Whether you’re getting married, moving in with a boy/girlfriend, or simply moving in with roommates, moving in together is a big step. Furniture, artwork, and expectations need to blend seamlessly in order to have a harmonious living space.
We may not be able to help you decide what to do with her shoe collection or his Die Hard posters, but we can help you out with some of the bigger questions you might have when moving in together.
Set Expectations
Whether you’re newlyweds or you’ve been BFFs for 15 years, there’s bound to be some conflict.
Be honest about what you both expect the house to be like before you move in. Will you combine your furniture and belongings? Or will you chuck everything and start over fresh? Is one of you going to move into the other person’s house or will you get a new place?
Answering these questions before you embark might stir up some emotions, but its better to do it now rather than after you’ve signed a lease.
Compromise
Understand that no one’s going to have the exact same opinions, ideas, or decorating style.
People’s personal belongings are just that: personal! Don’t offend your significant other by assuming that s/he will be getting rid of everything they own simply because you are moving in together. Each person will have certain items that are must-haves; the key is making everyone happy with the arrangement.
Perhaps you can have one person decorate the dining room and another person decorate the bedroom. Or, purchase pieces that help your differing styles blend together. Either way, you may have to deal with the fact that some of your things might be hitting the road. Which brings us to…
Declutter
Decluttering your stuff is a great idea before any move, but crucial if you’ll be suddenly acquiring an entire household.
Go through everything—room by room—and get rid of anything unnecessary or broken. Then, get together with your new roommate and decide what to do with items you have duplicates of. Some items might be no-brainers (you’ll gladly get rid of your 23″ TV and keep his 60″ flat screen!), while others might require a bit more negotiating (swapping my impressionist print for his beloved velvet Elvis? No way!).
If the living arrangement is a temporary one (you’re roommates rather than spouses, for example), you may choose to keep certain items in storage for the short-term or until you decide what to do with them. Even if the other person is moving into your established house, it’s only common courtesy to make sure they have enough room for their stuff. Declutter. You’re probably overdue anyway.
Pack Smart
Because your belongings are spread out over two houses, you’ll need to be smart about packing and labeling the boxes.
Donate unwanted items before moving day so they don’t accidentally end up at the new house, and clearly designate which room each box will go in (have your new roomie do the same!).
Logistics
Combining households isn’t the same as moving one family across town.
If you’ve decided to get an entirely new place, there will be two pick-up locations instead of one (not to mention a lot more boxes!). Talk with the moving company about their availability and how long they estimate it will take to move each household.
Decide whether you will be hiring two moving crews (one for each house) or hiring one moving crew at a time and moving over a couple of days. If two moving crews will be working on the same day, make sure they coordinate with each other so that 5 guys aren’t tripping over each other trying to get your stuff through the door.
As you get ready for a college apartment, an upcoming wedding, or just that next big step in your relationship, make sure you move in together with a moving crew that knows its stuff. Cento Family Moving has moved families just like yours from one side of the country to the other. Call today for a free estimate!
