New York  | San Francisco | Miami | Washington DC 

Moving in Together – what you need to do

moving in together

Moving in together is a thrilling and difficult experience because it means spending every day by your partner’s side. With 59% of persons aged 18 to 44 living together and 50% having been married, cohabitation is on the rise in the United States. Moving in together, however, brings its own set of difficulties, including deciding how much time to spend together and how to divide responsibilities and finances.

In order to make moving in together go as smoothly as possible, we talked to three relationship specialists for advice and recommendations.

1. Remember “Me Time”

A big milestone in a relationship is moving in together, and you can feel tempted to spend every waking moment with your new roommate. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to preserve your feeling of uniqueness. Establish a personal area in the room, such as a desk or reading nook. Schedule time away from the other person as well.

2. Determine the location of your shared residence and the items you will need.

Many people choose to relocate to the other person’s home or apartment; nevertheless, if you do

Talk about the furnishings you’ll bring, the things you’ll keep, and the things you’ll both buy. Moving in together is an excellent opportunity to reduce, get rid of belongings, or rent a storage container for bulkier items that you won’t need in your shared home. Regardless of whether you’re moving locally or across country, you should prepare your moving procedure. To make downsizing and storage easier, will you need to rent a vehicle, engage full-service movers, or use a portable moving container?

3. Decide to move in together rather than letting things drift.

Although there are advantages to living together, it’s important to consider whether this is the best course for your relationship. Put your partner’s pleasure and health first. The first step is to talk about your objectives and justifications for cohabiting. Think about if you would rather live together without a commitment or be married. Be willing to investigate many options.

Make sure you are emotionally and financially prepared before deciding to share your life with someone else.

4. Discuss chores and money.

It’s crucial to work out the details before the big day because chores and money are two main argument starters in relationships. wash you plan to wash your own laundry or will someone else do it? Who’s responsible for making meals and washing dishes? Who removes the garbage?

Before relocating together, it is important to discuss money. Talk openly and honestly about who is responsible for what. Will you divide the rent, or will one of you be responsible for paying it while the other handles the bills and groceries? Do you maintain separate accounts or do you deposit funds into a combined account to cover household expenses?

5. Create backup plans in the event of a breakup

When you’re ready to embark on an exciting endeavor like moving in together, no one wants to discuss splitting up, yet these kinds of discussions are crucial.

She advises that you might want to think about hiring an attorney to prepare a contract that will hold up in court if you’re going in on a mortgage or purchasing real estate together.

6. Reconsider self-talk

Reevaluating your language can be a key part of moving in with your significant other, regardless of the type of relationship you have. In such circumstances, you could even feel tempted to criticize your own lack of effort. Reassessing your language will help you both feel heard in either situation.

7. Be prepared for road bumps

Many people have a very romanticized vision of living together, getting married, and having children. This is a risky strategy for cohabitation because you’ll lose your temper when things don’t go as expected.

While you expect difficulties while you live together, you can deal with them better and avoid being shocked and disappointed.

8. Accept Vulnerability

When deciding when to move in together, keep in mind that even while there will be plenty of “me” time, your spouse will also see you all day long.

This won’t feel like the end of the world for some people, but it might be horrifying for others. When you’re considering moving in with your spouse, it’s crucial to know that you have the courage to be seen, especially by them. It may need for a great deal of introspection and perhaps even seeing a couple’s therapist. Make it a habit to compliment your partner when they’re doing well, especially if you were raised in an environment where that was valued more than love. As opposed to an icy climate, it promotes safety.

9. Communicate, communicate, communicate!

There will be ongoing conversation about a number of things after moving in together! As you move along, you’ll pick up new information about your partner, perhaps stuff you didn’t know before. While some of those things may be adorable, others may just be annoyances.

10. Understanding How to Handle Conflict

If you’re having trouble, switch to a “we” perspective rather than a “me” perspective, but avoid using that language in interactions. It may sound corny, but “I” statements are crucial to include in your lexicon if you’re learning how to handle conflict in a healthy way for the first time.

Remember that you’ll be handling any problems jointly whether you move in with your girlfriend or boyfriend. But your emotions are still your own. It’s critical to keep in mind that while their actions may be contributing to how you feel, they do not sum up your entire relationship.

11. Above all, have fun!

Moving in together is a unique opportunity to get to know your partner in-depth and have fun together, even though it comes with its own set of problems. Consider learning ballroom dancing together, obtaining a dive certification, or taking up an outdoor sport like cycling. Knowing yourself and your personal triggers is a tremendous opportunity that comes with cohabiting. A partner serves as a mirror for what you need to get better at.

Moving in together might be the best decision you’ve ever made if it’s done with open communication and a good outlook. Check out the rest of the Empire Movers & Storage Blog if you want to learn additional advice on how to make the move successful.

What You Need to do When Moving in Together

Moving means a lot of work and a lot of planning. You need to prepare in advance. You can’t leave anything until the last day. And if you really want things to be perfect, start work 3 months in advance of the move.

3 Months Out

  • Decide which of your belongings you’ll take with you and which you don’t need anymore.
  • Make a list of items you plan to sell, to donate, etc.
  • Prepare your financial documents. These will help you out if you need to sign a rental application. It’s best to start taking care of things early and not leave everything until the last moment.
  • Book a moving company, if you don’t want to d it yourself.

1 Month Out

  • Start the moving process by taking measurements of your furniture, to make sure everything will fit in the new place.
  • Rent a moving van, if you plan to take care of everything yourself. Don’t forget to make sure that you have access to the elevator, buildings, etc.
  • Get moving boxes, bubble wrap and other protective materials. And if you want some tips for packing breakable items, you can find some here.
  • Don’t forget to get a day off from work, for moving day. Letting your boss know in advance is the best possible move. This way, you can avoid unwanted surprises.
  • Start packing the things that you won’t need in the near future.

1 Week Out

  • Move the bills to your new home. And don’t forget to also alert the Postal Service.
  • Label the boxes.
  • Clear the fridge. At this point, it’s best not to buy food anymore. Either order in or eat out.
  • Pack a personal suitcase, with things that you’ll need right away after the move. Some clothes, toiletries, pajamas, paperwork, etc.
  • Clean the apartment and take care of any problems, to make sure that you recover your deposit.

Moving Day

  • Pack the remaining items. You can use towels, sheets or clothes to wrap electronics and other such items.
  • Make sure the moving boxes are assigned to the right rooms.
  • Check your home one last time to make sure that you didn’t leave anything behind.

 

Moving in Together – what you need to do