Moving out of your parents’ house is no small milestone and you’re at it! It’s a process that requires plenty of careful planning, consideration and “adulting”. To aid you in making this move be the right move, here are some tips and tricks for your consideration.
- Communicate with Your Parents: Whether your parents aren’t ready for you to leave the nest or you’re more or less there on borrowed time communication is key for the move out process. It’s important to clearly communicate your intentions to them – and, if necessary, your moving plan. Not only will this make the transition go more smoothly, but who knows, you could end up with some unexpected help or resources put into your move, just by communicating your plan.
- Plan Your Move: Before moving out, come up with a moving plan that both you and your parents can agree upon. Coming up with a goal date is great starting point for moving out of your parents’ house. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be out by then, as things can definitely change that will affect your timeline, but it will give you and your parents something to work from and plan on. Also, involving your parents in the plan is a great way to get their input and expertise, since they have most likely executed more moves than you have.
- Focus On Your Finances: Part of moving out is making sure that you can afford this move. Figure out what you can spend based on your income and keep in mind that housing should not make up more than one-third of your total income. Make sure to factor in other expenses such HOA fees, insurance, utilities, and cable/internet when assessing your budget. Also, consider things like does your new home have a gym? If so, you can cut your gym membership. Every dollar counts when you first start living on your own!
- Get Help: Unless you have very little to move, think about hiring movers to help you with this process. If money is tight, consider options like labor only movers to get some help without breaking the bank. If that is still more than you would like to fork out, there is always the beer and pizza route. Use your network and ask some friends and family to help you get set up in your new place. Make sure to add extra time to your estimate. Moves always come with unexpected delays and its always good to be respectful of others’ time when they are donating it to you.
- Pack With Purpose: We suggest packing non-essentials (those items you won’t need in the coming weeks) first. Some examples are winter clothing, photos, books, etc. The day before you move packing a day one box with items such as toiletries, pajamas, prescription meds, etc, is a key strategy that will make your move smoother. Also, make sure to clearly label all boxes and keep important documents with you at all times.
- Set Up Utilities And Cable: If you’ve been living with your parents, you’ve been using their utilities. Perhaps you enjoy spending a few rustic days in the stone age, but on the off chance that you don’t be sure to contact your utility company in advance to make sure you are ready from day one to have what you need. Once you’ve scheduled dates for all utilities to be turned on, you’ll need to call the cable company to reserve an installation date as well.
- Change Your Address: Unless you want your parents receiving your mail, we suggest changing your address immediately. It’s a fairly simple process that can be done online in five minutes. Also, make sure to update credit cards and school or work databases with your new address.