DAY-ONE ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST
You need this.
The movers leave at 4pm and you realize you have no toilet paper, no trash bags, and no way to charge your phone. This checklist is the 25 things that go in your car on move-in morning so day one is not a crisis.
Drop your email and we'll send the printable straight to your inbox. No spam, only the file plus a few smart follow-ups.
We render apartments for a living. We make the printables we wish renters had.
Rendered by Design creates city-specific home design guides, room lookbooks, and budget tools for first-apartment renters in NYC, Austin, Phoenix, Seattle, Atlanta, and beyond. Every resource on this site is built from real design work we do every day.
Meet RbDWithout it, you'll forget half the list.
- You move in without toilet paper and the nearest store is a 20-minute walk
- Your phone dies because you packed the charger in a box you cannot find
- You cannot sleep the first night because you forgot a pillow and a sheet set
- You spend $60 at a drugstore for things you already own but cannot locate
What's Inside
- ✓ 25 items organized by category: bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, utility, personal
- ✓ Pack-in-car vs. buy-on-arrival tags so you know what to bring and what to grab
- ✓ Estimated cost per item so you can pre-budget the day-one run
- ✓ Roommate coordination column so nobody buys duplicates
How It Works
Print the list 3 days before move-in
Pack the 'car' items in a clearly labeled box or bag
Stop at Target or Walmart on the way to pick up the 'buy on arrival' items
Unpack the day-one box FIRST, before touching anything else
Choose Your Adventure
All four other RbD printables. Pick the one you need next.
Shop the Look
Pieces from the RbD retailer index. Use the printable as your shopping checklist.
FTC: Some links below are affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only feature pieces we'd put in a real RbD render.
First Apartment Move-In Planner
Every product, room, layout, and budget breakdown, done for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this really free?
Yes. PDF arrives by email in under five minutes. No credit card.
How is this different from the First Apartment Checklist?
The Apartment Checklist covers Day One, Week One, and Month One. This is just the 25 things for day one. Think of it as the emergency subset.
Does this include cleaning supplies?
Three essentials: all-purpose spray, paper towels, and a broom. You do not need a full cleaning kit on day one. See the Cleaning Guide for the complete setup.
What format?
PDF, 1 page, US letter. Print and tape to the day-one box.