Renting an apartment for the first (or fourth!) time can be crazy stressful.
If scheduling tours, coordinating with roommates, and figuring out what you can actually afford is about to make your head explode, The Ultimate Apartment Handbook is just the resource you need.
With step by step instructions and foolproof worksheets, this guide will walk you though leasing, moving, and furnishing your rental. When you finally unpack that last box, you’ll have a space that fits your budget and feels like home.
Here’s what you’ll find inside the ultimate apartment handbook:
In the Ultimate Apartment Handbook, we’ll cover three main categories: finding an apartment, the moving process, and furnishing your apartment. Here’s what you’ll find in each.
Finding an Apartment
- A budget calculator to help you determine how much to spend on rent
- A list of financial documents you need to get approved for an apartment in a snap
- An apartment touring checklist to help you know what questions to ask on an apartment tour (and what to do if you can’t do an in-person tour at all)
- An apartment comparison spreadsheet to help you choose which apartment will work best
The Moving Process
- A moving timeline so you don’t forget anything essential
- Tips for tricky moves (Moving across the country? No family or friends available to help? We’ll talk about both.)
- Packing hacks to streamline the packing process
- Tricks for unpacking that will save your sanity
Furnishing your Apartment
- A checklist of apartment essentials you’ll actually need for a functional space
- Tips for buying budget-friendly furniture
- Organizing tricks that will make storing your stuff simple and streamlined
Trust me on this one.
Hi! I’m Anna. And I’m an accidental expert on the moving process.
Over the last six years, between my husband and myself, we have moved nine times across three states. Did you catch that? NINE TIMES.
We’ve done all the research, figured out all of the tricks, and made allll of the mistakes. (Pulling an all-nighter as we drove across the country in a moving van? Been there, done that, wouldn’t recommend.)
So we’ve compiled our very best apartment advice, all in one place.
We know these tips work – we’re currently planning yet another move across the country, and we’ll be using these same checklists, guides, and strategies all over again as we move ourselves!
We’d love to use our years of experience to make your moving process easier. So pull up a chair, grab a mug of tea, and let’s get started!
Ultimate apartment handbook faq
I’m renting my first apartment. Do I really need all of this information?
Here’s the deal. You can survive without this handbook. (I did.) But if I had known everything you’ll learn? I would have communicated better with my roommate, known what questions to ask on a tour, and not missed out on an apartment I loved because someone else got in their application more quickly.
If you don’t have much stuff or aren’t moving very far, some of the information about moving may not apply to your situation specifically. (But if you get the handbook, you’ll have that info at the ready when you do need it!)
I’ve already rented an apartment once – will this handbook help me, too?
It might! Here are the situations where this handbook would be most beneficial.
- Were you stressed out by your first apartment leasing process? This handbook will walk you through the process step by step to make things much simpler.
- Were you unhappy with the apartment you chose? This handbook will help you figure our your priorities and stick to them – plus, it may give you new ideas for places to find great apartments.
- Is this move more complicated than your previous moves? The checklists, step by step moving process, and timelines will be essential if you’re doing anything more complicated than moving across town. (We’ll save you hours of Googling, guaranteed.)
Is there a way to preview the Ultimate Apartment Handbook?
Sure! Head to this post. You’ll get a copy of the First Apartment Essentials checklist for free!
Can’t I just find all of this information online for free?
I mean, you could find most of it, maybe. But there’s a lot of contradictory advice out there. And sorting through it will take you a lot of time.
This handbook compiles six years of Google searches and first-hand experience into one place. I’ve literally never seen a resource like this (and trust me, I could have used this very handbook six years ago, when I was hunting for my first apartment).
I’m not moving, but I have a son/daughter/sister/BFF who is. Can I buy this for them?
Definitely! While the guide will be automatically downloaded to your computer after purchase, you could absolutely gift it to someone who would use the information. (I’d recommend printing a digital version at a store like Staples or printing the handbook yourself and putting it in a nice binder!)
Will you steal my credit card information?
This checkout is secure – I will not see your personal info.
What if I have more questions?
Send me a message here!
Are you in?
Ready to simplify your apartment search? Grab the Ultimate Apartment Handbook today!
BONUS: Just for this week, the handbook is on sale for $4.99! After April 30, the price will return to $6.99 – purchase now to save!