Apartment Renting 101: What to Know When Starting Your Rental Search & What to Plan to Take 

Start your apartment search by setting a budget, choosing your top priorities between location, space, and price, and deciding which belongings fit your next home. A clear plan helps you compare rental options confidently, avoid moving clutter, and create a comfortable space from day one. 

Apartment hunting can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. You may want a shorter commute, more room for furniture, a different atmosphere, a lower monthly rent, or a mix of many of these, or even just a change of scenery or to start over in a new space with a blank slate. Most renters need to make tradeoffs between size, price, and location, so start by identifying what matters most to you in your transition. 

Key Takeaways

• Set your rental budget before you tour apartments. 
• Choose your priorities among location, space, and price to guide your search. 
• Compare apartments with the same checklist so you can make a clear decision comparing “apples to apples”. 
• Before starting your search, determine and measure the furniture and items you want to take so you know what minimum size space you need to accommodate your priority items. 
• Use self-storage for belongings you want to keep in reserve or do not need in your apartment right away. 
• Pack a “first-night” box. 

Start Your Apartment Search with a Clear Plan

Before you begin scrolling through listings or schedule any tours, outline your “must-haves”, “nice-to-haves”, and dealbreakers. Creating a list helps you focus on apartments that support your daily routine, desires, and needs. 

Start with these questions: 

• What monthly rent fits your budget? 
• Which neighborhoods support your commute, social life, school, or family routine? 
• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? 
• Do you need parking, laundry, pet-friendly policies, or outdoor space? 
• Do you work from home and need room for a desk? 
• How much closet, cabinet, and storage space do you need? 
• What move-in date works for you? 
• What amenities will improve your lifestyle or save you money elsewhere? (gym, pool, laundry facilities, etc.) 

Bring the same checklist to every tour. Take notes, photos, and measurements so you can compare each apartment after the excitement of a showing fades. Many buildings publish the floorplans of the space you’ll tour, so be sure to ask for them if they aren’t already listed online. 

Before you apply, ask the property team about the lease term, application requirements, move-in costs, utilities, parking, maintenance process, pet policies, and building rules so you’re sure you know all costs going into the overall monthly cost. If you plan to move into a multi-story building, ask about elevator reservations, loading areas, parking instructions, and approved moving hours. 

Use the Location, Space & Price Triangle

When you search for an apartment, you may find a simple tradeoff between location, space, and price. You often must prioritize two of three factors. 

Think of this as your apartment-renting triangle: 

• Location: Living near work, school, public transit, friends, family, or favorite activities. 
• Space: Having more square footage, closets, bedrooms, storage, or room for larger furniture. 
• Price: Finding a monthly rent that leaves more room in your budget. 

You may find a smaller apartment in a convenient neighborhood at a lower price. You may find more space for less farther from a city center. Or, you may choose a larger apartment in your preferred area and spend more each month. 

There is no universal “right” combination; each renters’ priorities are different. Choose the two elements that best support your current lifestyle. For example, if you spend little time at home and value a short commute, location and price may matter most. If you work from home or share an apartment, space may move higher on your list. 

Decide What to Take to Your New Apartment

Once you choose an apartment, decide what belongs in your moving truck before you start packing or even browsing apartment spaces. Plan to move items that you use regularly and that fit a clear purpose in your new layout.  

Start with everyday essentials: 

• Furniture that fits the apartment’s rooms and entryways 
• Bedding and bath basics 
• Clothing you wear often 
• Everyday cookware, dishes, and utensils 
• Work supplies 
• Electronics 
• Cleaning supplies for move-in day 
• A few décor items that help the apartment feel like home 

If you have the space to do so, designate and area for those items so you can start conceptualizing how much space you need to rent. Once you determine the larger items you want to move, measure the large pieces so you know what space you need to accommodate the furniture you will move. Check the dimensions of sofas, tables, bed frames, shelving, and desks, then compare them with your new apartment’s rooms, hallways, stairs, doorways, and elevator. A piece that fit comfortably in your previous home may crowd a smaller living room or block a walkway.  

Also consider scale. If you’re moving from a space with 10-foot ceilings to a place with 8-foot ceilings, your TV or drapes may not be the right fit for your new home.  

Use four simple categories when going through your belongings: 

1. Move: Items you use often and plan to unpack soon.  
2. Store: Items you want to keep but do not need in your apartment right away.  
3. Donate or Sell: Usable items that no longer fit your space or routine.  
4. Recycle or Discard: Worn-out or unusable items. 

Use Self-Storage When You Need More Flexibility

If you choose location and price over more apartment space, self-storage can help you keep your new home organized. You can pack away off-season clothing, extra furniture, décor, or hobby supplies while you settle in and learn how you use your space. 

Public Storage operates more than 4,600 facilities across 42 states, so renters can explore nearby options as they plan a move.  Storage unit sizes range from lockers to 10×30 (and 10×40 at select locations), and the Public Storage Size Guide can help you estimate the space you need to store items you won’t need immediately.  

When you compare units, think about how often you plan to visit: 

• Choose Drive-Up Access if you plan to load or unload larger household items or will visit often and need convenient access to the space. 
• Look for 24/7 Access if your schedule requires greater flexibility. (Some facilities offer extended gate hours.) 
• Consider Climate-Controlled Storage when you need to keep your belongings in a more consistent temperature and humidity level.  

Features vary by property, so use the Public Storage location finder to check nearby availability. You can also reserve a storage unit online  when you finalize your moving plan. Public Storage offers month-to-month rentals, and customers can complete a storage rental online in minutes with no credit card required.  

Make Move-In Day Easier

A little preparation can help you avoid clutter during your first week in a new apartment. 

Pack a first-night box or bag with: 

• Toiletries 
• Bedding 
• Towels 
• Chargers 
• Everyday medications 
• Basic cleaning supplies 
• A change of clothes 
• Coffee or breakfast basics 
• Scissors, tape, and a box cutter 

Label every box by room and contents. Unpack your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and work area first. Then take time to organize before you open décor boxes or less essential items. 

Your apartment does not need to look finished on move-in day. Give yourself time to settle in, see how you use each room, and make thoughtful choices about what stays, what goes, and what you pack away. Just because you moved it doesn’t mean you have to keep it. For more moving and organization ideas, visit the Public Storage blog. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Start Looking for an Apartment? 

You can start looking for an apartment by setting your monthly budget, choosing preferred neighborhoods, and listing your must-have features. Once you have your parameters, you can measure up rentals using the same checklist. 

How Do I Choose Between Location, Space, & Price When Renting an Apartment? 

Since you often can’t find all three, identify the two priorities that best support your current lifestyle. You may choose a smaller apartment for a better location and lower price, or you may choose more space and adjust your location or budget. 

What Should I Ask Before I Rent an Apartment? 

Before taking out a lease on an apartment, ask about the lease term, application requirements, move-in costs, utilities, parking, pet policies, maintenance process, and building move-in rules before you rent an apartment. 

What Should I Take When I Move into an Apartment? 

When moving into a new apartment, take everyday furniture, current-season clothing, bedding, kitchen basics, work supplies, and items that fit your new apartment layout. Measure large furniture before you move so you know it fits through entrances and into each room. 

How Do I Decide What Not to Take to My New Apartment? 

Decide what not to take to your new apartment by measuring the space at the potential apartment (or finding the layout online), reviewing your daily routine, and sorting items into move, store, donate or sell, and recycle or discard categories. Pack away items you want to keep but do not need right away. 

Can I Use Self-Storage When I Move Into an Apartment? 

Using self-storage when you move into a new apartment is helpful. If your apartment does not have room for seasonal belongings, occasional-use items, extra furniture, or other household items you want to keep in reserve. Use the Public Storage Size Guide to compare unit sizes. 

How Do I Make Move-In Day Easier? 

Make move-in day easier by confirming building procedures, measuring large furniture so you know where it should be placed, labeling boxes by room, and packing a first-night box with bedding, toiletries, chargers, cleaning supplies, and other essentials.