Moving in Together: Tips to Combine Two Households

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

Here are some tips to help you both get ready for the next step.

Make sure that it is the right time. Unfortunately, there is no timeline that says when the right time is for a couple to move in together. It all depends on how both parties are feeling. You both need to be on the same page before you decide to combine your households.

Figure out where you want to live. Though it may be easier to move into one person's home, for many couples, it is best to start over in a new place. That way, it will always feel like home to both of you, instead of his (or her) apartment.

If you do decide to move into one person's home, will the other person be comfortable enough to make changes? When one person moves into the other person's home, they may want to make it feel more like their home by bringing in their own furniture and moving some things around to make room for their things. The other person must be able to compromise and allow the other one to make these changes so both people can be happy in their new home.

Take your time when going through your possessions. When combining two households, you are going to have plenty of things for your new (or existing home). You are probably going to have two beds, two couches, and plenty of blankets. You will probably both have kitchen and bathroom items.

You won't need double of everything in your new place, so you are going to have to go through everything to figure out what you are going to keep and what you are going to sell or give away. Some sentimental items will have to stay but you may struggle to decide what pieces of furniture you need to keep. You may have to make that decision based on which one is in better shape or which one will fit in your home better.

Don't be afraid to look into storage. If you are really struggling to decide what to keep and get rid of, you may want to rent a storage locker for now. This may also be helpful if you plan on moving into a bigger place in the future. You may need the extra bed for guests when you are ready to buy your first home. You may want to keep some of your sentimental items in the locker until you have your man cave.

Talk about finances early. It is important to talk about finances before you move in together. You may want to have a joint checking account so you can work together to pay the bills. However, it might work better if you divide up the bills, letting one person take care of the rent, while the other takes care of the electricity, water, and other bills. You both have to be comfortable with how you are going to pay your bills before you take the next step.

Before you decide to move in together, you need to sit down and really discuss it. You need to make sure that it is the right time for both of you. You also need to figure out if you are going to live in one person's home or start fresh with your new home. Then, it is time to go through your things. Take your time, find a moving company to help and rent a storage locker if you are struggling with whose stuff to keep.

At A-1 Freeman Moving Group, we know how hard moving can be and we want to make this change easier for you. Whether you are moving across town or somewhere completely new, let us do the hard work. We would be happy to make sure that everything that you decide to move makes it to your new home in perfect shape.