Whether you’re about to embark on your first year of university or are simply ready to leave the nest, moving out of your parents’ place is a big moment that is as exciting as it is nerve-racking. To make the transition as smooth as possible, follow the 7 tips below and enjoy your newfound freedom!
Set a realistic budget
Before you take the plunge, you need to have a good idea of the cost of living away from home. Suddenly, you’ll have to worry about rent, utilities, groceries, household supplies… the list goes on! Sit down and work out a realistic budget (with plenty of wiggle room) to see whether moving out is viable for you. This will also help you determine how close you can afford to live to the trendy parts of town, as well as how many people you’ll have to share a place with to keep costs down. Ask for your parents’ help with this, as they’ll be able to point out expenses that you may not have otherwise factored in.
Find a place
Now that you know how much rent you can afford, you can start looking for a place that fits your budget. There are plenty of online tools that let you filter available rooms or houses by price, so start searching. Some factors to consider include proximity from your place of work or study, proximity to amenities like supermarkets or pharmacies, accessibility by public transport, availability of parking spaces, condition of the property, included furnishings or utilities, and the number of housemates you’ll have to share with. Be prepared to compromise, but not on what truly matters to you – for example, you might not mind living in a small room, but it must have its own AC.
Hire a professional moving company
You’ve already got enough on your mind when you’re moving out of home for the first time, so why add extra stress by trying to handle the whole move on your own? Instead, hire a professional moving company to take care of it all. This will ensure all your belongings will arrive safely and on time, allowing you to settle right into your new home.
Be prepared for the realities of having housemates
If you’ve never lived with anyone apart from your family before, prepare for a shock. Share houses will feature all sorts of personalities, from the guy who always has mates over to the clean freak or the mysterious housemate who’s never home. Cleaning rosters, visitation rules and more will have to be discussed openly and honestly among housemates – don’t worry, disagreements and the occasional conflict are just part and parcel of living with other people. The most important thing is feeling happy, safe and comfortable in your new home.
Understand your contracts
One thing that catches a lot of young people off guard when they first move out of home are their rental contracts. It can be tempting to overlook all the fine print and simply sign the dotted line, but this may set you up for future problems. Make sure you know your rights, how bonds work, how much notice you’ll have to give if you want to move out and what to do if a housemate doesn’t pay their share of the rent, to name just a few common pitfalls.
Explore your new locale
Once you’re finally settled into your new home, it’s time to familiarise yourself with the area. It’s always good to know where the closest late-night convenience store is or the after-hours pharmacy. Take your time finding the best restaurants, cheapest grocery stores and coolest hangout spots. Who knows, you might even make some new friends this way!
Know what you don’t know
Moving out of home for the first time is a steep learning curve. You’ll learn a myriad of things that you never even knew you didn’t know! This could include changing a lightbulb, resetting a tripped switch, using a washing machine or a number of other things. Remember that there’s no shame in giving mum or dad a call if you find yourself at a loss with something – even better, try to receive one-on-one training from them before you leave the nest.
What World Moving can do to help
As the top movers in Auckland and beyond, World Moving can help you leave the nest without a hassle. Just contact us on 0800 4 WORLD (toll free) or +64 9 820 6060 (overseas) to speak to our movers in Wellington, movers in Christchurch, movers in Auckland or elsewhere in New Zealand.
Written by Hania Syed of Melbourne Digital Marketing Agency – Digital Squad.
