Moving From an Apartment to a House – What to Expect and What to Do

Whether you’ve been living in an apartment for a couple of years or over a decade now, the time may have come for you to move on.

Your family may be expanding, you may want a custom home that reflects your taste, you may be dreaming of having a garden or a backyard pool, etc. Whatever the reason, you may be thinking about leaving your apartment and moving into a house.  

Moving from an apartment to a house is a big and exciting step – you’ll be investing in your own property, you’ll have an outdoor space, and your home will be yours to remodel and decorate as you please.

Living in a house, however, comes with much more responsibilities – and much higher costs – than living in an apartment. And the transition is not as easy as it may seem.

To be able to move into your new home stress-free and to ensure your comfortable and enjoyable house living, you need to know what to expect when going from apartment to house and how to best prepare for your new life.

Here is a detailed apartment-to-house moving checklist to help you succeed in your endeavor.

This video explains everything about long-distance moving costs!

Before the Move: Considerations and Preparations

When planning to move from an apartment to a house, you need to be aware of the numerous challenges and changes you’re going to face in your new lifestyle. And you need to prepare as best you can.

Here are the most essential considerations to make and things to do when moving from apartment to house in order to ensure a smooth and successful transition:

1. Consider the Changes That Moving to a House Will Bring to Your Life

When you move into a house, your life will change – a lot. There will be changes in the amount of space you have, the chores you need to complete, the costs you incur, and much, much more.

You need to consider all these changes before making the big step, so you can prepare well and transition into your new life without trouble.

1.1. Space

While that is not always the case, when moving from an apartment to a house, you’ll likely have more space than before.

In most cases, houses are larger than apartments and are designed to be more open and spacious.

A larger home means more room for your family, your possessions, and your life:

• There will be enough rooms to accommodate your growing family – your children will have separate bedrooms, you won’t need to make do with a single bathroom, the kitchen and the living room will be more spacious and more comfortable, there will be space for a home office, etc.;
• There will be more storage space (larger rooms, attic, basement, garage) for your items;
• There will be more space to practice your hobbies (you may be able to create a reading corner, a craft room, or a home gym; or to install a pool table, a ping pong table, a game console, or a grand piano; etc.), entertain guests (there will be a large living room where you can gather with family and friends, a guest room where you can welcome your guests in comfort, a backyard where you can throw parties, etc.), and do whatever you have always wanted to do but never had to space to;
• There will be an outdoor space where you can make a summer kitchen, build a workshop, install a pool, set up a swing set, create a beautiful garden, grow vegetables, throw barbecues, etc. Besides, you’ll have a garage, so parking will no longer be a problem. And there will be enough space for your kids and pets to play in safety and comfort (yes, you’ll be able to finally adopt a dog or another pet that your apartment building didn’t allow).

A new house is a great opportunity to create your ideal living space, bring your artistic visions to life, and turn your home into your personal heaven.

Aside from all the wonderful benefits of moving to a bigger home, however, you need to also think about the possible issues that can arise with living in a house:

• You will likely need to buy a lot of furnishings, décor, and other household items to fill the new space and make it functional, comfortable, and beautiful;
• There will be a lot more cleaning and organizing to do in order to keep your larger home neat and tidy – and maintenance will be much more difficult and time-consuming (see below for details);
• Your home will be more accessible to burglars – it’s much easier for criminals to break into a house (it’s on the “ground floor”) than to break into an upper-floor apartment, especially considering the building security that most apartment complexes have;
• Your living costs will be higher (see below for details).

1.2. Maintenance

When you move into a house, the upkeep of your home becomes your responsibility – you will not only need to clean your living space but will also have to take care of all the maintenance tasks your landlord once handled.

• Repairs – When you live in an apartment and something breaks, all you need to do is call the landlord – it’s their duty to fix the problem, you don’t have to lift a finger. When you live in a house, there will be no one to do the job for you – you’ll have to find a way to fix the issue yourself;
• Preventive maintenance – To keep your house in good shape, you need to perform some regular tune-ups – cleaning plumbing fixtures, gutters, drains, and vents; changing HVAC filters and furnace filters; inspecting the roof, the plumbing system, the electrical system, the heating system, and the home exterior, etc. Preventive maintenance can save you a lot of trouble – and money – in the long run;
• Outdoor maintenance – When you move into a house, you’ll have an outdoor space to take care of – you’ll need to mow the lawn and tend to your garden (till and fertilize the soil, prune and water the plants, remove weeds, etc.), trim trees and brushes, maintain the driveway and walkways (remove leaves and debris, shovel away snow, etc.), remove snow from the roof and from around the foundations of the house, etc. Depending on the size of your yard and your personal preferences, you can do it all yourself (make sure you have the proper tools – and plan for the necessary time and effort) or hire someone to take care of your outdoor space;
• Pest control – You’ll want to keep your house and your garden free of pests, so you’ll need to have your home and your outdoor space sprayed every few months. In some areas of the country, you may also need to hire a professional to deal with larger or more dangerous critters.

1.3. Expenses

The cost of living in a house is usually much higher than the cost of living in an apartment.

In addition to the mortgage payments (that depend on the size of the house and the neighborhood it is in), there are various other expenses to plan for – home insurance, property taxes, maintenance costs, etc.

These extra costs add up quickly and can put quite a strain on your budget.

So, when moving from an apartment to a house, you need to keep in mind that:

• You’ll need to budget for professional moving services or truck rental;
• You will have to buy a lot of new furnishings, appliances, décor pieces, tools, and various other items for your new, larger home (see below for details);
• Your electricity, gas, and water bills will rise considerably – you’ll have a larger space to heat or cool and a garden to water;
• You will need various products – and will need to buy them regularly – to maintain your outdoor space;
• You will need all kinds of professional services for your house and will have to pay for plumbers, electricians, repair workers, landscapers, and other professionals, as needed.

You need to have enough savings to cover the initial costs of moving from apartment to house and you need to be sure that your income will be enough to cover all the extra costs of living in a house.

Related: How Much Money to Save When Moving

Being aware of all the challenges and changes that moving into a house will bring to your life will help you decide if it’s the right step to take – and if it is, you will know exactly what you’re in for when buying a house.

Once you’ve made your final decision and chosen a suitable house to purchase, do your best to ensure a smooth and trouble-free transition.

2. Complete a House Inspection

Your first task after you’ve found the right property to buy is to complete a full home inspection to find out what condition the house is in.

Hire an experienced home inspector to examine the roof, foundations, exterior walls, ceilings and floors, doors and windows, plumbing system, electrical system, HVAC system, etc. – check for structural damage, mold growth, water problems, electrical malfunctions, or other issues with the house.

Be present during the inspection, pay attention, and ask about anything that concerns you.

If anything needs fixing, request the seller to address the issue or deduct the cost of the repairs from the sale price.

Plan for future improvements and upgrades.

Bonus tip: Use the opportunity to acquaint yourself with your home’s heating, electrical, and plumbing systems during the house inspection.

Find out where the fuse box and the main water valve are located, label the breakers in the electrical box, and make sure you know how to turn off the water supply to the house if the need arises.

13 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Moving to a New House

3. Get Your New House Ready for Moving In

Once you get the keys to your new house (preferably a month or so before you need to move out of your apartment), get down to work without delay:

• Get any necessary repairs and desired renovations done before moving in – home improvement projects such as upgrading the HVAC system, refinishing the floors, and painting the walls are much easier to complete when no one lives in the house and the space is still mostly empty (See also: Tips on Renovating Your New Home Before Moving In);
• Set up the utilities – contact your service providers at least two weeks in advance and arrange to have the utilities running in your new house (See also: How to Transfer Utilities When Moving)
• Give the house a thorough cleaning while there are still no furnishings around (See also: Move-in Cleaning Checklist);
• Spray for pests a week before moving in – not only will it be easier to get to all the nooks and crannies before the furniture is moved in, but any harmful chemicals from the sprays will have already cleared off by move-in day.

4. Determine What You’re Going to Need

Unlike apartments that are usually furnished, houses are bare – you will need to furnish your new home yourself (and you’ll need a lot of furnishing and décor for your larger living space).

When moving from apartment to house, you’ll have the unique opportunity to create the home of your dreams – there will be no rules and restrictions to observe and you’ll be able to unleash your creativity and design a stylish space that suits your needs and reflects your tastes.

Your first step is to make a floor plan of your new house – it will help you envision your ideal living space, decide which of your old items are worth moving to your new home, determine what you’ll need to buy for your new place, and figure out where each item fits best.

Then, you need to create and prioritize your “new house shopping list” – there will be many things to buy when moving from apartment to house and you may not have the funds to purchase everything at once, but you need to make sure that you have the essentials right from the start:

• Furniture – If you own any furniture, it’s a good idea to take it to your new house (if it fits in, of course), so you can save some money on furnishings in the beginning when your budget is quite strained (you can later buy better pieces if you want to.) If your apartment is completely furnished and you don’t have any furniture, you’ll have to buy all the basic items (beds, sofas, dressers, tables, chairs) before moving in and then get comfort pieces (bookshelves, desks, nightstands, coffee tables, lounge seating, etc.) when you can afford them;
• Appliances – You will almost certainly have no appliances of your own (except for small items like a coffee maker, a toaster, and a blender) and, in most cases, there won’t be any appliances in your new house, so you’ll need to buy everything necessary ASAP – washer and dryer, refrigerator, cooking range, dishwasher, microwave, etc. When purchasing home appliances, be sure to opt for energy-efficient ones – so you can cut down on energy consumption and not only save on electricity bills but also reduce your carbon footprint;
• Window treatment (blinds, curtains, draperies) and floor coverings (carpets, area rugs, etc.);
• Lighting – You may have some floor lamps and night lamps, but you will need more for your spacious new home and will likely also want some wall scones, chandeliers, garden lanterns, etc.; 
• Wall décor – There will be a lot of bare walls in your new house, so you’ll have a lot of decorating to do;
• Tools – You will need to fix things around the house, so you need to have a toolbox, a hammer, a screwdriver set, a wrench set, plyers, vice grips, wire cutters, a hand saw, a steel chisel, a power drill and a drill bit set, and other commonly used tools;
• Garden items -When living in a house, you will have an outdoor space to take care of, so you’ll need to invest in a lawnmower and a sprinkler system and get a bunch of gardening tools – pruning shears, hedge clippers, a trowel, a weeder, a rake, a spade, a hoe, etc. You’ll also need watering hoses and snow shovels and may even want to buy a leaf blower and/or a snowblower.

Of course, you’ll also need all kinds of kitchen items, bathroom items, electrical and electronic devices, bedding, cleaning supplies, and various other household items – you will already have many of those things, but will likely need to buy more to fill your new space and ensure its functionality, comfort, and beauty.

5. Plan Your Move

So, you’ve taken everything into consideration, made the down payment, signed the papers, prepared your new house for moving in, and decided which of your old items to bring to your new home.

Now it’s time to plan your actual relocation.

How to move from an apartment to a house? The process is straightforward enough:

1. Set up your budget to keep your finances under control;
2. Decide on a moving date and create a moving calendar so you can complete your moving preparations in a timely and efficient manner;
3. Purge your items, so you don’t bring any unnecessary clutter to your new house (and so you make your move cheaper and easier);
4. Make a moving inventory to keep better track of your belongings;
5. Ensure moving help – When moving from apartment to house, you’ll likely only be moving across town and won’t have many large household items to relocate. Your local move will be relatively easy, but you will still need to somehow transport all your earthly possessions to your new place. You have two viable options:
   • Perform a self-move. You can rent a moving truck and ask a few good friends to help you load and unload your items (keep in mind that taking your belongings out of your apartment and into the moving vehicle will be quite a difficult and risky task – especially, if you’re living in a high-rise or can’t use an elevator). If you’re moving without furniture or other larger items, you may even not need to rent a truck – you may be able to transport all your belongings in your and your friends’ cars;
   • Hire local movers. If you’re not up to the task (or don’t have enough time, or don’t have anyone to help you with the heavy lifting, etc.), you can always hire professional moving services. The cost will be easily affordable and you won’t need to deal with taking cumbersome items and heavy boxes down the stairs, driving a moving truck along narrow city streets in busy city traffic, etc.
6. Pack your items for moving – Your items will travel only a short distance, but they will still need adequate protection in order to survive the move intact and unscathed. Get familiar with the golden rules of packing and do your best to ensure the safety of your belongings. Pack an open-first box so you have everything you’re going to need on the first day and night in your new home at hand;
7. Take care of the paperwork – Change your address with the USPS and transfer utilities and subscriptions. If you’re going to use professional moving services, book your movers, read all the moving-related paperwork with care, and sign a moving contract with your chosen company.
8. Ensure a safe and smooth moving day.

Tips for Moving Across Town

If everything goes according to plan, you will find yourself in your new home – belongings in tow – in no time and without any trouble.

Our moving from apartment to house checklist, however, is not yet complete – it’s time to find out what to do after the relocation.

After the Move: Settling into Your New House

So, your move is over, you’ve unpacked your belongings, and are quite ready to start your new life in your new house.

To be able to live safely, comfortably, and happily in your new home, however, you need to take care of several important things first:

1. Secure Your House

As already mentioned above, houses are more vulnerable than apartments.

Therefore, you need to take adequate measures to secure your new place as soon as you move in.

1.1. Secure your home against break-ins

• Change the locks – You don’t know how many copies of the keys to your new house were available before you bought the property or who had them, so it’s essential to change the locks immediately after the relocation (or even a few days prior) – and to never leave spare keys in the mailbox, under the doormat, or at any other place commonly used for that purpose. For maximum security, consider installing electronic door locks or deadbolts on all doors that go outside;
• Install metal bars or wooden dowels to lock access to sliding doors;
• Put video cameras at your front door, at the garage door, and at several other key places around the property, as well as inside the house;
• Add lots of exterior lights to keep the area around your house well-illuminated. Consider installing motion-sensing lights in the yard and along the sides of the home;
• Prune bushes that could hide burglars and tree limbs leading to windows.

1.2. Protect your home from accidents and natural disasters

• Ensure fire safety – install fire alarms and/or smoke detectors throughout the home (don’t forget to test them regularly and replace the batteries as needed), supply a fire extinguisher at every level of the house, invest in automatic fire sprinklers, and make sure you have a roll-up ladder so you can easily escape from upper floors in case of a fire;
• Prevent water damage – waterproof the roof, ensure proper drainage away from the house, and invest in a quality sump-pump to reduce the risk of flooding;
• Get homeowner’s insurance that covers everything you need it to.

2. Make Your House Feel Like Home

Your new house may be more spacious and more comfortable than your old apartment, but it may not feel like home right from the start. You need to bring coziness and warmth to the place to turn it into your sweet home:

• Set up the space to your liking – make it functional, comfortable, and cozy. Do not forget to schedule maintenance (as detailed above) to keep your home in excellent shape at all times;
• Add texture and character to the home – hang stylish curtains, lay artistic area rugs, put colorful cushions on the beds, sofas, and lounge chairs, add greenery to the place, provide intriguing lighting, etc.;
• Personalize the space – hang your favorite photos and pictures on the walls, display your favorite pieces of art, decorations, souvenirs, and collectibles, and surround yourself with things that you love;

How to Make Your New Place Feel Like Home

3. Meet Your Neighbors

When moving from apartment to house, you’ll have fewer neighbors, but they will be more “long term” – people rarely stay in rented apartments for more than a couple of years, but most homeowners stay in their houses for decades.

This means that when you buy a house, you’ll be living door to door with the same people for many years – so you should really try to establish a good relationship with your neighbors.

• Go shake hands with the people next door within the first days after your relocation.
• Introduce yourself and tell your neighbors how happy you are to have moved into such a nice neighborhood.
• Be polite and friendly, ask about neighborhood affairs and community life, and try to find interests you have in common (such as children, pets, gardening, sports, etc.).

Once you establish a connection, it will be easy to build a rapport and bond with your neighbors.

Bonus tips:

• Throw a housewarming party (a barbecue in your backyard will work great) and invite your neighbors over – you will have some fun together and will get to know each other a bit;
• Spend as much time on the front porch or in your garden as possible – so you have the chance to meet as many of your new neighbors as possible and greet them with a friendly “hello”. The more available you are, the easier it will be to foster communications and connect with the people next door.

How to Befriend Your Neighbors After Moving

Get to know your new surroundings, get involved in the community life, and get the lifestyle you’ve always wanted.

The above tips for moving from an apartment to a house will help you relocate successfully and achieve a smooth transition – but it will be up to you to make the most of your new life.

Best of luck!

Must-read: 21 Things to Do After Moving Into a New House