Your first Ann Arbor apartment: the move-in checklist
Everything to check and set up when moving into your first UMich apartment or sublet — condition photos, utilities, renters insurance, and the Ann Arbor-specific details.
5 min read · Updated July 7, 2026
Hour one: document everything
Before a single box opens, walk every room with your phone. Photos and a slow video of walls, floors, appliances, window seals, and any existing damage — timestamped by your camera automatically. Send the damage list to your landlord or the tenant you're subletting from the same day, in writing. This is the entire deposit game, played in twenty minutes.
- Photo + video every room, closet, and appliance
- Test every burner, the oven, the disposal, all faucets (hot water pressure!)
- Flush toilets, run the shower, check under sinks for leaks
- Note existing damage in a written message to the other party — same day
- Locate the breaker panel and water shutoff
Utilities and internet
Ask what's already on and in whose name. In a sublet, utilities usually stay in the original tenant's name and you reimburse — get the arrangement (and a typical monthly amount) in writing. In your own lease, set up electric/gas and internet a few days before move-in; installation slots around late August in Ann Arbor book out as every student in the city calls at once.
Renters insurance: cheap, usually worth it
A renters policy typically costs on the order of $10–20 a month and covers your laptop, bike, and belongings against theft and damage — plus liability if your overflowing tub ruins the unit below. Some Ann Arbor leases outright require it. For the price of two coffees a month, it's one of the few pieces of adult paperwork that's actually a good deal.
The Ann Arbor-specific details
A few local realities that surprise first-time renters:
- Bikes get stolen — register yours with the university and use a U-lock
- Football Saturdays transform parking and noise near the stadium — know your game-day parking rules
- Winter is real: confirm whose job snow shoveling is, and where overnight winter parking is allowed
- Move-in/move-out weekends jam every elevator and truck rental in town — book early
- Compost and recycling pickup rules vary by building; fines go to the address
Roommate ground rules, day one
The best roommate conversations happen before the first dish stays in the sink: how rent and utilities split and by what date, quiet hours during exams, guests, groceries, cleaning. Ten slightly awkward minutes on day one buys eight peaceful months. Put the money agreements in the group chat so they're written down somewhere.
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Frequently asked questions
What should I do on move-in day at a new apartment?
Document first: photos and video of every room, appliance, and any existing damage before unpacking, then send the damage list to your landlord or subletter in writing the same day. Test appliances and water, locate the breaker panel, and confirm utilities and internet are on and in whose name.
Do I need renters insurance for a UMich apartment?
Some Ann Arbor leases require it, and it's usually worth having anyway: for roughly $10–20 a month it covers your laptop, bike, and belongings against theft and damage, plus liability. In a sublet, ask whether the original tenant's policy covers the unit — it typically doesn't cover your stuff.
How should roommates split utilities in a sublet?
Keep utilities in the original account-holder's name and reimburse a stated monthly amount, agreed in writing before move-in. Ask for a typical winter bill — heat in a Michigan January is the number that surprises people. Even splits by headcount are the norm unless rooms differ wildly.