What to Do the First 24 Hours in Your New Apartment

You might feel worn out after carrying a few heavy boxes, unpacking, and figuring out where everything goes. And guess what? The first 24 hours can be the most confusing part! 

You walk in, look around, and think: Where do I even start? Should I clean first? Unpack? Set up the bed? How long will all this take?

But you don't have to do everything at once! Instead of stressing, focus on a few important things to make your first day easier. Here's what to prioritize in your first 24 hours.

Document the Condition of Everything

The very first thing you should do is take pictures of your apartment. Take photos of every room, every wall, and damage you see.

Did you find a scratch on the floor? Take a picture! Is there a small hole in the wall? Take a picture! This is called making a "condition report."

Many landlords will give you a form for this, but if not, make your own list and send all the details to your landlord or building manager immediately.

Why is this so important? When you move out someday, your landlord will check if you damaged anything. If there was already damage when you moved in, you don't want to be blamed for it. Your photos prove what was already there.

Don't forget also to take pictures of:

●      Water meters

●      Electric meters

●      Any furniture that came with the apartment

●      Windows and door frames

●      Bathroom fixtures like sinks and tubs

Keep copies of these photos for yourself, too.

Clean the Important Areas First

You don't need to deep clean the whole apartment on day one, but some quick cleaning will help you prepare where to sleep and make your meals.

The bedroom and kitchen are good places to start. Focus on making the places you'll use right away (bathroom, kitchen, bedroom) clean enough to use comfortably.

If the floors are dirty, a quick sweep or vacuum of the main walking areas will help. Don't worry about moving furniture to clean underneath yet. That can wait for another day when you're not so tired.

Arrange Your Important Furniture

Your bed should be the top priority since you'll need it to sleep for the night. Next, focus on any seating like a couch or dining chairs, so you have places to rest during the unpacking process.

As you put furniture together, place each piece where you think it should go in the room. But don't worry about getting it perfect right away. You can always move things around later once you've lived in the space for a while.

If you have hefty furniture, try to get it in the right spot now, while you might still have friends or movers helping you. It's much harder to move a heavy couch or dresser by yourself later.

Set Your Bed

After a long day of moving, you'll be exhausted. The last thing you want is to be searching for sheets and pillows when you're ready to sleep.

Find the box with your bedding and make your bed right away. Put on the sheets, blankets, and pillowcases.

Even if everything else in your apartment is still in boxes, having a comfortable bed ready will give you a good night's sleep, which will help you tackle the rest of the unpacking with more energy the next day.

Put All the Boxes in the Right Rooms

Moving boxes to their proper rooms now will save you lots of time later. Don't just stack all the boxes in the living room! Instead, ensure each box gets to the room where its contents belong.

Kitchen boxes should go to the kitchen. Bathroom boxes should go to the bathroom. Bedroom boxes should go to the bedroom. You get the idea!

If your boxes are labeled (which is helpful), this task will be much easier. If they're not labeled, you might need to peek inside to figure out where they should go.

Set Up Your Daily Items

You don't need to unpack everything on the first day. Focus on the things you use every day. These are your "essential items."

●      Toothbrush and toothpaste

●      Soap and shampoo

●      A towel

●      A few changes of clothes

●      Basic cooking tools (one pot, one pan)

●      A plate, bowl, cup, and eating utensils

●      Any medicines you take regularly

●      Phone charger

●      Toilet paper

Put these items where you'll use them—bathroom things in the bathroom, kitchen things in the kitchen, and so on.

Having these everyday items unpacked and ready to use will make your first few days much easier. You won't have to dig through boxes to find your toothbrush or a clean shirt.

Avoid Making any Loud Noises at Night

Your new neighbors haven't met you yet. The first impression you make matters! Try not to be the noisy new neighbor on day one.

Save these noisy activities for daytime hours:

●      Hammering nails to hang pictures

●      Drilling holes for curtain rods

●      Vacuuming

●      Moving furniture around

●      Playing loud music

●      Using power tools to assemble furniture

Most apartment buildings have "quiet hours," usually around 9:00 PM. During these hours, you should try to be quiet. If you must do something noisy, try to do it as quickly and quietly as possible.

Afterwards, You Can Hire Professional Organizers

If unpacking and organizing feel too time-consuming, you can get help! Professional organizers can help you unpack and set up your new home.

These experts can:

●      Unpack your boxes efficiently

●      Help you decide where things should go

●      Create organizing systems that work for you

●      Set up closets, pantries, and storage spaces

●      Take away empty boxes and packing materials

Hiring them costs money, of course. But if you're very busy or just hate organizing, it might be worth it. But if it's not in your budget, maybe ask a friend to help. You can offer to buy them pizza as a thank you!

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, these tips will assist you in moving into your new apartment smoothly. Good luck!