First Apartment Checklist: What to Buy First to Complete Your Home

Whether you’re starting a new job in your hometown of Nashville, TN or getting a fresh start living across the country in Portland, OR, moving into your first apartment is an exciting milestone in life. There’s something surreal about sitting in your new place for the first time and realizing that you finally have a place to call your own. However, knowing what exactly you’ll need can be overwhelming, especially if you’re starting from scratch. Even if you try to focus on the essential items, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos and excitement of filling your new home. With this first apartment checklist, you’ll learn what you need to survive in your first rental and what home goods you can put off buying – at least for now. Let’s get started. >>Renting as a college student? Check out our off-campus living guide What to do on move-in day Document your apartment’s condition Proper preparation on move-in day goes far beyond unpacking boxes – it sets the foundation for your entire tenancy and protects your financial investment. Property managers and industry experts emphasize that setting up your household administrative tasks on day one is just as vital as assembling your furnitu...