Move-In Is Its Own Phase
Our group apartment hunting timeline takes a group from the search through signing and setup. This post starts where that one stops, at key handoff, and covers what happens once you are standing at the door with a key and a van. It also covers a few decisions worth making a little earlier.
Before the Keys: Choose a Bedroom Method
Decide who takes which bedroom before boxes arrive. At Capitol Living the four private bedrooms are described as equal, so there is no obvious best room. The group can draw lots, rotate picks by a coin flip, or simply agree. Pick a method everyone accepts in advance and write the result in your shared notes. The private bedrooms downtown page shows the layout.
One Week Out: Accounts and Loading Rules
Rent at Capitol Living includes internet, WiFi, gas, water, and wastewater. Electricity is not included, and it is served by Austin Energy, the city's municipal utility, so there is no retail provider to choose at this address. Our guide on setting up shared utilities downtown covers the account steps.
This week is for confirming the rest with the leasing team: whether the building has rules about moving large items, whether elevator use needs scheduling, and where to stop a vehicle for loading. If you want answers before then, reach out to the leasing team.
Key Handoff and the First Hour
Ask how keys are issued, who receives them, and whether every resident gets a set on the first day. Plan to be present when they are handed over, with at least one person who can sign for the group if that is required.
Ask the practical questions too: how many sets of keys or entry credentials each resident receives, how the secure entry works, what to do if one is lost, and who can sign for the group. Settle these at handoff, not on the first night when someone is locked out.
Then walk the apartment together before unpacking. Check that appliances run, faucets and showers work, and lights and outlets function. Photograph anything that looks damaged and send the list to the leasing team in writing the same day. A dated record made on day one is far more useful than a memory weeks later. Also learn where the secure mailboxes are, and label them so mail reaches the right person.
Move-In Day Logistics
Keep it simple. Load the heaviest and least frequently needed items first. Protect shared surfaces, the elevator, and the hallways. Keep one person near the entry to handle the secure door and the loading area. Break down boxes as you go, and use the building's trash and recycling rooms, which are located on each floor. Leave common areas clean for the next person who comes through.
The First Week: Learn the Building, Set the Norms
Spend the first few days learning how the building works. Complimentary laundry is on each floor, the fitness center and bike storage are available to residents, and the building is smoke-free. Knowing these basics saves a lot of small questions.
The first week is also when household habits set. Talk through quiet hours, guests, kitchen cleanup, and how you will handle conflict while everyone is still on good terms. Our roommate agreement guide lists what to put in writing.
Shared Purchases: Decide Before You Buy
Confirm with the leasing team what the apartment includes, then decide as a group what the household needs for shared spaces, such as cleaning supplies, paper goods, trash bags, and basic kitchen items. Choose a simple method: one person buys and the group reimburses, or everyone contributes to a small shared fund. Keep a running list so nobody buys the same thing twice. Keep personal items personal.
A Simple Move-In Checklist
Pulling the timeline together, here is a short list the group can copy into a shared note:
- Bedroom method agreed and the result written down.
- Austin Energy account opened in the resident's name, starting about a week out.
- Lease start date and key handoff confirmed with the leasing team.
- Loading and elevator rules confirmed.
- Walkthrough list ready to send in writing on day one.
- Shared purchase list and payment method agreed.
- First-week household norms discussed.
When Not Everyone Arrives on the Same Day
Groups rarely move in at the same moment. Some people arrive on day one and others a few days later. Because Capitol Living uses a whole-unit lease, the lease covers the apartment as a whole, and the lease start date applies to the unit, not to each person's arrival. Ask the leasing team to explain what the lease says about obligations, and talk as a group about how you will handle rent and bills for anyone who arrives late. Settle it before it becomes a disagreement.
If Something Goes Wrong on Day One
A few problems come up often enough to prepare for. If the power is off, check that the Austin Energy account is active for the right address and start date. If the internet does not connect, ask the leasing team for the WiFi login details, since internet is included in rent. If something in the unit is broken, report it in writing the same day with a photo.
Days Eight to Thirty
After the rush, do a short check-in. Is the electricity account in the right name? Is anyone struggling with a shared-space norm? Did the walkthrough list get resolved? The first electricity bill will show up in this window, so decide how you will split it. If you need a refresher on the lease basics, the apartments for roommates overview explains the whole-unit structure, and the 3-month minimum is described on the short-term lease apartments page.
Want to see the layout before you plan? Book a tour of Capitol Living.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a group ask about at key handoff?
Ask how many keys or entry credentials each resident receives, how the secure entry works, what to do if one is lost, and who can sign for the group. Then walk the apartment together, photograph any damage, and send the list to the leasing team in writing the same day.
How should roommates choose bedrooms?
Capitol Living describes its four private bedrooms as equal, so the group can choose by agreement or by drawing lots. Settle it before move-in day so nobody is claiming rooms while carrying boxes.
What should a group do on move-in day first?
Collect the keys, then walk the apartment together before unpacking. Check appliances, plumbing, and lights, photograph anything damaged, and send the list to the leasing team in writing the same day.
What should a household agree on in the first week?
Cover quiet hours, guests, kitchen cleanup, shared purchases, and how to raise concerns. Putting these in a short written agreement while the household is new makes them easier to follow.