The average American will move 11 times in his or her life. But whether it’s your first move or your tenth, moving can be confusing and stressful, not to mention time-consuming.
From finding your next home to ending your current lease, there are plenty of steps that need to be taken care of.
Despite that, you’ll want to figure out exactly how long it will really take to get out of your old apartment and into a new one ahead of your move. That way you have time to plan ahead and prepare so that you aren’t left scrambling at the last minute.
So how long does it take to get an apartment? Let’s find out.
How Long Does it Take to Get an Apartment?
How long it takes to get a new apartment will vary from one person to the next.
Where you live, what kinds of apartments are available, when you’re moving, and even your budget can all affect your timeline.
But while the exact timeline might vary, the following estimates can help you better guess how long each step of the process will take so that you can plan ahead.
Giving Yourself Time to Browse
The most time-consuming part of finding an apartment is just that; finding the place that you want to call home.
Unless you’re moving to a small town with limited options, odds are that you have dozens of options to choose from. If the city or region you want to live in is flexible, you could have even more.
In some cases, popular apartment complexes may have waiting lists. You should also visit your top choices to make sure that they are really where you want to live.
To give yourself time if you do need to get on a list, as well as plenty of time to shop, start this step at least 2 to 3 months before you want to move.
Gathering Application Materials
Once you’ve narrowed down your options to 2 or 3 apartments, it’s time to get ready for the next step; putting in an application.
Getting approved for an apartment is often the most stressful step in finding your new home. To make it a little easier, you should gather the necessary application materials at least 2 months ahead of your move.
That way if you are missing anything, you have time to get it before you need to put in your application.
For instance, if you don’t have a paystub, you can use a check stub maker free online to get one.
Putting in an Application
One month ahead of when you’d like to move, put in your application.
If you know that your credit score and income level are more than high enough for the apartment you want to live in and they have availability, you can put in just one application.
But if you are concerned about getting approved, you might choose to apply to several apartment complexes as well.
Planning for Move-In Day
It may take anywhere from a couple of days to a week to hear back on your application.
Once you do, schedule your moving day right away. This is especially important if you need to book a moving crew.
Prepping for Your Next Move
How long does it take to get an apartment? While it may vary from one person to the next, this apartment hunting timeline can help.
Now that moving is one less stress to worry about, check out the rest of our blog for tips on mastering your technology or launching your own online business.
