Moving in
Before keys are released, the lease is signed, move-in funds have cleared, and utilities are in your name. In your first days, complete the move-in condition report. Rent is then due on the 1st each month.
Move-in, in short
- Utilities must be in your name before keys are released
- The move-in condition report is what your deposit is measured against later
- Rent is due on the 1st, late fees after the 5th
- Approved pets carry a monthly fee funding up to $4,000 in pet damage coverage
What has to happen before I get keys?
Three things, in order: the lease is signed, the funds due at signing clear, and the utilities you are responsible for are in your name effective on your lease start date. Keys are released after that, not before.
- 1. Sign the lease Read it before you sign it, particularly the sections on utilities, alterations, pets, notice to vacate and what happens to the deposit. Ask about anything that is unclear while you still have leverage to ask.
- 2. Pay the funds due at signing The home comes off the market when this clears, not when the application was approved.
- 3. Put the utilities in your name Effective on your lease start date, not your move date. A gap between the two is how a home ends up with the power shut off on the day the movers arrive.
Which utilities do I need to set up?
Your lease says which utilities you carry, and that varies by home. Across the Columbus metro these are the providers you will usually be dealing with.
| Service | Who provides it |
|---|---|
| Electric | AEP Ohio is the electric utility across most of the Columbus metro. You may choose a competing supplier for the generation portion, but AEP Ohio still delivers it and reads the meter. |
| Natural gas | Columbia Gas of Ohio serves most of the metro. As with electric, the supplier can be chosen separately from the delivery utility. |
| Water and sewer | Set by the municipality rather than a single regional provider. In the city of Columbus this is the Department of Public Utilities; in suburbs such as Westerville and Dublin it is the city itself. |
| Trash | Municipal in most of the metro and billed with water or on the tax bill, but privately contracted in some townships and communities. |
| Internet | Your choice entirely. Worth arranging before move-in day rather than after, because install appointments are the long lead item. |
Why does the move-in condition report matter so much?
Because it is the document your security deposit is measured against when you leave, sometimes years later. Most deposit disputes come down to one question: was this here before you moved in? The condition report is the only thing that answers it.
How to fill it in so it actually protects you
- Go room by room and write down everything, including things that seem too small to mention.
- Photograph every room wide, then photograph every defect close up. Include a shot with something showing the date where you can.
- Do not skip the parts you cannot see from standing height: under sinks, behind doors, the inside of the oven, the top of the refrigerator, the corners of the carpet.
- Note anything that works badly rather than not at all: a window that sticks, a door that does not latch, a burner that runs cool.
- Keep your own copy of what you submitted, in your own storage, not only in the portal.
Anything actually broken should also be filed as a maintenance request the same day. The condition report protects your deposit; the maintenance request is what gets the thing fixed.
What should I do in my first week?
Six things, and all of them are easier now than they will be the first time something goes wrong.
Complete the condition report
Room by room, in writing, with photos and dates. Include things you would not think to mention: a scuffed baseboard, a stiff window, a stain on a carpet, a chipped counter. This is the document your deposit is measured against when you leave.
Find the shutoffs
The main water shutoff, the electrical panel, and the gas shutoff. Locate all three before you need them at 1am. Photograph where they are.
Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Press and hold the test button on each. Report anything that does not sound, immediately.
Check the furnace filter
Note the size and the date it was last changed. A clogged filter is the most common cause of heating and cooling complaints.
Set up your rent payment
Log into the resident portal, confirm you can get in, and set up how you will pay before the 1st arrives.
Save the emergency number
Put (614) 725-3059 in your phone now, not while you are standing in water.
Do I need renters insurance?
The owner's policy on the building does not cover anything of yours. Not your furniture, not your electronics, not a hotel room if the home becomes uninhabitable, and not your liability if something you did causes damage to the property or to a neighbor.
Move-in questions
What do I need to do before I get keys?
Three things: sign the lease, pay the funds due at signing so they clear, and put the utilities you are responsible for into your name effective on your lease start date. Keys are released once those are done..
Which utilities am I responsible for?
It depends on the home, and your lease says which. Across the Columbus metro the usual providers are AEP Ohio for electric, Columbia Gas of Ohio for natural gas, and the municipality for water, sewer and trash..
Do I need renters insurance?
Your lease is the place that answers whether it is required. Get it either way. The owner insurance policy covers the building, never your belongings, and a renters policy usually costs a few dollars a month.
What is the move-in condition report and why does it matter?
It is a written record, with photos, of the condition of the home on the day you moved in. It matters because it is the baseline your deposit is measured against when you leave. Anything you fail to note becomes hard to argue was there before you..
When is my first rent payment due?
Rent is due on the 1st of each month. If you move in mid-month, the first month is usually prorated for the days you occupy the home. Late fees are assessed after the 5th..
Can I paint, mount a TV, or change the fixtures?
Ask in writing first, through the portal, and get the answer in writing. Unapproved alterations are the second most common source of deposit deductions after cleaning..
How do I get a second set of keys?
Ask through the portal rather than cutting your own, so the number of keys in circulation for the home stays known. We keep two working copies of every unit..
What if something is broken when I move in?
Note it on the condition report and file a maintenance request the same day. Both, not one or the other. The condition report protects your deposit; the maintenance request is what actually gets it fixed. Median time to close a repair is 6 days.
Last verified September 2026. Reviewed by Peter Lohmann, Principal Broker and CEO.
Document the home in your first week
The condition report takes an hour and decides how your deposit is handled years later. Anything broken should also be filed as a maintenance request the same day.