What An Apartment Resident Needs to Know When Transferring Apartments

Details About the Apartment Transfer Process

If your apartment needs have changed but you're happy with your community and neighborhood, then transferring to a different apartment within your community may be the perfect answer for you.

Reasons to Transfer Apartments

You may find yourself wanting to transfer to a different apartment within your community if:

• Your household size changes. You might outgrow your apartment and need one more bedroom or another bathroom. For instance, your one-bedroom apartment might have been perfect a few years ago, but now that you've grown your family, you need more space. Or you might be in a situation in which you no longer need all the space you. This can happen, for example, if you have children who become adults and move to a place of their own.

• Your financial situation changes. You might get a raise and decide you'd like to use your extra earnings to live in more spacious digs. Or, you might need to save money by downgrading to a smaller apartment so you can pay a lower rent.

Important Apartment Transfer Considerations

If you discover that the perfect apartment is just upstairs or down the hallway, keep the following points in mind before you go ahead with transferring apartments:

• Let the management office know you're interested in a transfer. Find out the procedure and what's required. For example, will you sign a new lease or amend your current one? Do you need to go through a new round of tenant screening? Will you owe more as a security deposit, or will you be due a partial refund?

• Get on a waiting list. If there's no apartment available that meets your requirements, see if you can be added to a waiting list. Ask for a time estimate. Also, confirm that the waiting list is just a list, meaning it requires no deposit and isn't binding, should you later change your mind.

• Check in periodically. It's a good idea to call the management office once in a while just to make sure you haven't somehow been dropped from the list. You should take the opportunity to inquire about the wait and let the person know you're still interested.

• Plan your move accordingly. Don't underestimate the time, effort, or expense involved in transferring to a different apartment within the community. Since you'll be moving within your community, the good news is you might not need a moving truck, which will bring substantial savings. However, depending on furniture and other bulky objects you might own, you may still need to hire professional movers.

• Start moving your things as soon as possible. If the new apartment is vacant, ask your community manager if you can begin moving your belongings to the new apartment before your lease officially starts. While this usually doesn't happen with new residents, your community manager might let you do it since you're already a renter within the community. If you do start bringing over items before your lease begins, you'll, of course, need the key.  You will also want to confirm if you will be held rent responsible for both apartments during this process.

• Expect to cancel and set up new utility accounts. Even if you're moving to the apartment next door, keep in mind that you'll still need to set up new accounts as if you moved several blocks away. It might seem like a pain, but unfortunately, there are no shortcuts in this regard when transferring apartments.

• Notify others of the address change. It might be as small as a single letter or number being different, but if you move, you'll have a change of address, and so you'll need to let the post office know. Also, be sure to inform credit card companies and others of the change. Let the mail carrier, as well as your old apartment's new resident, know that if something should come for you, that you're still in the community but at the new apartment. Tell friends and family about your new address through a quick e-mail or formal moving announcement.

• Be courteous if you have a change of plans. If you decide to move away to an apartment not within your community, point out to the management office that you no longer need to be on the waiting list. Also, if your needs change and you decide you would like to stay where you are, let your management office know you wish to be removed from the list.

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.