Tips for Someone Moving into Their First Apartment

AliensStoleMyMoney on 01/05/2019 - 19:42
Last edited 01/05/2019 - 19:51

Hello fellow ozbargainers.

So after being a broke uni student for so long I finally have got a great job which and now have come to the end of the lease of my room rental.

Today I finally got a place and now am just awaiting the move in date.

So I figured why not ask the wisest people for tips for when moving into a new apartment.

At the moment i have done the following

Got a free bed from the family - mattress and all
Got a free mini fridge that has a freezer apartment ( will change this asap as it uses more power (2-star rating)
going to keep my ISP (moving from fttp to fttp so no issue there)

Looking at Alinta energy for my gas/elect (if anyone has any other recommendations im open to all)

aside from this, I have little idea where to go
going to grab a cheap couch suite for the lounge and hopefully a cheap 50 dollar large tv (for now plasma till i find a good deal for a new one)
looking at second hand for washing machine/dryer.

any tips are welcome :)

thanks in advanced.

edit

forgot to mention mate has a large van and is taking the day off to move

Financial

Comments

  • beautysnippets on 01/05/2019 - 19:50
    +6

    Big W's Corelle range of plates and bowls are cheap and last a long time.

    Start paying attention to what you need/use everyday and slowly purchase them so that by move in date, you will be ready.

    Hire a truck and ask friends to assist in moving :)

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 01/05/2019 - 19:51
      +1

      forgot to mention mate has a large van and is taking the day off to move and is happy to help me get the couch suite off gumtree :)

      solid ideas for point 1 and 2

      • Seedy seed on 02/05/2019 - 11:24

        1. Op shop plates cuttlery ect, usualy about 10-20cent a peice.

        2. Gumtree a couch for $50 max

        3. Should be able to get a free smaller lcd think 24-35 inch off someone you know

        4. Get some cheap containers from the bunnings deal the other day.

  • pao2x on 01/05/2019 - 19:52

    Go to the facebook page buy and sell/free to give of an middle class to upper middle class suburb and grab freebies/ bargains
    Go to council collections of upper class suburbs

    • dust on 02/05/2019 - 09:40
      +1

      We've got a few quality items from hard rubbish!

  • s1n1ster on 01/05/2019 - 20:02

    I used the washing machine below as I didn't have any water inlets in the apartment:

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-5kg-Washing-Washer-Machine-Por…

    I used this machine for the past 3 years and has been a great buy!

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 01/05/2019 - 20:19

      <snip> probably should read the listing

      how is it for power /water draw

      considering i plan to be by myself for a long time so it would do my laundry needs quite fine

  • try2bhelpful on 01/05/2019 - 20:41

    Look for stuff in Op shops. Furniture is quite cheap and good quality. You can also look for kitchen utensils. You need good quality saucepans and cook knives. If you get good quality stuff from the get go you won’t need to replace later.

    Before you move in take a lot of photos showing the condition of the place, particularly highlighting anything dirty, damaged etc. it might help when you want your bond back.

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 01/05/2019 - 20:43

      Good idea with the pictures.

      Ill deff take a look at salvos etc

      • jjjaar on 02/05/2019 - 03:08

        Agree with op shops.

        Also find out if any councils nearby are doing hard rubbish.

  • tabz on 01/05/2019 - 20:58
    +3

    Ikea is pretty good for kitchen sets:

    • djones145 on 01/05/2019 - 21:18

      this
      ikea are great

    • theguyrules on 02/05/2019 - 11:20

      Yeah the Dragon cutlery set are awesome.

    • try2bhelpful on 02/05/2019 - 11:23

      Ikea also, generally, have a scratch and dent area where you can get extra bargains. Especially if they have old floor stock that just needs to be disassembled before taking it away.

  • bargainhunter87 on 01/05/2019 - 20:59
    +3

    condoms

  • Jules_d1 on 01/05/2019 - 21:47

    You would be surprised how much you will get offered if you post in your local buy/swap/sell group saying you are moving into your 1st apartment and have a really tight budget and ask if people have things they no longer need (Helps if you make a specific list such as couch, table, pans etc)

    Sometimes people have 'junk' they are meaning to get rid of and your post will remind them.

    Sometimes they will be more compelled to get rid of things as its going to a good cause and not landfill.

    Promote you will pick it up and they will probably thank you for it.

    BOOM- House full of free stuff.

    PS- If you get more than you need, just take it and sell it later :p

  • AustriaBargain on 01/05/2019 - 21:53

    If you have a spare room you want to sublet, never let a couple move in. don't even let someone in a long term relationship move in, you'll be outnumbered in your own home.

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 01/05/2019 - 22:27
      +1

      its a 2 bedroom with a lounge…… im using the spare bedroom as a office after spending my uni days sharing im over it tbh the freedom of living alone will be something great

  • [Deactivated] on 01/05/2019 - 21:59
    +1

    an audi in the drive way

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 01/05/2019 - 22:10
      +4

      are 80k high yield investment cars still the best thing? I'm looking at a mustang

  • Ryanek on 02/05/2019 - 08:45
    +1

    You will need an emergency box of instant Migoreng.

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 02/05/2019 - 10:47
      +1

      always have had this since my uni days.

      never underestimate the power of instant migoreng

  • Mlepnosclay on 02/05/2019 - 09:05

    Can you wait things out? You can do periodic checks in your hard rubbish collection at your new apartment (and congrats on the apartment and job!)
    A lot of people throw out things that are perfectly usable to another person.

    I got my TV that way (a cheap tv with damage in the corner, but it works fine for the amount of tv i watch), A big bed head board which i turned into a computer table with some trestle legs from Ikea.
    People also commonly throw out usable sofas, printers and other electrics, and a series of ikea items.

    Aldi sometimes have ridiculous discounts on their furniture.

    Like others are saying Ikea would be your best bet for kitchen items.

    Good luck!

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 02/05/2019 - 10:47
      +1

      thanks for the reply

      got super lucky with my job didnt have near the experience needed but the boss took a chance on me and constantly reminds me how happy he was with that chance.

      been seeing alot of couches being put up for hardwaste… shame really might do some trips around the neighbourhood to find some golden finds ;)

  • yolo123456789 on 02/05/2019 - 10:06

    congrats on your first apartment, apart from buying this the ozbargain way, all I would suggest is not rush in buying things until you move in. Obviously you would still need to buy your essentials (bed, fridge etc) but for a first home I reckon its easy to rush in buying things since some people could get a bit over excited with the idea of finally be able to set up the place the way you wanted.

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 02/05/2019 - 10:45

      thanks for the reply

      got a free bed from the family lined up, and still got my trooper of a mini fridge/freezer.

      i will definitely wait till i move in to buy other stuff (and do that the ozbargainer way)

  • wannagrababargain on 02/05/2019 - 10:19

    Plasma TV? What year is this? It's gonna be a pain to get rid of a large plasma down the track. People practically giving away older LCD TVs. Usually they are cheap brands with terrible interfaces but you can pair it with a cheap android TV box and you're gold. I know a thrifty couple who have scored two TVs off the side of the road.

    Rather than the energy rating of the fridge I would look at the total kWh number on the sticker. Small fridges all have a low star rating as a limitation of their size but being small they use a small total amount of electricity overall compared to larger models. The star rating is based on how much it uses compared to fridges of the same size, not compared to ALL fridges. A larger fridge with a higher rating might actually use more electricity overall. I would keep the mini-fridge if the size is not too small for your needs, only upgrade if you are running out of fridge space.

    In most parts of Australia you don't need a clothes dryer, waste of space and electricity.

    Will you be doing your own cooking? You'll need some cooking utensis and basic cupboard supplies.

    And all the rest.. Kettle, toaster, microwave oven, iron, ironing board, clothes horse, broom/mop, dust pan, toilet brush, clothes hangers. A desk or table for your pc/laptop/device to take advantage of that sweet FTTP.

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 02/05/2019 - 10:36

      Was thinking plasma as i could get one cheaper. will ofc look for a lcd cause plasmas are a pain to move

      great point about the fridge mine uses 240 kw per year vs 360+ of larger fridges, since it has never had issues holding what i needed when living alone for 4 years.

      tbh ill need the dryer as i have a bad habbit of leaving my washing to the last minute :/. although with the space ill probably buy an indoor clothes line stand and just dry them that way ……. gotta save that $$$$ on my electricity bill :)

      will be getting some cooking utensils (do people really not cook for themselves ?)

      forgot about the broom/iron/ironing board. added to the list :)

      ofc got my nice desktop setup (it guy) work has been gracious enough to pay for my 250/100 plan :)

      • Cheaplikethebird on 02/05/2019 - 11:10

        Learn to do regular laundry and ditch the dryer dude, nothing wears your clothes out faster. Your clothes will look newer and last longer.

        • try2bhelpful on 02/05/2019 - 11:14

          +1 with the laundry. We have a tumble dryer but it is hardly used. We have a bunch of airers and dry most of our clothes on them. We also have an internal balcony where we do things like sheets, towels, jeans, etc. We would've saved a heap of money on electricity bills over the years.

      • wannagrababargain on 02/05/2019 - 13:09

        (do people really not cook for themselves ?)

        I once lived with a french chef who ate Woolworths ready to eat meals every day.

        • Cheaplikethebird on 02/05/2019 - 14:30
          +1

          Hahaha this reminds me of IT. Someone will have some annoying pop up all the time and I’ll fix it in 10 seconds no big deal but on the other hand I’ll suffer clicking through the same error hundreds of times because I’m too lazy to fix it when it comes to my own PC.

  • AliensStoleMyMoney on 02/05/2019 - 10:51

    Hi everyone thanks for the replys (trying to answer all as ive seen enough posts with OPS not responding)

    really appreciate all the advice so far :) figured id put a list on what i got so far that ill need to grab

    https://pastebin.com/Hayq2uxn

    • try2bhelpful on 02/05/2019 - 11:16

      don't forget sink plugs; if they don't come with the property.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 02/05/2019 - 10:58

    If you're living in Melbourne or Sydney you shouldn't have to buy anything new. I bought new a couple times but after having a few times where I've had to sell furniture thats a year or two old and in perfect condition for a fraction of retail I've decided I would always buy mostly secondhand from now on. My house is pretty bougie too.

    So many people move to this city for work or uni, deck their house out, then 6-12 months later something happens and they have to move away again. Happens allll the time.

    I just bought a leather King Living lounge in good nic for $500, it retails for about 3k and about $1200 worth of IKEA outdoor furniture that's only a couple months old for $550. I just go furniture shopping online find what I want then search for it on Gumtree/fb marketplace, usually doesn’t take more than a couple weeks to get the specific item I want and for IKEA items even less.

    • AliensStoleMyMoney on 02/05/2019 - 11:41

      i live in radelaide though I really do agree with you regardless where I am its always better to check second hand :)

  • innov on 02/05/2019 - 13:30

    Kmart/Target/Big W for cheap household items (bathroom/kitchen items)

  • Austaurean on 07/05/2019 - 08:44

    Actually read the tenancy agreement terms and conditions and any other conditions, i.e. rules of the body corporate etc.

    Pay rent in full and on time.
    with any maintenance call it in as soon as you become aware of it. you can be liable for any additional damage that happens from you not calling in the issue within a reasonable period of time.

    Make sure there is an actual fault before calling in maintenance - if there is no actual fault or the fault is due to your own product i.e. tripping the fuse due to a faulty product, you will get the bill for the maintenance callout.

    take pictures of everything and also note all property defects down within the First 7 days and get the pictures printed and date stamped and signed by a JP or any other authority that might be able to do so.
    Lodge your 'tenant comments' with the real estate and/or landlord, making sure they give you a copy with a company and date stamp.
    Check their property condition report and where you disagree, make any necessary comments against what they say the condition is.

    Protect yourself for when you move out against pre existing damage etc./property condition.
    Marks/dents on walls, ceiling flooring etc. are all door stops in place? etc
    Look at the window tracks, flyscreens, glass, making sure everything is intact and not torn or cracked etc.
    Check out the oven inside and out and what racks are in the oven and grill.

  • nansnake on 08/05/2019 - 17:16

    Well, these are the tips I can give you after moving to my first apartment last year.
    - Book the lifts to move in (if upstairs). Call the building manager and set a time up (if its not required, then no probs). I tried sneaking in some appliances, which coulda been fined and access fob coulda been voided($500 to grab new one from them). Planning very early will make things easy
    - Look at restrictions (noise/smoking/etc). My place has zero noise after 10pm.
    - Measure the length of the space before buying any furniture/appliance. Washing machine got stuck and had to sell it.
    - Keep keys safe including the spare, if you have one. And no, we can't make easy duplicates, its against the law.
    - Don't take apartment parking for granted. Thieves still undertake robbery inside limited access apartment parking.

    And lastly, enjoy this time of your life. This excitement is irreplaceable and probably won't be there next time you move. :)

  • AliensStoleMyMoney on 19/05/2019 - 13:11
    +1

    Hye guys sorry forget to get back to you regarding my move.

    Firstly all up my move cost sub $100
    couch (futon) was the biggest issue as getting one to fit through the door was a pain ended up finding i nice futon that is really comfy from salvos for 15
    had to buy a indoor clothes hanger & shoe rack & dish drying rack $15
    Fuel for my mate as thanks $ 20
    Lunch / dinner for me and mate (as thanks) $40
    first aid kit + fire extenguisher - came with apartment

    got a free computer desk/chair - my akracing ones screws came out and arent going back in (got it for free anyways)
    got a free king single bed + base from gumtree along with a coffee table tv cabinet and dining table + chairs.
    family got me some cooking utensils (pans pots etc) and some cutlery / dishes.
    apartment came with bathroom/toilet plunger and sink plunger.

    Got a good washing machine for 300 brand new delivered and installed along with a microwave to go alongs side my already owned toaster nutribullet kettle and airfryer. (used part of my bond to cover the washing machine and pocketed the rest)

    other stuff i got
    got a 4k 49inch 60hz tv for 149 by price matching vianos on bigw with my CC from ebay. (woo)
    got a vodafone tv for 50 via my mate in melbourne who bring it over with him.
    Ended up going with simple energy due to raa discoutn for gas/electricity

    What i went well/did right

    picked a single story apartment for a good price
    Packed up/cleaned old room early saving time.
    the tv was a solid deal :D
    having a mate with a van (priceless really especially with his experience with helping others move)
    took the week off moving took longer than expected and had other stuff to do to settled in.
    Took photos of the apartment before moving in.

    things that i could've done better / need to do

    measure the doorways/furniture (wish i read that - my mate is smarter than me and figured to do it though)
    Get contents insurance ( waiting for comfirmation from landlord of what kind of building etc it is) - will go with RAA likely
    Look at getting a dryer for winter season (can get them for 90 second hand with warranty) - still deciding as i trialed doing inside drying and it worked well.
    find a nice comfy recliner chair.

    recommendations

    as mentioned measure doorways moving stuff in couldve been a pain in the ass if my mate wasnt experienced with helping people move
    Really enjoy the first apartment experienced (again as mentioned) its great still in the "honey moon" phase where im loving the freedom of having a place to myself.
    pack yoru stuff up as soon as possible and have the place spotless before moving out (take photos) helps get bond back quickly.
    put money aside for getting small groceries for when u move in (had to get sugar coffee etc for guests but mate got it for me) but highly recommended.
    Have a mate/family sit at the house to wait for the person to read your meter/turn on the power and gas - thankfully my mate was able to grab furniture off gumtree solo.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/05/2019 - 22:23

    Just a little idea, go to swapmeets and garage sales to pick up cheap stuff that appeals, like a saloon indian, banjo on a stand, niknaks, shelves, hand tools, cool rugs, the billions of kitchen, bathroom, decor tidbits, to make the place resonate your tastes.

    Also check Gumtrees Free column in your area. Appliances, yachts, pianos, cars, everything is possible eventually. Handy when starting out.

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