First apartment checklist: what to do before you sign and buy

Before you sign: set your first apartment budget

Your first apartment budget should keep rent at or under about 30% of your gross income. HUD treats households that pay more than 30% of income for housing as cost-burdened, with less left for food, transport and medical care. Many landlords also look for income of about three times the monthly rent.

Rent is only part of the monthly cost. Add electricity, gas, water if it is not included, internet, renters insurance and parking or laundry fees. Our rent calculator runs the numbers for you.

Then budget the one-time move-in costs:

• First month’s rent
• Security deposit (often about one month’s rent; limits vary by state)
• Application and screening fees for each place you apply to
• Moving costs: truck rental, movers or gas
• Utility setup or deposit fees
• Renters insurance (first month or full year)
• Essentials from the checklist below
• A small emergency cushion

Before you sign: get your application and credit ready

Landlords usually check your identity, income, credit and rental history before they approve you. The FTC says screening can include work and income history, credit accounts, eviction records, criminal records and missed rent payments.

• Check your credit reports for errors before you apply
• Gather pay stubs, an offer letter or bank statements as proof of income
• Have a photo ID ready
• Line up references, such as a past landlord or employer
• Ask whether you will need a cosigner or guarantor if your credit history is short
• Ask what each application fee covers before you pay it

If a landlord turns you down, charges more or asks for a bigger deposit because of a screening report, the FTC says you are entitled to an adverse action notice naming the screening company. You can get a free copy of that report if you ask within 60 days, and dispute errors. Our guides to the rental application and the credit score to rent an apartment go further.

Before you sign: read the lease

Read the whole lease before you sign, not just the rent and dates. A lease is a binding contract, and the details matter most when something goes wrong.

• Rent amount, due date, grace period and late fees
• Lease length and what happens at the end (renewal or month-to-month)
• Rules and fees for breaking the lease early
• Who pays which utilities
• Who handles repairs and how to request them
• Pet, guest, subletting and smoking rules
• Whether renters insurance is required, and the minimum liability limit
• Any extra fees: parking, amenities, trash, pest control

Our lease agreement guide explains the common clauses. Rules on fees, notice and repairs vary by state and city, so check your state’s rules before you rely on any clause.

Before you sign: protect your security deposit

Your security deposit comes back faster when you document the apartment’s condition on day one. Many states cap deposits, and most set a deadline for returning them, and those rules vary widely.

• Get the deposit amount and any non-refundable fees in writing
• Ask where the deposit is held and when it will be returned
• Do a walkthrough with the landlord before you move in
• Photograph and video every room, including floors, walls, appliances and fixtures
• Note existing damage on the move-in form and keep a signed copy

Our security deposit guide covers deductions and return deadlines.

Before you sign: price renters insurance

Renters insurance is often required by the lease, and it is worth having even when it is not. Your landlord’s insurance covers the building, not your belongings or your liability. A renters policy covers both, plus a hotel if the apartment becomes unlivable after a covered loss.

• Check whether the lease requires it and what liability limit it asks for
• Estimate what your belongings would cost to replace
• Get at least two quotes with the same limits and deductible
• Set the start date to your move-in date
• Send proof of coverage to your landlord if required

A typical policy costs about $14 to $23 a month; our renters insurance cost guide has state averages. If you are new to it, start with what renters insurance is. Landlords who require it often ask to be listed as an “additional interest,” which simply means they are notified if the policy lapses. See can a landlord require renters insurance for the details.

First apartment essentials: kitchen

Start with enough to cook simple meals and clean up after them.

• Frying pan and a medium pot with lid
• Baking sheet
• Chef’s knife and cutting board
• Spatula, wooden spoon, ladle and tongs
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl and colander
• Can opener and bottle opener
• Plates, bowls, glasses and mugs
• Forks, knives and spoons
• Food storage containers
• Dish soap, sponges and a drying rack or towels
• Oven mitts
• Trash can and bags
• Paper towels and aluminum foil
• Salt, pepper, cooking oil and a few basic spices

First apartment essentials: bathroom

• Shower curtain, liner and rings, if there is no glass door
• Bath towels, hand towels and washcloths
• Bath mat
• Toilet paper
• Plunger
• Toilet brush
• Small trash can
• Soap, shampoo and toothpaste
• Medicine and basic toiletries

Buy the plunger before you need it.

First apartment essentials: bedroom

• Mattress and bed frame, or a mattress on a simple base
• Two sets of sheets
• Pillows and pillowcases
• Comforter or blanket
• Hangers
• Lamp for the bedside
• Curtains or blinds, if the windows do not have them
• Laundry basket or hamper

First apartment essentials: living room

• Somewhere to sit
• A small table for eating or working
• A lamp, if the room has no overhead light
• Extension cords and a surge protector
• Internet router set up on move-in day or soon after

First apartment essentials: cleaning supplies

• All-purpose cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner
• Microfiber cloths
• Broom and dustpan
• Mop and bucket, or a floor cleaner
• Vacuum, if you have carpet or rugs
• Rubber gloves
• Laundry detergent

Clean before you unpack. It is much easier in an empty room.

First apartment essentials: tools and safety

Safety items come first, because they are the ones you need suddenly. The U.S. Fire Administration says to test smoke alarms monthly, put them inside and outside each sleeping area and on every level, and replace the whole alarm every 10 years.

• Test every smoke alarm on move-in day; tell the landlord in writing if one fails or is missing
• Check for a carbon monoxide alarm if the building has gas appliances or an attached garage
• Fire extinguisher for the kitchen, and learn how to use it
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Phone charger and a backup battery
• Find the circuit breaker panel and the water shutoff
• Hammer, screwdriver set and pliers
• Tape measure
• Picture hooks or removable hooks that will not damage walls
• Duct tape and scissors
• Step stool

Ready.gov’s basic emergency kit adds water, about a gallon per person per day for several days, and a few days of non-perishable food. A small version fits in a closet.

What can wait until later?

Most first apartment furniture and decor can wait a month or two. Living in the space first shows you what you actually need and saves money on things you would not use.

• Sofa, if you have a chair for now
• Dining set
• TV and TV stand
• Rugs
• Wall art and decor
• Specialty kitchen gadgets: stand mixer, air fryer, blender
• Extra storage furniture
• Guest bedding
• Houseplants
• Matching sets of anything

When you do buy, take photos and keep receipts for anything valuable. They make a renters insurance claim easier if something is stolen or damaged. For the moving day itself, see our moving checklist.

Bottom line

A first apartment goes smoothly when the paperwork comes before the shopping. Keep rent near 30% of your income, get your credit and documents ready, read the full lease, document the apartment’s condition and price renters insurance before move-in day. Then buy the essentials room by room, test the smoke alarms, and let the rest wait until you know what the space needs.

Laws change and vary by state and city. This guide is general information, not legal advice.