Moving is one of the most stressful events in life. With so many important tasks to complete when moving, it's easy to overlook a few things. Whether it’s your first apartment or your fifth, if you don’t have a checklist, you might find yourself without essential services, like receiving your mail.

The U.S. Census Bureau shares that an average person in the U.S. moves 11.7 times in their lifetime. If you're 18 years old, you can expect to move another 9.1 times in your remaining lifetime. That's a lot of packing!

If you’ve moved a dozen times or it's your very first time moving, you can always refer to our complete and comprehensive apartment moving checklist to ensure you’re on the right track for the big day.

Apartment Moving Checklist

Download and print Goodcover’s ultimate moving checklist to streamline your move.

A top tip for first-timers and seasoned movers alike: pack a “first day” box with essentials like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, toiletries (including your toothbrush!), trash bags, and snacks. This hack ensures you have immediate access to necessities, making the first 24 hours in your new space a breeze.

What To Do Before Moving Into a New Apartment

1. Choose a move-in date
2. Request time off work (if necessary)
3. Set a budget to move
4. Let your current landlord know you’re moving
5. Sign a lease with the new landlord
6. Measure your furniture to know if it’ll fit in the new apartment
7. Contact movers or friends to help in advance
8. Gather packing supplies
9. Pack, sort, and donate
10. Change your address with United States Postal Service (USPS)
11. Change your renters' insurance policy, cancel the old one, or review your policy
12. Stop or transfer utilities
13. Get storage if you need it
14. Schedule inspection for security deposit return
15. Clean your current apartment
16. Explore your new area
17. Host a housewarming party
    

Two Months Before the Move

1. Choose a Move-In Date

If you plan to hire a moving company, choose a date in the middle of the month for better rates. Also, schedule the move on a Friday to spend the weekend unpacking.

2. Request Time off Work (if Necessary)

If you plan to move on a weekday, ensure you’ve requested time off from work. This allows you to avoid unnecessary inconveniences, especially if you coordinate with moving services or rent a moving truck.

3. Set a Budget To Move

When setting your moving budget, consider moving costs such as moving boxes, packing supplies, moving insurance, and hiring a moving company. Include a small ‘unexpected expenses’ line in your budget. This is a life-saver for last-minute runs for things like cleaning supplies or extra bubble wrap.

One Month Before the Move

4. Let Your Current Landlord Know You’re Moving

Give notice — in writing — to your current landlord or property manager and let them know that you won't be renewing your lease 30 days before your moving date. Also, ask them to give you a move-out damage checklist.

This is critical if you have a security deposit. Use the move-out checklist to mark what's in good condition and damaged and avoid drama at your old place.

5. Sign a Lease With the New Landlord

Sign your new lease and acquire details like when you can pick up your keys and double-check the utilities you’ll be setting up.

6. Measure Your Furniture To Know if It’ll Fit in the New Apartment

Measure your furniture and acquire the dimensions of the new apartment to know what furniture will fit. Doing this in advance can help you determine what you can bring to your new space and what can be sold or donated as your declutter.

You can also measure the door, stairway, or elevator to avoid any moving day nightmares. Use colored tape to mark the dimensions on the floor of your new space, ensuring everything fits beforehand.

7. Contact Movers or Friends To Help in Advance

Decide where to hire professional movers or if you're going to rent a moving truck and do it yourself. If you're getting movers, schedule them as soon as you decide your move-in date to ensure the availability of the moving company.

Renters insurance can cover damages from specific perils such as theft of your belongings from your car during a move. But it may not cover damages caused by movers since that's the moving company's responsibility.

Alternatively, if your friends will be helping you move, offer them a takeout meal and drinks to show you appreciate their help. A little pizza goes a long way.

8. Gather Packing Supplies

Start collecting your moving and packing supplies. Create space in your apartment where you’ll store all the supplies before you start packing.

9. Pack, Sort, and Donate

Start packing items you don’t use daily, like decor and wall art. Organize last-minute belongings to swiftly pack them closer to the move date.

Go through your stuff, figure out what you want to declutter, and put them into two categories: selling and donating.

Post the stuff you want to sell on local Facebook groups, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor, or selling apps. You can also host an estate, yard, or garage sale. A leaner move can help save you time and money.

10. Change Your Address With United States Postal Service (USPS)

Set up your change of address and schedule mail forwarding with USPS. Then, update your new address with your bank, credit card, medical offices, and any memberships or subscriptions.

11. Change Your Renters’ Insurance Policy, Cancel the Old One, or Review Your Policy

If you've already got insurance, it's a great time to review and update your policy to make sure it still provides the coverage you need. If you don’t have renters insurance yet, or if you want to shop around, check out Goodcover and get a quote in under one minute. Goodcover is the quickest way to get landlord-approved coverage, and we’ll do the work of canceling your old policy if you’re already insured through another provider so you can stay focused on moving.

Another benefit of choosing Goodcover? We return unused funds to members through our annual Member Dividend. You can take that as a guarantee that we won't overcharge you.

Many landlords require proof of renters insurance. Add your new landlord to the insurance policy easily by listing them as an interested party. You only need to provide their contact information.

If you need more reasons to get a policy, here are six solid reasons to do so.

Two Weeks Before the Move

12. Stop or Transfer Utilities

Most utility companies let you transfer your services from one location to another. You only need to convey your end date of the previous occupancy and the start date of the new residence to your utility provider.

Before moving, make sure you have electricity, gas, internet, water, and trash services at the new place. This will make your living space comfortable from day one.

13. Get Storage if You Need It

If you’re moving in with people, downsizing, or have a gap between your move-out and move-in dates, you may need long-term storage for your belongings.

In that case, you might still need some renters insurance while it’s in storage. The good news is that Goodcover’s insurance policy extends to storage units.

Before you lock up your stuff, review your policy to ensure you understand the covered perils and any off-premises coverage limits.

14. Schedule Inspection for Security Deposit Return

Schedule a time for your landlord to stop by and do a final walk-through to make sure everything is okay.

Three Days Before the Move

15. Clean Your Current Apartment

Landlords sometimes deduct from security deposits to cover cleaning and maintenance fees. Clean your apartment and capture photos to ensure you get your full security deposit back.

After the Move

16. Explore Your New Area

Survey your new neighborhood to identify the closest essential services such as a grocery store, pharmacy, post office, gym, and parks.

17. Host a Housewarming Party

After the moving process is over, invite friends and family to celebrate your new home (you deserve it).

Final Thoughts: The Complete Apartment Moving Checklist for Renters

You don’t have to guess or rely on your memory when planning to move. With proper planning and our handy checklist, you'll have a smooth transition to your new place.

And, if you need to protect the stuff you're moving, Goodcover renters insurance is the best place to start. See for yourself – get a quote today.

Note: This post is meant for informational purposes, insurance regulation and coverage specifics vary by location and person. Check your policy for exact coverage information.

For additional questions, reach out to us – we’re happy to help.