Your New Address
Find a mover's guide online at moversguide.usps.com or at your local post office. The booklet and website contain a form for forwarding mail to your new address, and advice and checklists of what to do when relocating. You’ll receive a packet of free coupons in the mail after registering your address, targeted to services a new mover might need.

Utilities
Ask your landlord for a list of utilities: electric, gas, cable, phone. Try to get them connected before you move in. Checking to see that the previous tenant has turned the service off. You don't want to be liable for their charges.

If your landlord isn’t available, request a newcomer packet from the Chamber of Commerce, listing utilities and other services. Consider putting your utilities in the name of the partner with the better credit. Some utility services will wave a security fee for new accounts if you have a good credit rating.

Before You Move In
When viewing your first apartment, inspect plumbing and electrical outlets. Make sure all the faucets and light switches work and see if there are any obvious leaks or other problems. If the previous tenants are there, ask them about the condition of the place.  If  anything is not working properly, inform the owner immediately so you are not responsible for repairs. Find out where to keep your trash and what day to put it out.

Obtain a written receipt for any security deposit and rent that you pay. Read your lease carefully before signing it! See if your apartment complex has a website. If so, see if they have your floor plan online with its dimensions (for each room). This helps you determine whether or not your furniture will fit and where to put it.

Clean the place before moving your things in. Pack a box of crucial items and mark it clearly to unpack first at your new place (toilet paper, pan, pot, bowl, cups, utensils, permanent marker, pen, paper, sheets, etc.). Bribe friends with offers of lunch and undying gratitude to help with move-in day. Stock up on water/Gatorade and keep it flowing.

Head to the Library or the Web
You can find reference books at the library and on information on websites on setting up a household. Look for household tips on carpet stain removal, plumbing concerns, setting up a basic toolbox for household repairs, so you can get your place running smoothly.

Consider Painting
If you are unhappy with the way your place looks, paint offers the biggest bang for your buck in transforming your new home. If you do the painting, your landlord may pay for the paint. Create a color scheme, being sure the different colors work together from room to room.

Take a Deep Breath
Once you have moved in, wait. You’ll be eager to start decorating, but get to know the place first. Keep a list of things that you want, but hold off for two weeks on anything beyond essentials to see if you really need it

Shopping
Ikea, World Market, Pier 1, and Target have a range of furniture at that works easily with what you have.

Do Not Purchase Furniture Or Appliances On A Payment Plan
Resist the temptation to buy furniture or appliances on time. You end up putting many dollars towards interest payments. The cost can be a strain on your relationship and you have to ask yourself if it is really necessary. There are alternatives.

Check Garage & Estate Sales
Go to yard sales! There are treasures waiting for you on Friday and Saturday mornings, and the price is right.. You will find appliances, furniture, rugs, framed pictures, books and tools. Your can stock your living room, your kitchen and your outdoor space. But one warning: don’t buy used mattresses, pillows and bedding. You’ll want to know where your mattress comes from.

Be sure you keep your new apartment in good condition and pay your rent on time – it means getting a good reference when moving, and getting your security deposit back.