As you get ready to move into your new Orlando apartment, use the checklist below to help keep your stress low and your move completed smoothly.
- Set the date. You will want to choose a date that is convenient for your schedule, and this date will be agreed upon with the apartment community. Your lease will show your official move in date. Be sure to read your lease agreement to see what time of that day you are able to pick up your keys. Some apartment complexes designate a specific time, such as after 12pm, whereas others may tell you that you will be able to pick up your keys as soon as the leasing office opens. Be sure to coordinate this ahead of time, as it would waste resources and may cost you money waiting around for hours until you can pick up your keys.
- Packing Peanuts. Make sure that you have all your packing materials ahead of time. Often, we get far fewer materials than we think we need, so be sure to start packing in advance so that you aren't running around at the last minute to grab boxes and packing tape! This will also save you money, since you can usually acquire boxes for free. Check with local stores after delivery days (most of the time, a manager can tell you when they will have some boxes), and also check retail stores in the mall. Retail clothing stores generally get shipments 1-2 times per week, and the boxes are perfect sizes for moving! Don't be afraid to ask for these, since you are recycling and also saving the store some time by not having to break down and dispose of their cardboard boxes. They will be happy to hand them over!
- Don't Cause Stress. By allowing yourself plenty of time to pack and unpack, you can use your time more efficiently, and be stress-free (well, almost…) during your move. Gauge the amount of time you will need to pack your apartment by taking into account the size of your current living space, the amount of furniture and décor, and the amount of fragile items. The larger your space, the more time you will need to pack it all. However, even in a small space, if you have a lot of fragile items, it may take you longer since these items require special care when packing. You can also plan where your furniture and other items will be going in the new apartment, which will help you to organize boxes. We recommend labeling boxes by the room they go in, and even color-coding them to make it more apparent.
- Where's the Mail? As soon as you have your new address, you can plan to forward your mail. This will not happen automatically! To avoid missing important mail, check out our Mail Forwarding Guide for Tampa. Also, when touring your new apartment, ask for a community map. This will allow you to see where your new mailbox is located. If the apartment complex does not have a map, be sure to ask someone where the mailboxes are in relation to your apartment. Learn what you need to do to forward your mail using our Mail Forwarding Guide for Tampa Apartments.
- Who You Gonna Call? Be sure to have the phone numbers you will need handy before moving day. This may include several different companies, including your apartment complex office, the moving company, the electric company, cable and Internet, and water and sewage. Having these numbers ahead of time can not only save you time, but also stress.
- Inspect. Many apartments have an inspection upon move in. Generally, this is a form you fill out yourself, noting damages and anything missing from the apartment that should be there. Pay close attention and be very thorough, as this is what your leasing office will use to assess damages at the end of your lease. We want to make sure you get your security deposit back, so check each room carefully and refer to any documentation you have (i.e. your lease) that will instruct you what items are included and should be there. Your leasing office should be able to correct any major issues when you move in, so don't hesitate to let them know if something needs to be repaired upon move in – You don't want to be charged for someone else's damages!
We Are Here to Help!
Feel free to refer back to our guide to help you during your move. While not all moves are “stress-free”, our guide can get you pretty close!
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