Deciding that you want to take your relationship to the next level, moving in with your long-term partner, is an exciting, milestone experience. It’s also something that you’ll want to do right to ensure that any haphazard, poorly planned or off-the-cuff decisions don’t impact your relationship down the line. Such a big step in life should be considered carefully and executed with panache. This guide walks you through the four steps to moving in successfully with your partner, highlighting areas in which you’ll want to prepare and plan.
Budget
Moving in with another person – and sharing a room and a bed – means that you’ll technically be halving your rent. If you were previously living with family or with other housemates, you’ll find that living in a place with only one bedroom is considerably more expensive than running a home – and so you should think carefully about what you budget for your monthly rent and bills payments.
It’s also worth considering your economic security:
- Are you both secure in your jobs?
- What might happen if one of you is made redundant?
- Can you afford a house in the price range you are looking at?
Think these things through before securing your new place.
Location
The location of your new home is important and should be agreed before you begin looking for homes. This is because you’ll likely strike a compromise between different locations – perhaps one area is closer to their parents, or your friends live mostly in another part of the city.
Check out the rental prices in each area, as this is sure to affect your decision. You’ll want somewhere that feels private but is also close to the action in your lives – be that family, friends, workplaces or favourite spots in the city or town in which you’ll be living.
The Home
Now it’s time to select a place to live. The most expedient way of doing this is to use websites such as Bricks & Mortar at which you’ll be able to find the homes for let in your area without trawling around the estate agent offices that in any case charge fees that’ll eat into your budget. House hunting has never been easier, as online you’ll be able to compare homes far more easily, with photographs and details listed for you and your partner to consider. Draw up a shortlist, discuss your options, and go with the house that you fall in love with the most.
Moving Your Things
The final step to moving in together is perhaps the most fraught – it involves deciding which things you bring with you to your new place, and how the interior of your home will be laid out, furnished, and decorated. Be careful and always be willing to compromise; it’s something couples should undertake with honesty and humour as, after all, you’ll both be occupying, paying for and sharing this space for the foreseeable future. The success of conversations like this will go some way to securing your long-term future.
When moving in with a partner, bear in mind the above tip to make your coupling a success.
