Moving in Together Checklist (10 Signs You’re Ready)

So you’re thinking about taking the next step with your significant other. Awesome, we’re happy for you! But, there’s one thing you should ask yourself, are you ready? If your answer took longer than five seconds to come up with, you need a Moving In Together Checklist. Use this article to help you decide if moving in together make sense. Then, use the pre-move checklist to get both of you ready for the change. Ultimately, we’re here to help your move succeed! Read on, and when you’re finished, tell us what you think in the comment section below.

Moving in Together Checklist: Signs You’re Ready

Moving is stressful by itself, there’s no doubt about that. There are so many different aspects to think about. When should you move? What’s the budget look like? Should you consider a different state? But moving in with another person? That’s a whole different can of worms. Luckily, there are usually several clear signs that moving in together is a good idea.

Sign #1: You’ve Been Dating a While

Many people want to know how long to wait before moving in together. There’s not an exact answer to this question. However, your relationship should be established, meaning that you’ve been officially dating for a while. Moving in together is not a decision you should rush into. Having that established relationship will help ease the transition. More importantly, you should commit to your partnership for the foreseeable future. This doesn’t mean that you are going to stay together forever, but you should both be interested in the long haul. TIP: Don’t move in with someone you just started seeing. That experience can overwhelm both parties and deteriorate the relationship prematurely.

Sign #2: You Can Argue Without Yelling

At the top of your moving in together checklist should be signs that your relationship is healthy. Arguments are a part of relationships that, while not pleasant, are normal. Frankly, it’s nearly impossible for any two people to see eye-to-eye on everything. If you can argue without yelling, however, that’s an excellent sign. It means you respect each other enough to be kind and know that you won’t always agree. Even more, it shows that, agree or not, you care about your partner’s opinions and feelings. If you can do that, moving in together will be much more pleasant.

Sign #3: You Have No Problem Doing Things Apart

There’s a tendency for couples who live together to do everything together. In fact, many don’t go anywhere or do anything without the other. That could get maddening in a small space. You may like something your partner doesn’t, and vice-versa. In a healthy relationship, your partner won’t have a problem letting you enjoy your favorite activities. There won’t be any jealousy afterward, which can be hurtful and stressful. It’s also a huge sign of maturity if you can watch your partner enjoy themself and be joyful for them. 

Sign #4: You Make Time For Each Other

On the flip side, even with your own interests, you still need to make it a point to spend time together. For some couples, this means having a date night once a week. Setting aside time for romance and actually act like you’re in a relationship is important. This means that you’re not just spending time together, but you’re spending quality time together. Don’t let your new living arrangement turn you into just roommates. On your moving in together checklist, this is a biggie!

Sign #5: You’re Familiar With Your Partner’s Bad Habits

If you don’t think your love has any annoying habits, we have bad news for you. Most everyone has at least one tick or habit that frustrate their partner. Understanding that is a factor that makes or breaks relationships. Little things that might seem cute starting off can get very annoying very quickly when you’re sharing a living space. Are you a neat freak? Make sure your partner knows what to expect when it comes to cleaning. Ultimately, you need to understand if your partner’s living habits are compatible with your own. Try taking an extended vacation together or spending a week at their place. 

Sign #6: You Can Share Responsibilities 

All of us tend to put ourselves first, it’s true. (It’s a survival instinct.) That being said, taking on responsibilities that your partner has is a major show of your ability to live together. It proves you think about them, too, not just about yourself. Helping them, for example, take care of their ill relative. Driving them to work so that they can finish a project in the car. When you handle things that aren’t your responsibility, it’s a great sign that living together will be successful.

Sign #7: You Can Talk About Money

The joint finances, of any given relationship, are one of the biggest sources of tension and stress. Even though you probably aren’t getting married yet, money is going to become more of a factor in your relationship. For example, who pays for groceries? Cleaning supplies? Utilities? Date night? Make sure that you’re both open to discussing finances before the move. When bills start to come and things start to break, you’ll be ready to tackle these problems. This is a reoccurring theme in our moving in together checklist, so take note!

Sign #8: Moving in Together is a Convenient Choice

Keep in mind that this should not be the determining factor but is still worth considering. Maybe you’re both near the end of your leases. Maybe you’re spending so much time together that you’re basically moving in together already. If you’re starting to feel like you or your partner are together most nights, it might be a sign to move in.

Sign #10: You Recognize There Will Be Challenges

In fact, a sign that you’re not ready to move in together is when you don’t recognize that it will take a fair amount of work on both of your parts. Challenges are going to come up, regardless of how much you prepare. However, if you recognize that it will be a challenge and you’re still excited about taking this step, then you’re ready to move forward. Make sure that you’ve both discussed how problems should play out.

Time to Plan for Your Big Move

How do you feel about moving in together now? If you think you’re ready, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Planning out how you’re going to manage your shared space has many practical aspects. Here’s how to move in together as smoothly as possible:

Moving in Together Checklist: How Will You Divide Chores?

This is an essential part of living with anyone so don’t assume that it will work out automatically. You probably have different standards of cleanliness so you need to set down who will be responsible for what chores and how often they should be done. For example, cleaning the bathroom every week is a reasonable expectation. You don’t necessarily have to have a list for chores, but it may be helpful, especially if you’re going to take turns on certain chores.

Moving in Together Checklist: Can Fido Come Along?

Make sure that you’re both on the same page about pets. Especially if you already have pets separately. Make sure your animals get along. If they do, how will you divide those responsibilities? For example, if you have a dog, who is going to be responsible for walking the dog? Who will take care of the cat’s litter box? Although it usually makes sense for the “owner” of the pet to take the primary role of caretaking, this may not always be the case, especially if either of you travels frequently. Make sure that you have a plan in place about taking care of any pets. This is also important to discuss if think you might want to get a pet in the future.

moving in together checklist

Moving in Together Checklist: What Items Will You Bring?

Between the two of you, you may both have a fair amount of furniture, kitchenware, and just stuff. Chances are that your new place simply doesn’t need all these items. When you find yourself in this situation, evaluate what is going to go with you both to your home and what items you will donate, throw away, or put in storage. If you both have a lot of stuff you want to keep, consider getting a storage unit. You can store your extra furniture safely and easily while you find a space that’s big enough for all of your things combined. 

Moving in Together Checklist: How Will You Divide Bills?

As we mentioned earlier, talking about money is a big deal, When it comes to the utilities and rent, most couples split these areas equally but that might not be your situation. For example, if you do all the cooking, it might make sense that your partner pays more of the grocery bill. This is likely an area where the finances won’t be completely equal all the time and that’s fine. However, make sure that you both have a plan of how the finances are going to be run in practical terms. 

Moving in Together Checklist: Where Will You Live?

When you decide to move in together, you’ll have to decide exactly where you’re going to move. For younger couples, this often means choosing a rental property. If this is your scenario, make sure that you’re both comfortable with the location and the rental cost. Even if you can afford a larger place, make sure that you can both pay your share of the rent comfortably for the best results. If your partner or you own a space, it may make sense to move into the owned home but not always. Regardless, know where exactly you’re going to be living.

Moving in Together Checklist Brought to You By iStorage

Still want to take the leap? Whether or not you answered yes, we’re glad you’ve thought everything out. Whenever you’re ready, we’re here to help make your move easier. At iStorage, you can easily (and cheaply) rent a small storage unit to store items you don’t have space for. Our facilities are clean, convenient, and include 24/7 video security. If you have questions about moving or storage, chat with us online! Good luck, lovebirds! 

Originally published on 2/11/2020. 
Updated on 1/14/2021.