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- Tell your property manager. Most apartment complexes require a 30 or 60 day notice prior to ending your lease. To avoid any costly fees associated with breaking your lease early or without notice, be sure to tell your landlord or property manager you’re moving.
- Start comparing moving companies. Find a local mover who provides a moving truck, hourly labor, and can help you move in a few hours for maximum efficiency on moving day.
- Collect free boxes. Ask your local liquor store or wholesale club for free boxes to help consolidate your things and make moving day as easy as possible.
- Pack a little every day. Don’t wait until the day before you move to pack your entire apartment – you’ll be surprised how much you can fit in a one- or two-bedroom place! Begin packing seasonal items and things you’re not using a little each day to make packing less stressful.
- Repair as many damages as possible. Apartment complexes use your security deposit to fund damage repairs in your apartment, so save some money and do the repairs yourself!
- Throw away what’s not coming with you. As you pack, throw away unwanted knock-knacks and items you no longer use. Have old clothes you don’t want to bring with you? Donate them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army to make packing less stressful.
- Forward your mail/change your address. About a week before your move, fill out an official change of address form at the post office so your mail arrives safely at your new apartment. Don’t forget to update your address with your employer, billing address for debit and credit cards, and other important items.
- Stop buying groceries and clean the fridge. Save on boxes, time, and energy and stop buying groceries a couple weeks before moving. Instead, use what’s left in your pantry for lunches and dinners so you need to transport less on moving day. And don’t forget to clean out your fridge!
- Disconnect your utilities. Contact your electric and gas provider, cable and Internet company, and other companies to turn off utilities at your old apartment and transfer to your new place.
- Pack an overnight bag. Pack a separate overnight bag from the rest of your clothes that has your pajamas, toiletries, and a change of clothes for day two at your apartment. When it’s midnight and you have barely begun to put away clothes from boxes and suitcases, you’ll be thankful for the spare duffel you packed!