How to find and move into an apartment in 24 Hours

Moving is typically a stressful situation for most people, but nothing increases the stakes more than a tight timeline. Whether you’ve accepted a new job offer that starts next week, had a lease fall through last minute, or are in the midst of an emergency renovation on your primary residence, having to find a place to live in just a few days can seem insurmountable.

Key takeaways

• Moving into a traditional apartment typically takes weeks due to applications, credit checks, and paperwork, but furnished, move-in-ready apartments can dramatically shorten that timeline.
• Providers like Blueground speed up the process by skipping furniture setup, offering already-connected utilities and WiFi, and enabling fast digital booking.
• To move faster, tour efficiently, gather documents in advance, have funds ready, and search specifically for furnished, immediately available apartments.
• Moving quickly doesn’t mean skipping due diligence: read any lease agreement carefully, verify listings are legitimate, and research the neighborhood before committing.
• Flexible lease terms let you secure housing now without locking into a long-term commitment before you’re ready.

The good news? Securing an apartment in a single day is possible, as long as you have the right process in place—and the right resources on your side. Scoring a traditional, unfurnished rental with a standard lease often involves applications, financial screenings, deposits, and copious amounts of paperwork, which can slow the process down to weeks or even months. When time is of the essence, your best bet is to look for fully furnished, move-in-ready apartments specifically geared towards fast transitions. Looking for a fast move-in apartment or just curious what it takes to get an apartment fast? Here’s what you need to know.

How fast can you move into an apartment?

Under typical circumstances, moving into a new apartment can take anywhere from several weeks to up to a month or more. While some landlords or leasing companies can expedite things, the traditional rental application process often can’t be compressed down to just a few days.

That’s where companies like Blueground come in. With a roster of pre-furnished, quick-timeline apartments ready for occupancy, many of the biggest delays involved in the apartment rental process can be alleviated. A typical timeline might look like:

Research and apartment tours (1–3 days)

Before you sign a lease—even on a short-term rental or furnished apartment—you need to do your due diligence and visit prospective homes. This may mean browsing listings virtually (if you’re relocating outside of your home city), comparing neighborhoods, scheduling in-person or virtual tours, and vetting which apartment best fits your needs.

The application process (1–2 days)

Once you find an apartment that works for you, you’ll need to complete a rental application. Depending on the landlord, property, or leasing office, you may be asked for:

• A government-issued ID
• Proof of income
• Employment verification
• Rental history
• References

Some landlords or management companies can process applications within a day, while others can take up to a week or more. If you choose to work with a company adept at fast, move-in-ready apartments, such as Blueground, you’ll be able to book directly, speeding up the process.

Credit and background checks (1–3 days)

To verify that you’d be a trustworthy tenant, many apartment buildings or landlords will run a credit check and background screening before approving you to lease an apartment. This process typically doesn’t take long, but you may experience delays if your application is sent in on the weekend or over a holiday.

Lease review and signing (1–2 days)

Once you’re approved for an apartment, it’s time to review and sign your lease. In many cases, this can be done digitally, especially if you’re relocating from out of town. That said, some landlords may require you to sign additional paperwork in person before handing over the keys. This is also the point where you’ll be asked for either a deposit or first and last month’s rent, so come prepared with a check.

Moving logistics (1–4 days)

Now that you’ve officially leased a new apartment, it’s time to get your ducks in a row ahead of your move. You’ll want to set up electricity, gas, water, and internet usage and schedule movers if necessary. Make sure to take care of logistics at the apartment, too. Some buildings require you to schedule the freight elevator for larger furniture pieces, or show proof of insurance for any moving companies you have coming in and out of the building. It’s worth pulling together a moving checklist to ensure you don’t leave out any details.

Can you really move into an apartment in 24 hours?

It’s rare to find a traditional apartment where you can move in within 24 hours, or even a few days. While not impossible, it does require everything to fall into place pretty seamlessly, from finding, viewing, and securing an apartment you love to a near-instant approval and vetting process.

However, seeking out a move-in-ready apartment can make the whole process much easier. Because they’re designed for flexibility and fast moves, the types of apartments available through furnished home providers like Blueground can alleviate many of the hurdles that typically bog down the traditional rental process. You’ll be able to secure a fully furnished apartment available immediately and skip much of the hassle of getting a place up to speed, including waiting for utilities to be connected. Other benefits of a move-in-ready apartment include:

• No furniture to buy or wait on. Instead of breaking the bank trying to furnish your new place—or sleeping on an air mattress on the floor for months waiting for your new bedframe to arrive—a fully furnished apartment allows you to pick up your life and routine right where you left off.
• Utilities and Wi-Fi are already connected. Coordinating installation and utility activation can be a pain. With a move-in-ready apartment through Blueground, the nitty-gritty is already taken care of for you, so you can say goodbye to the dozens of phone calls or frustrating wait times you’d normally experience.
• Fast digital booking. Instead of dealing with brokers, landlords, or leasing companies, flexible housing companies like Blueground allow you to browse available apartments online, gain insight into availability, and complete paperwork digitally.
• Flexible lease terms. Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of a flexible lease apartment is the ability to pivot your accommodations as needed. Because these apartments are geared towards residents undergoing renovations, relocations, or other big life transitions, you won’t be locked into a traditional lease, so you can secure housing now and make longer-term decisions later.

How to speed up your apartment move-in

Regardless of whether you choose to pursue a traditional rental apartment or a fully furnished quick rental, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process.

• Tour efficiently: Go into each showing knowing exactly what you need out of an apartment (like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, or important extras like a home office), as well as any deal-breakers. If you are relocating from a different area, set up virtual tours to avoid time-consuming travel complications. Whenever possible, look for companies like Blueground that share imagery or videos of the exact apartment you’ll be renting, not a generic model unit.
• Gather your documents: You’ll be asked for several important documents throughout the leasing process, so it’s a good idea to collect them ahead of time so you have them when needed. Consider assembling and making copies of the following:
  • Photo ID
  • Recent pay stubs, tax return, or other proof of income
  • Bank statements
  • References
• Have your funds ready: Once you find an apartment you like, you’ll want to secure it immediately, and that often means putting down a deposit. Make sure you have the necessary funds available to cover:
  • Application fees
  • Security deposits
  • First (and potentially last) month’s rent
  • Any administrative or broker fees
  • Any funds necessary to hire movers
• Search smarter: Instead of browsing every available apartment on the market, tailor your search parameters to include apartments available immediately, fully furnished apartments, and move-in ready apartments. You can even take it one step further and only search for potential homes through a vetted service that specializes in fully furnished rentals and flexible housing, like Blueground.
• Simplify your move: Moving into a fully furnished apartment means there are fewer logistics to overcome, so you may only need your clothing and personal belongings. If you’re moving into an unfurnished rental, do your best to book a same-day moving service or rent a transport vehicle yourself.

How to move fast without regretting it

When you’re under pressure, it can be easy to make mistakes or settle for less than what you want, but moving quickly shouldn’t mean sacrificing on the basics. Verifying the below details can protect your investment in the long run and help to ensure you end up in a safe and happy environment.

• Read the lease carefully: As with any legal document, you’ll want to read any paperwork associated with your rental very carefully to ensure you’re protected. Pay close attention to factors like lease length, renewal policies, surprise fees, pet policies, and parking rules.
• Verify the listing is legit: Quick-moving processes, like an urgent housing need, are prime opportunities for rental scams, so it’s important to safeguard yourself throughout the rental process. Before sending any money or personal documents, make sure to confirm the property management company you’re working with is legitimate, verify the apartment address, and never wire money to an unknown individual. To protect yourself even further, opt to work only with professional housing providers, like Blueground, who have established booking platforms.
• Research the neighborhood: If you’re moving from out-of-state or even out of the country, it’s important to do your due diligence when it comes to your new neighborhood. Look up crime numbers in the area, gauge nearby businesses like grocery stores or restaurants, calculate your potential commute time, and tap local networks to get residents’ personal take on the area.
• Understand your options: Due to the nature of flexible and short-term rentals, there’s probably a chance that you may need to adjust your plans on the fly or break a lease early. Before committing to an apartment, make sure you have a good grasp on the building’s cancellation policies, extension options, and any early termination fees you may be subject to if your plans change along the way.

What’s next

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when looking for an apartment under a tight timeline, but by following these step-by-step instructions, you can find quality housing designed for speed and flexibility.

Move-in-ready and fast move-in apartments available through companies like Blueground can eliminate many of the biggest obstacles of your search by combining furnished living areas, flexible lease options, and streamlined digital booking into one easy-to-use service. Explore your options now to score a home that’s ready the moment you need it.