Separate preparation from active searching
You can define neighborhoods, budget, documents, and decision criteria well in advance. The active search window is usually closer to the lease start because rental availability turns over quickly. Starting too early can create false expectations about what will still be available.
Work backward from a real move-in date
Use your current lease, travel schedule, mover availability, and building rules to identify a target date plus a limited backup window. Ask whether a listed apartment is vacant, occupied, under renovation, or tied to a specific start date before spending time on it.
Be ready before the strongest option appears
A complete application file lets you evaluate a home on its merits instead of scrambling for paperwork. Confirm the landlord's current criteria and required fees, decide who can approve the choice, and know the maximum total cost you will accept.
Use overlap deliberately
A short period of overlapping leases can reduce logistical risk, but it has a real cost. Compare that cost with storage, temporary lodging, rushed movers, or losing a suitable apartment. Make the tradeoff consciously rather than treating zero overlap as the only successful outcome.