AMY WILLIAMS
Moving in Essentials: Checklist for a new apartment
Preparing yourself for moving into a new apartment is no easy feat. It requires patience, planning, and list-making to ensure you have all your moving in essentials on hand when the big day arrives.
The best way to ensure a seamless, stress-free moving process is to create and follow a comprehensive checklist. This will help to ensure that you remember to invest in all the items you need, and that you don’t need to embark on yet another trip to the store when you should be settling in and exploring your surroundings.
Plans for moving into your first apartment
The first step to take when moving into your first apartment is to have it inspected by a professional home inspection service. These professionals can offer great insights into the condition of your home, and their advice can be used to budget for needed replacements and repairs. You may also need to organise to have a trusted and reputable moving contractor handle your move. Reputable companies have all the equipment required for lifting, packaging, and relocating your furniture and personal items safely, and many offer packing services that save you time and effort.
Alternatively, renting an apartment with Vertus will ensure that you always have access to world-class services, amenities, and accommodation without prior checks. Moving anywhere can be stressful but our dedicated move-in team ensure starting your new life at Vertus is as seamless as possible from the moment you walk in the door.
Vertus residents enjoy access to a dedicated move-in team and 24/7 maintenance support to make moving in simple and stress-free. The on-site maintenance team fixes all minor faults without inconvenience and can provide quotes for any repairs outside of those included in our service. Our concierge service can be reached 24 hours a day in person or via the residents’ app to assist with enquiries, receive parcels, and put you in touch with the right management teams.
Upon move in, residents will have access to the Vertus+ app, shaping the lived experience and building our ever-growing community – join or start clubs, book the Vertus+ amenity spaces or take advantage of exclusive perks.
What to Expect When Moving to Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is home to a vibrant and diverse residential community, and becoming a Vertus resident gives you exclusive access to groups of close-knit neighbours and Vertus+ benefits of spaces, events and partner perks. Vertus apartments offer exceptional waterside living, elegantly designed buildings, and expertly crafted interiors that bring you the best when living in London.
Renting a Vertus apartment in Canary Wharf grants you access to landscaped parks and gardens throughout the Estate, exclusive residents-only events, and ready-to-move-in apartments that negate the need for prior checks and inspections. Once you’ve moved in, enjoy a range of premium amenities allowing you to host dinner parties in private dining rooms or train your dog through an agility course on the terrace. What’s more, you’ll have arts, culture, festivals, eateries, bars, and green and blue spaces - for which E14 is renowned - right on your doorstep.
Moving In Essentials
Use this moving into a new apartment checklist to ensure that you have these moving in essentials on hand when stepping into your new apartment. Vertus apartments are available furnished, and some unfurnished, so worth bearing in mind any additional furniture you may need. We’ve pulled together an extensive list to consider.
Essential Furniture New Apartment Checklist
Bedroom
- Bed bases and mattresses
- Wardrobes
- Chests of drawers
- Dressing table and chair
- Armchairs
- Additional storage solutions, such as storage Ottomans or storage boxes
Living Room
- Sofas
- Armchairs
- Footstools
- TV and media unit
- Coffee table
- Console tables
- Sideboards and other storage furniture
Dining Area
- Dining table and chairs
- Dining room sideboard
- Display cabinets
- Servers
- Extra lighting solutions, such as table or floor lamps
Home Office
- Desk and office chair
- Storage solutions like storage cabinets and document drawers
- Additional tables or surfaces for housing printers and office equipment
Kitchen Necessities
- Pots, pans, and saucepans
- Oven-safe and microwave-safe dishes
- Cutlery and crockery
- Baking sheets
- Drinking glasses
- Mugs and teacups
- Coffee machine or plunger
- Kettle, toaster, and microwave
- Food preparation knives
- Cooking utensils such as wooden spoons, spatulas, and whisks
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons
- Kitchen scissors
- Strainer and sieve
- Ice trays
- Cutting boards
- Food-safe containers for storing leftovers
- Dish towels and washing cloths
- Rubbish bin.
Bedroom Essentials
- Bed linens, including sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases
- Pillows (one or two per person sleeping)
- Duvets and comforters
- Lamps
- Curtains or blinds
- Mirrors, including a full length mirror
- Wardrobe hangers
- Laundry basket.
Bathroom Essentials
- Bath towels, hand towels, and small face towels
- Shower curtain
- Wall hooks
- Bathroom storage solutions
- Toothbrush holder and cup
- Non-slip bathmats
- Toilet brush and plunger
- Toilet paper
- Small rubbish bin.
Residents Notes
Our resident handbook provides an overview of useful guides on getting to know your apartment set up and the wider Canary Wharf offering.
Considerations for Your First Apartment
Be aware of these considerations when moving into your first apartment to minimise stress and ensure a successful move.
Financial Factors
It’s important to balance essential costs with ongoing expenses when you move into your new apartment. You can manage your finances effectively by setting and adhering to a budget during the moving process.
We also recommend investing in quality, timeless home items, which may require a higher investment to start with but will serve you well for many years without going out of style. There are many stores to shop at closer to home in Canary Wharf should you forget an important piece of furniture or equipment. Familiarise yourself with Curry’s and John Lewis & Partners.
Prioritising Purchases
Prioritise your immediate needs and long-term utilities over impulse buys and purely aesthetic investments to maximise your funds and experience the many benefits of renting in Canary Wharf.
There are many items that you need upfront to make your new home livable, but some, like food processors and hand mixers, vacuum cleaners, throw pillows, and decorative accessories can be purchased once you’ve moved in and are surer about the space you’re living in.
New Apartment Checklist - Canary Wharf
Local Resources in Canary Wharf
There are many local shops and online retailers that serve the Canary Wharf area. If you need any moving in essentials, there are more than 120 stores at five different malls to choose from.
We recommend starting with stores like:
- Boots the Chemist at Jubilee Place or Canada Place
- Robert Dyas at Canada Place
- John Lewis & Partners in Canada Place
- The White Company and Oliver Bonas at Jubilee Place
- The Paul Smith store in Cabot Place
- Whittard of Chelsea at One Canada Square
- Currys in Canada Place
Avid readers can sign up to the local Idea Store to access a wealth of engaging books, or visit Waterstones to buy helpful self-help guides, tomes on redecorating new apartments, or even books for displaying as shelving decorations.
Community Resources
Canary Wharf offers an excellent range of community resources, including a variety of public transport connections and emergency services. Vertus’ apartments are located close to the Jubilee line, DLR, the Elizabeth line, and the River Bus for convenient transportation links. The borough is also well protected by private security professionals who are on call 24/7 across all areas of the Estate.
Additionally, Vertus residents enjoy exclusive local services and amenities, including full cleaning services seven days a week at an additional cost, a dedicated Building Manager and move-in team, and a constantly expanding Vertus+ events programme filled with events that connect you with the community.
Use our "what to buy for a new apartment" checklist above to ensure you enjoy the full Vertus living experience from the moment you move in.