Is it time to move out of your parents’ home and into your own place, but you aren’t sure what you need? In the excitement of such an important time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of things that you have to keep track of. It’s also a challenge to figure out your “must haves” versus what you simply think you need.
To help remove some of your stress, Mainstay prepared this move-in checklist with everything a person would need for their first “apartment” at one of our homes.
Please keep in mind that you may not necessarily need everything on this list.
Bedroom Checklist
- A comfortable bed – We suggest no larger than a Queen size, but this varies by house
- Mattress
- Bed frame
- Sheets
- Bed pillows
- Pillowcases
- Bedspread/Comforter
- Blankets
- Dresser
- Desk
- Nightstand
- Television – No wall mounted units
- TV Stand
- Additional storage containers that can be neatly stored in the closet or under the bed. There is no additional storage within the houses.
- Trash bin
- Hangers
- Shoe rack
- Mirror
- Curtains
- Desk lamp
- Extra lighting
- Streaming devices
- Area carpet – Floors are finished hardwood
- Favorite posters – Please obtain landlord permission for anything to be hung on the walls. Out landlords are very flexible when it comes to each resident decorating to their own taste. They simply want to minimize any damage to the walls.
Each house has ample community space for lounging and entertaining. That being said, Mainstay encourages you to make this list your own. It’s important to keep in mind that little details tend to make a room comfortable and cozy. So, if you feel like your living area is missing something, and there is enough room to accommodate more furniture, you may want to consider the following so long as space allows, and it does not cause a safety hazard.
- Couch or Sofa
- Chairs/additional seating
- Throw pillows
- Throw blankets
- Mini refrigerator
Bathroom Checklist
Each house has multiple bathrooms that are shared by residents. The landlord for each house contracts with outside companies to clean and disinfect the bathrooms on a weekly basis.
Things like shower curtains, extra toilet paper, and cleaning supplies are provided by Mainstay. You should add the following items to your move-in list.
- Bath towels
- Hand towels
- Toiletries
- Hair towel/shower cap
- Toothbrush holder
- Extra storage containers to hold your personal items
Kitchen & Dining Checklist
Every house has a fully equipped kitchen. (In some cases, there are two kitchens.) There are two refrigerators that provide enough storage for the “house food” and for each resident’s personal food. Each resident also has an assigned space for dry food goods.
Each house does have a variety of “major” appliances that are for use by our staff. If there is a specific piece of equipment that you use at your parent’s home, and which you want for your new home with Mainstay, you will need to purchase it yourself. Anything additional would only be allowed if space permitted with permission granted on a case-by-case basis by landlord and house manager as there is a limited amount of counter space available. Once you move in, you can affix your name to the equipment, so no one else touches. The list below is just a sample from other individuals
- Blender
- Coffee maker
- Toaster/toaster oven
- Air fryer
- Waffle iron
- Ziploc bags for your dry food
- Plastic containers to store food
Although we don’t consider it an essential task for moving day, it’s a good idea to begin preparing for your first grocery list.
Laundry Supplies
Residents are responsible for doing their own laundry. Making sure you have the necessary supplies will certainly make this task much easier.
- Laundry basket
- Laundry detergent/pods
- Stain remover
- Fabric softener sheets
- Iron/handheld steamer if you have experience using this equipment
- Ironing board
- Sewing kit
Other Essentials
Mainstay provides Wi-Fi throughout all houses which is available to residents who bring laptops and cell phones when they move in. Everyone is good at remembering the cables and chargers for those particular items. However, there may be other items you need to provide.
- Extension cords
- HDMI cable that connects your laptop to a television
- Power strips/surge protectors
- USB outlets
- Printer – The office printer is for Mainstay employees only
- Office chair
- Office lamp
- Filing cabinet or small drawers
- Extra pens & pencils
Safety Essentials
Here are some small items you might want to keep so you’re prepared for an emergency:
- First aid kit
- Band-Aids
- Flashlight
