So you’ve reached that point in your relationship and are about to take the plunge and live together. Congratulations! Working out when is a good time to move in together is different for everybody, but once you’ve made the decision it can be a really rewarding experience that can deepen your relationship.
But no matter how old you are or how many times you’ve done it, there’s something exciting and a little scary about moving in with a partner. It’s a transition that means blending two people’s lives together into one joint living space, and a lot goes into making it work.
While deciding when to move in together is a big choice, there’s also lots of other things to think about—made easier with a bit of planning. Taking the time to map out how your new shared space is going to work is essential for making it a fun and rewarding experience for you both.
To make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible, put together a checklist for moving in together. It’s a fantastic organisational tool to have handy, even if you don’t think you’ll need it.
At Kent Removals & Storage, we have been helping couples and families move homes for over 75 years. So, with the hope that you can benefit from our wealth of experience we’re sharing a few dos and don’ts in our Ultimate Checklist for moving in with your partner!
Don’t Hold Onto Everything
When you move in together, your checklist isn’t going to start with the things you keep. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your lifestyle, moving in with a partner forces you to part with the things that will no longer fit into your new life. Whether that be the couch you kept from your university days, or the strange collection of side tables that you seem to have accumulated over time, neither of you are going to be able to keep everything.
And while Kent can certainly help you with the time-consuming process of disassembling and reassembling furniture, you don’t want to end up with a house full of clutter (and if you do, our Decluttering Checklist will save the day!).So it’s important to think about downsizing as the first step in what to do before moving in together. It might seem like a bit of a chore, but it’s well-worth it come moving day, and will make your new home design that much more considered.When you start the process of planning your move, start writing down items that you will be parting with. When you’ve got your list together, split up the items into four categories:
Things to Donate
Things to Sell/Give Away
Things to Throw Away
Things to Put in Storage
This part of the moving in together checklist can be emotionally difficult, but just remember what you’re giving up these items for. Choosing to live with your partner is the start of a new chapter, and that means letting go of some of the things you’ve acquired over the years that don’t make sense in your new home together. Besides, if you’re choosing items to be donated, thrown away, or sold, you’re likely going to survive without them. Don’t be too sad though, just think—by letting go of your old items, someone else gets to enjoy them.