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What should I expect to spend to move into a new apartment?

Tenant FAQ » About Member Services

The first costs you should expect to incur is the cost of any paperwork processing that the landlord may require. This may be up to $30 for the rental application and, optionally, up to $20 for the credit check. Not all landlords require both of these, so check with your prospective landlords ahead of time.

When you do narrow it down to one apartment, be sure to go over the lease with the landlord and discuss security deposits. Almost all landlords require the first month's rent up front with a security deposit (usually equal to one-month's rent) and some landlords will also require the last month's rent as well. So, for an apartment that costs $850 per month you may have to pay up to $2,650 to get in the door. There may also be additional deposits or fees for pets, or neighborhood committee services. Be certain that you are very clear on the total costs of an apartment before you sign the lease.

Moving costs will, of course, depend upon the distance you're traveling and how much you're bringing with you. To help shave down cost and difficulty, throw out or donate anything that you don't need to bring with you.

If you are new to the area you will also have to look at the costs of setting up utilities, depending on what is and is not supplied by the landlord or subdivision. To reduce the startup fees that many utility companies enforce, you can obtain letters of reference from previous utility companies that show that your account was held and terminated under good terms, and shows no penalties or outstanding fees.

Using this list, you should itemize everything, and as you figure out the cost of each step, keep a running tabulation of the total cost so that there are no surprises when you get ready to move in.