One consolidated checklist for relocating employees renting in Memphis — what to confirm, gather, ask and schedule, in order.
The Consolidated Checklist
Everything a relocating employee needs to confirm, in the order it becomes relevant.
If you have accepted a job in Memphis and are about to start looking for an apartment, this is the single page to work through.
It is deliberately a checklist rather than an essay. Each item links to the guide that explains it if you need the detail.
The five phases
1. Confirm
Worksite address, working hours, start date and how firm it is. Nothing else can be decided without these.
2. Budget
Rent plus utilities plus transport as one number. See the cost of living guide.
3. Shortlist and tour
From current availability, then tour the specific unit.
4. Apply
Through the online application, with every document attached. Approval is never guaranteed.
5. Move in
Utilities live the day before, renters insurance active, and a buffer before your first day at work.
Working through this now? Tell us your start date and we will tell you what fits.
What to confirm before you shortlist
- Worksite address and entrance
In writing from your employer. Not the city, the building. - Your working hours
Including whether they rotate. - How firm your start date is
Provisional or confirmed changes what you should sign. - Your total monthly budget
Not rent alone. - Household requirements
Bedrooms, parking, pets, storage, home-office space. - Your realistic move-in date
A few days before day one.
Documents and admin
- Government photo ID for every adult on the lease
- Proof of income, or a written offer letter with start date and pay terms
- Rental history with landlord contact details
- References warned that someone will contact them
- Written answers on utilities, parking and pets for the specific unit
- Lease read in full before signing
- Utilities scheduled to be live the day before move-in
- Renters insurance active from the move-in date
- Move-in condition documented with photos
Current ELM rentals
Our Memphis rentals include apartments in the Raleigh area of northeast Memphis. Availability changes frequently, so the listings page is the current source of truth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single most common mistake?
Shortlisting areas before confirming the worksite. Everything downstream depends on that one address.
How early should I start?
Roughly 30 to 45 days before your target move-in date.
What if my start date moves?
Tell the property manager while it is still provisional. Before signing there is usually flexibility; afterwards the lease governs.
Do I need to visit Memphis first?
Not necessarily — see the remote leasing guide. Verify the manager independently before any money moves.
Related guides
- Moving to Memphis: the full guide
- Documents needed to rent an apartment in Memphis
- Memphis cost of living guide for renters
- How to rent before moving to Memphis
Ask Lia
Lia is ELM Property Management’s leasing assistant. Tell us where you are in this list and we will pick it up from there. Send your question through our contact page, email info@elmpropertymanagement.com, or call 901-350-5502, and a member of our team will follow up.
Starting a job in Memphis?
Tell us your start date and what you need, and we will tell you what is available.