Downsizing Your Home

• Get renters insurance
• Read your lease carefully
• Check if pets are allowed
• Plan for storage of extra possessions
• Get rid of clutter

Moving to an apartment

• Get renters insurance

• Check your lease carefully before signing

• Check to see if pets are allowed

• Understand what you can do to decorate your apartment

• Recognize that some noise will be inevitable

• Know where your security deposit will be kept and how much interest it will get

• Check for storage space

Insurance

While people living in houses have insurance covering the contents, many apartment owners do not have their possessions covered and surprise! they are not covered by the landlords insurance. Apartment insurance is relatively cheap and easy to get.

Lease

If renting, check your lease to see what you can and cannot do. Check to see what the landlords obligations are. Local towns may have laws regarding when heat has to be turned on, rules regarding rent control and noise ordinances.

Pets

If you have pets, make sure pets are allowed before you sign the lease. Anticipate that if you have children, you may want to get them a pet at a later date.

Decorating

Understand what you can and cannot do decorating your apartment. Some leases will restrict the colors of paint that can be used.  Some landlords may pay or split the cost especially if its an improvement to the apartment

Noise

Understand that you will have close neighbors and some noise is just part of the territory. Also realize that the home theater setup you had in the basement complete with giant sub woofer is probably not going to work for your neighbors. Respect your neighbors and in general they will respect you.

Security deposit

Your landlord may be legally obligated to let you know each year where your security deposit is held and how much interest it has gained. Check your local laws regarding this.

Storage

Moving from a big space to a small one will mean you need storage space. Check to see how much is available.