Are You Moving Out of Your Parents House for the First Time?
Whether it’s your first time flying solo (without immediate at-home parental support), or not, makes a major difference when it comes to this move. The transition from living by yourself to as a couple is challenging enough as is. Add in a change from living at home to living on your own, and you have some serious planning to do.
If this is your first time living without your parents:
Set a clear move date. Not only does your significant other need to know when to expect you at your new joint abode, but your parents will want to know how long they get to spend alone-time with you at home for.
Ask for important documents. This step is essential if you’re moving out of state or far away from your family. It’s likely you’ll need your birth certificate, social security card, medical insurance information, car title or loan information, and anything else that’s similarly important. Discuss what you can take. Obviously your close and personal belongings will move with you. But what about furniture, kitchen items, and decorative accents that you would like to take?
Ask about your soon-to-be old room. What will happen to your old bedroom? While some parents preserve it as what seems like a shrine to their now-adult child, others quickly turn it into an office or home gym.
If your parents don’t have a specific use for your room, use it for storage. It’s unlikely that you’ll take everything you own. This provides you with additional space to save belongings that you don’t need now – but may want in the future.
What Should You Leave Behind?
Moving in with a significant other means that you could suddenly double everything you own. Two beds, two microwaves, two form-sized fridges, and two sets of pots and pans aren’t necessary.
What should you do with doubles? You have several options, including:
Store items at your parents’ house. Again, if your parents have the space, store extra items for free to hold on to potentially usable belongings just in case you need them down the road.
Rent a storage unit. If you don’t have space at mom and dad’s house, rent a self-storage unit near your new home to solve the extra stuff problem.
Donate everything. Items that you don’t, and won’t use, can go to a charity.
Sell everything. Make some extra cash for your move and sell anything that someone else could use.
There’s no magic list of what to leave behind and what to take. Aside from doubles, you may not want to bring old or worn belongings. Some couples prefer to start fresh and buy everything new.
How Should You Move?
The first move may seem like a challenge. Don’t stress. Simply follow these easy moving process steps:
Hire a mover. Book a moving company as soon as you know your move date. Hire a professional means so that you don’t need to carry heavy boxes, rent a truck, pack a truck, drive a truck, or figure out how to unpack your stuff.
Coordinate with your significant other. Having two moving trucks in front of your new house, at the same time, can get confusing.
Schedule two different move in days, one after the other.
Pack your belongings. Depending on how much you’re moving, you may need anywhere from days to weeks to pack.
The final step is to let the movers do their job. This is the easy part. While it’s acceptable to supervise, they’re the experts.
Do you need help with your move? Contact Fairfax Transfer and Storage for more information.
