First Apartment Checklist: Everything to Do, Pay, and Buy
38 check-off items across six stages, from "do I qualify?" to the first week in your new place — with our real costs filled in where they apply.
Updated September 4, 2026
The short answer
A first apartment comes together in six stages: qualify (credit score, 3x-rule income, documents), tour two or three places and get total monthly cost in writing, applyand budget the real move-in check (application fee + deposit + first month + pet fee + renter's insurance), set up utilities to start the day before keys, buy the first-week kit only, then photograph everything on move-in day to protect your deposit. Start six to eight weeks before your move date. Check the boxes below as you go — they work on your phone.
Stage 1 · 4–8 weeks out
Before you search: know you qualify
Application fees are non-refundable everywhere, so the cheapest mistake to avoid is applying somewhere you can't get approved. Ten minutes here saves real money.
Our minimum is 550; 550–600 is approved with a doubled deposit. Most communities never publish theirs — here's why we do.
Roommates' income counts together. Run your number in the income calculator — our published minimum is $2,280/mo household gross income.
Utilities are not included at most Houston communities, ours included. Budget for electricity (Texas lets you pick your provider), water, and internet on top of rent.
Full list, including self-employed alternatives, in the documents guide.
Stage 2 · 3–5 weeks out
Touring: see it before you sign it
Tour at least two or three communities, and tour the actual unit — or the same floor plan — you would rent. Bring your phone and a tape measure.
Ours are Mon–Sat, in English or Spanish — schedule a tour.
We wrote them down for you, with our answers already filled in: questions to ask when touring.
You'll need the measurements when you shop for a bed and couch in step five.
Stage 3 · 2–4 weeks out
Applying and the real move-in cost
Your first check is bigger than one month's rent. Add up every line below before you apply so the signing table holds no surprises.
Ours are public: rental criteria. The application fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome — that's true everywhere.
Typically 1–3 business days here. What slows it down.
$400 on 1-bedrooms and townhomes, $500 on 2-bedrooms; doubled for conditional approvals. How deposits work in Texas.
$250 non-refundable pet fee plus $15/mo pet rent, per pet, up to 2 pets — pet policy.
Live terms are always on our specials page.
Many communities require it before handing over keys — ask when you apply.
Stage 4 · 1–2 weeks out
Utilities and address change
Schedule everything to start the day before you get keys, so you walk into a cool apartment with working Wi-Fi.
Houston is on Texas's deregulated grid: you choose the retail provider. Compare plans on the state's Power to Choose site, and watch for plans that only look cheap at exactly 1,000 kWh. Our kitchens are all-electric, so this is your biggest utility.
Stage 5 · The week before
What to buy: the first-week kit
You don't need everything on day one. Buy the first-week kit before you move, then fill in the rest once you've lived in the space.
Every home here has a dishwasher — bring dishwasher pods, not just dish soap.
Every home has washer/dryer connections; machines can be rented for select homes if you don't own a set.
Stage 6 · Day 0–7
Move-in day and the first week
The five minutes of photos you take on day one decide whether you get your whole deposit back a year from now.
Texas law lets landlords deduct only for damage beyond normal wear — your photos are the proof of what “before” looked like.
Here, requests go through the resident portal and you can track them.
Why our numbers are in here
Most first-apartment checklists say “budget for the deposit” and leave you to guess the amount. We manage Cranbrook Forest, a 261-home community in North Houston, and we'd rather you know our deposit is $400–$500, our credit minimum is 550, and our rent starts at $699 before you ever call us. Use the list anywhere you tour — and if our numbers fit yours, come see a home.
Common Questions
- How much money do I need to move into my first apartment?
- Plan for the application fee, the security deposit, first month's rent (sometimes prorated), any pet fee, plus renter's insurance and utility setup. At Cranbrook Forest that's roughly: $400–$500 deposit, $699+ rent, and $250 per pet if you have one — so a first check in the low four figures for a one-bedroom, before any current special.
- What credit score do I need for a first apartment?
- It varies by community and most don't publish it. Ours is 550, with 550–600 approved conditionally with a doubled deposit. If you have no credit history yet, ask whether a co-signer or a larger deposit is an option.
- Do I need renter's insurance?
- Many communities require it before move-in, and it's inexpensive relative to what it covers (your belongings, and liability if you cause damage). Get quotes from your car insurer first — bundling is usually cheapest.
- How far ahead should I start looking for an apartment?
- Six to eight weeks before your move date is comfortable: two weeks to qualify and budget, two to tour, one to two to apply and get approved, and the rest to set up utilities and movers. Approval here is typically 1–3 business days once your documents are in.
First Apartment? Start With Published Numbers.
Rent from $699, deposits $400–$500, credit minimum 550. Tour Mon–Sat in English or Spanish.
Mon–Fri 9AM–6PM | Sat 10AM–5PM