Looking for and moving into your first apartment in Denver is an exciting, sometimes crazy, and always chaotic time. Preparing is one of the best things you can to do keep things from becoming overwhelming. If you are moving into an apartment for the first time, here is a list of five things you should do before you get settled in.
1) Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions before signing anything.
A lease is a legal, binding record between parties. Sometimes, the language can get confusing and the terms might not make sense. Or, perhaps, you notice a clause in the contract that disturbs you after you scrutinize it. Perchance you see something in the initial walk-through that you would like to know more about. Whatever your question is, do not wait to ask it. A good landlord would rather have you walk away with the answers and not signing a lease than see you sign it and have issues in the future because you were confused about something from the start and never asked for clarification.
Landlordology has a good list of questions to ask your landlord before you sign your lease - 20 Revealing Questions that Every Renter Should Ask (from a Landlord's Perspective).
2) Do a walk-through of the apartment with the landlord, if possible, prior to moving anything in.
On moving day in Denver, before you get occupied with the whirlwind of moving in all of your possessions, ask the landlord to do an inspection of the apartment to inspect for damages or any other pre-existing issues that might have gone unnoticed when they were readying it for your arrival. This is a sound idea for two reasons. The first is so that you both can understand what is going on without the jumble of furniture and boxes. The second reason is that once you move your belongings in, your landlord can argue that they have no way to know for sure the issue was there before you arrived. If the damage can be blamed on you instead of the previous renter, the cost of repairs will possibly come out of your deposit when you get ready to move away. Depending on what that cost is and the terms of your lease, you might not get any money returned.
3) Ask for help.
Part of growing up is being independent, but part of it is also recognizing when you cannot do something alone and need to ask for assistance. In regards to moving, you will always need help - with moving boxes and setting up furniture on move-in day at the very least. If you have family or a friend you trust in the area you are moving to and you cannot do a inspection before you move in, see if they can do it for you. Be sure they understand what information to gather beforehand.
4) CLEAN before unpacking.
Generally speaking, renters are tasked to make sure an apartment is tidy and in fair condition before they move out, and most landlords will give the apartment a more thorough cleaning between renters. However, occasionally, an apartment sits vacant for weeks or months or things get overlooked. Also, there is the mayhem that can happen when you move in. Cleaning up before you unpack will help you find what might have been missed. It will also familiarize you with the space you have and give you a better sense of how you can arrange things than you might have gotten during the walk-through.
5) Be considerate of nearby residents while moving items in.
When you are amidst moving in, it is easier to look for time-saving ways to get your stuff into your apartment. Unfortunately, the most convenient [methods|ways]166] to do so can make it a bother for your neighbors to come and go as they are used to and give them the wrong initial impression of you as their neighbor. It is their community you are joining when you move in, after all. You will have an easier time acclimatizing to the community in Denver if you are considerate of them from the beginning.
If you are ready to find your first apartment in Denver, A-1 Freeman can help you from start to finish. We can handle every move, no matter the size. Click below to get started with your Free Estimate.
