My first apartment was missing almost everything on your list. We had a bed, dresser, a box with a tiny B&W TV on it, some silverware & dishes, a couple of pans, a set of towels, and two laundry baskets. That’s pretty much it! Later one of the maintenance people brought us furniture that someone had left behind, and we got a table too.
I just love the layout of these!
I’m glad you included the fire extinguisher for the kitchen. I bought one right when I moved in, but it seems a lot of people don’t even think of it.
Great list! However, I moved into my first house with less furniture, and still don’t have that much. You can fill out many things over time at good garage sales (except for matresses! Never get those at a g.sale). Also a smaller place in a nice location doesn’t need much furniture and saves $.
Love seat and TV was the living room, Office area stuff you list plus a plain twin bed is it for the bedroom/office. No fancy small appliances. Microwave and ordinary range has fed my family of 3 nicely. Many meals were essentially one-pot. Other items eventually came from thrift stores over time. Cheap nice sheets saved expensive curtains. Simple mp3 player and a CD player with computer speakers covered “stereo” needs.
The fire extinquisher and detectors are a must I think. Along with a strong-box for your personal ID stuff if you don’t have anyplace else for these things.
Don’t forget the Carbon Monoxide Detector. Mine saved my life two years ago. We had a leak in the gas line connected to our oven! We are moving into a new apartment and I am definitely using this list!
@Michelle The carbon monoxide detector is listed under “Closet and Storage” along with the smoke detectors. I agree, these detectors are essential! I’m thrilled you will find a use for this list in your next move!
Thank you for the list, I really needed this. If you ever create a list for decorating essentials please share. Right now, the thought of decorating my new place is a bit overwhelming, with all the rooms to tackle. Wish I had my own HGTV designer =(, I’ll just have to take it one day at a time, slowly but surely I’ll get there.
Awesome list! Thank you. My 20 yo D is getting her 1st place and this will come in hand. And although,have I been on my own for a zillion years;-) there are things, I totally forgot about.
your list it is the best, do you have it in excell or power point that I can add another room?
Thanks
we are a 50+ couple moving into our first apartment. We have nothing and need a really good checklist. This looks great. We would appreciate anything additional ideas.
Quite Useful. Thanks a lot.
@Grace You’re very welcome.
This is good list! Thanks you!! Verry good, my english isn’t.
Thank you for your helpful list. My fiance and I are moving into our first home at the end of January and are starting from absolute scratch- both coming out of student-type accommodation. I have printed your list and am already on the lookout for sales.
Thanks again!
This list is almost exactly what i was looking for. My only suggestion would be to include some price ranges for the items on the list. This way readers will be able to quickly estimate the cost of what they might need.
Thank you so much for these important checklists. Everyone should make lists
Francoise
I have one year
I have a one more year before I move out my own a apartment. I’m really excited to learn a different things that why I make up a list for aparment. I hape I save a lot money not breaking out my
sanvings account. I’m really excited. Thanks for a
rticle..
Thank you for going to this trouble. I, for one, appreciate it so much! It definitely makes my life with 4 kids and 2 dogs and a gov’t employee hubby less stressful.
This list is extremely helpful all i could think of getting was dishes a mop a broom and a garbage can so than you very much for publishing and might i add if someone can find like a dollar tree or some kind of dollar store the have most of these items for very cheap.
This was a life saver! You really don’t realize how much u need until you actually move in!!!
This is definitely cool.been tryng to come uo with a list of mine it was definitely missing lots of stuff..thank u for saving me the hustle *_*
Thank u so much! I seriously almost forgot toilet paper!! Lol
I am moving and have dressers, bed bases and just needed the info on this list. Great list.