4 Tips for Your First Apartment

When you’ve moved on to your third or fourth apartment, there are inevitable lessons that you’ve learned along the way – many of which you wish you could have known right from the start. And thanks to the Information Age, we can share some of that insight for others so they can prep themselves in ways we often never could.

So before you make that first big move into your new apartment, here are four tips to keep in mind.

Be Utility-Conscious

Living at home, it’s easy to leave the lights on for hours, leave the TV turned on, or keep the water running extra long for a nice hot shower. When you live on your own and keep up the same habits, you might get a big shock when the utility bills come in. You don’t have to change your lifestyle completely, but be conscious about small energy saving and water conservation efforts that you can make. Turn the lights off when you leave the room, don’t let water run while brushing your teeth, and set the A/C or heater to run less during the day when you’re not home.

Expect Noise

Unfortunately, you can’t choose who your neighbours will be. And in many cases, when moving into your very first apartment complex, you should expect to experience noise. If it gets to a point where it’s impeding on your life, politely approach them and have a conversation to ask them to lower the level. If all else fails, utilize the magic of white noise to help absorb some of that sound so you can at least get a good night’s sleep.

Try and Talk to Previous Tenants

This isn’t always possible, but if you have an opportunity to speak with any previous tenants, it can be a huge help for knowing what to expect. When you first move in, it can take a while to really understand and experience any little (or big) kinks that the apartment may have. So whether it’s getting an insider tip about how to open that closet door that gets jammed, or learning about the best neighbourhood pizza place, having a conversation with previous tenants can prepare you for potential situations that may arise.

Get to Know the Neighbourhood

To avoid simply falling into a routine that involves you going from your apartment, straight to work and then back, take the time and effort to embrace your new neighbourhood and explore what it has to offer. One of the best parts about moving into your own apartment for the first time is being able to embrace that new feeling of discovering what’s around you.

Moving into your first apartment can be one of the most exhilarating moments where you get to embrace life independently for the first time. So make sure it remains a positive experience by following these four tips first.