Looking for and moving into your first apartment in Killeen is an exhilarating, sometimes crazy, and almost always chaotic time. Preparing is one of the best things you can to do keep it all from becoming mind-boggling. If you are moving into an apartment for the first time, here is a list of five things you should be aware of before you move any boxes.
1) Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions before signing anything.
A lease is a legal, binding document between parties. Oftentimes, the language can seen complicated and the terms might not make sense. Or, maybe, you notice something in the contract that disturbs you after you review 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 problems at a later date because you were puzzled about something in the beginning and never asked for clarification.
Landlordology has a great list of questions to ask your landlord prior to signing 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, ahead of moving your stuff in.
On moving day in Killeen, before you get caught up in the whirlwind of moving in everything you own, request the landlord to do an inspection of the apartment to look for damages or any other pre-existing issues that might have been missed when they were preparing it for you. This is a good idea for multiple reasons. The first is so that you both can understand what is going on without the clutter of furniture and boxes. The second reason is that once you move your belongings in, your landlord can say that they have no way to know for sure the problem was there prior to your arrival. If the damage can be blamed on you instead of the previous renter, the cost of repairs will likely come out of your deposit when you get ready to move somewhere else. Depending on what that cost is and the terms of your lease, you might not get any money back.
3) Ask for help.
Part of being a grown-up is being independent, but part of it is also recognizing when you cannot do something on your own and need to ask for help. When it comes to moving, you will always need help - with carrying boxes and putting together 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 walk-through before you move in, ask them to do it for you. Be sure they are aware of what information you need beforehand.
4) CLEAN before unpacking.
Usually, renters are tasked to make sure an apartment is clean and in acceptable condition before they move out, and most landlords will give the apartment a more thorough cleaning between renters. However, every now and then, an apartment sits empty for some time or things get missed. Then, there is the disarray that happens when you move in. Cleaning up before you unpack will help you catch what might have been missed. It will also familiarize you with the layout 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 in the middle of moving in, it is easier to look for convenient ways to get your stuff into your apartment. Unfortunately, the most convenient [methods|ways]166] to do so can make it more difficult for your neighbors to come and go as they need to and give them the wrong first impression of you as a person. It is their community you are joining when you move in, after all. You will have an easier time assimilating with the community in Killeen if you are mindful of them from the beginning.
If you are ready to find your first apartment in Killeen, A-1 Freeman can help you every step of the way. We can handle every move, no matter how big or small. Click below to get started with your Free Estimate.
