After searching the Internet for some guidance on what to do after you sign your first lease, I found that the question hasn’t really been answered. So I did what every journalist would do and took notes to share with the world.
After you sign your first lease, there is a lot to be done. It isn’t necessarily hard, but it is necessary. So hopefully you have already taken all the steps that lead up to signing a lease, and now, before you put out the welcome-home mat, make sure you have completed all of these steps:
1. Transfer all the utilities into your name.
Unless the landlord is taking care of the utilities, they need to be in your name. You want to call to switch this over before you move in. Let the different companies know to bill you starting from the day your lease starts. Otherwise, you might be overcharged or without some utility for the first few days.
Also, when it comes to cable, make sure you schedule a time for the company to come in and set everything up with plenty of time after you have been given the keys.
2. Book a rental truck early.
If you have a lot of furniture and need a rental truck to move your things, make sure a rental company is one of your first phone calls. In certain areas, it is harder to find a truck, and not having a truck could make moving much more difficult.
3. Recruit friends and family to help you move.
Moving could take forever if you do not have enough hands. Call all your friends and promise food and beverages if they help you move. The more people you have will make the work a lot easier and make it all go by a bit faster, which if you are paying for a rental truck might be beneficial to your bank account.
4. Pack a first-night bag.
If might be difficult to unpack all of your boxes in one day, especially if you moved furniture all day. So pack an overnight bag with essentials and a few changes of clothes to make sure you aren’t spending a few hours rummaging through boxes to find your toothbrush.
5. Go shopping.
After spending money on a deposit and all the utilities, you probably won’t want to spend any more money. But after moving in, you are going to need some groceries. Laundry detergent, milk, eggs and bread probably should find a home in your new home, too. So head to the grocery store and shell out a few bucks to make sure the next morning you don’t wake up to an empty fridge.
Signing your first lease is a big deal, but without much guidance, it may be difficult to maneuver on your own. However, not many people tell you just what to do after the ink dries. So, take these tips to heart, and enjoy your brand new home.
