Preparing a checklist when moving out for the first time is a must, especially if you’ve spent previous years of your life living with your parents and never had to worry about any tasks around the house. Thankfully, this article will allow you to prepare an ultimate checklist and give you advice for this big step in your life.
Why Do You Need a Checklist When Moving Out for the First Time?
Moving out on your own for the first time is not an easy task and definitely not something you should be rushing into. You have to prepare for the move properly and organize each step of the process. If you are planning on moving internationally, a checklist is a must. No matter what your reasons to move are, preparing a to-do list will ensure you have a smooth transition and avoid any additional relocation stress. This article will be useful when figuring out what are some of the most important tasks to have on your checklist.
Start by Researching the City You’re Planning to Live In
When choosing which place you’re going to move into, be sure to research it thoroughly before actually making the final decision. Especially if you are planning on moving overseas, you have to be careful with choosing a place to live in. There are a few most important things to consider when relocating to a new city.
Inform Yourself About the Cost of Living
Most people get super excited before relocating to a different country that they quite often forget to focus on some basic yet super important factors. You have to inform yourself about the cost of living in that specific place you are planning to move to. Or, if you have few options, compare the costs by using websites such as Numbeo.
Living on your own can get quite expensive, and you should know approximately how much money you are going to be needing for basic living expenses in that town. It’s always better to choose a smaller city or a neighborhood that’s not that close to the urban core since they tend to be more affordable.
See if There Are Any Good Job Opportunities in That Town
Since you are going to be paying for all your living expenses by yourself, you will require a steady income. Unless you already have a position waiting for you and are relocating for a job, you should inform yourself about the job opportunities in that city. Maybe there are some companies offering new positions, so be sure to get in touch with them, send resumes, and apply for certain jobs.
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Calculating Your Relocation Expenses Must Be On Your Checklist
Relocating abroad is super exciting, but unfortunately, it’s not free. There are plenty of relocating expenses you are going to have to cover, and it probably won’t be cheap. Once you calculate how much money you should have for living in that specific city, figure out how much you’ll require for the relocation itself.
How much money should you have when you first move out? Calculating everything and putting it on paper is going to help you track your expenses much easier. Here are some of the expenses you’ll have to cover:
- Cost of traveling,
- Housing expenses,
- Relocating services,
- Insurance fee,
- Utilities,
- Purchasing basic necessities.
Prepare a Moving Budget
When moving out on your own for the first time, budget is one of the most important things. You won’t be able to finish any of the relocation tasks if you don’t have enough money to cover all the expenses. That’s why you have to figure out your budget and start saving months ahead of the planned relocation date for living abroad. If you are not sure how to budget and save money for the move, here’s a video that could help you with that.
Write Down All the Important Things to Remember When Apartment Hunting
When you’ve never relocated before in your life and have to finish all the important tasks on your own, it’s better to write everything down. That way, you will ensure you don’t miss out on any important thighs. This especially applies to apartment hunting, as it’s one of the most important things to figure out when relocating. Once you set a budget, research the best options you can afford.
What Do You Need for Renting an Apartment?
If you’ve never rented an apartment on your own before, write down all the important information you want to keep in mind. Be sure to avoid common relocating mistakes – be careful with signing contracts and making decisions. You need to carefully read the lease agreement before signing it to avoid getting tricked into something you don’t want. The contract is supposed to protect both parties, so if you are not very informed on the legal issues, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Be sure that the neighborhood and the building are safe for living. You can always try and find reviews from previous tenants and see what their experience was like. Don’t get yourself into any sketchy business, and remember to inspect everything in the apartment before you decide to move into it. Be sure to take pictures of everything that seems off, meaning it looks busted, broken, or damaged.
Prepare an Ultimate Packing List for the Move
Packing is one of the most complex and time-consuming tasks during the relocation process. So in order to move efficiently and prepare for packing well, you should create a proper packing list. Before you get down to actually putting items in the boxes, you should start by preparing a few tasks that are great tips for relocating.
Start by Decluttering and Deciding What to Leave Behind
You might feel like you want to carry all your personal belongings abroad to your future home, but this is absolutely unnecessary. That’s why you should declutter your current household and examine each room properly. That way, you can decide what stuff should be boxed up and which items are not worth relocating. One of the best tips is to inform yourself on which items movers won’t move so you don’t have any unpleasant surprises.
Leave behind all the unnecessary items that you don’t use that often, are broken, or are easily replaceable. Keep in mind your shipping quote will depend on your inventory list, so the fewer items you have, the more money you will save. If you’re wondering what to do with the items you decide not to box up, you can either sell them online or donate them to the people in need.
Write Down a House Inventory List
If you decide to hire international movers to assist you with the relocation, you will need to provide them with an inventory list. But even besides that, preparing a home inventory list will make the packing process much easier, and you’ll be able to organize better. This way, you will know exactly how many boxes and packaging materials, and supplies you’ll need to prepare. It can also help you keep track of all your belongings, so nothing gets lost.
Prepare an Essentials Bag
What most people forget to do during their relocation is to pack up relocating essentials in a separate bag. These are some of the most important things that you should have by your side that you’re going to use in the first few days in your future home. Since unpacking belongings might take a few days, this bag will provide you with all the necessary items you use on a daily basis. Here’s a shortlist of the stuff you’ll require:
- Personal hygiene items,
- Bathroom essentials,
- Medicine,
- Food (non-perishable),
- Bedding (pillows, bed sheets, blankets, covers),
- Kitchen stuff (cutlery, plates, pots and pans, trash bags, glasses),
- Clean clothes,
- Pet food (in case you are relocating with pets),
- Cleaning supplies (if allowed to ship).
Remember to Update Your Personal Documents
It is super important to know who to notify about your relocation. You must update all your personal information on documents, especially the one that involves billing and shipments. When relocating overseas, you must remember to change your identification documents, passports, driver’s license, and other important documents. If you are going to ship your vehicle overseas, remember to update its registration as well. Lastly, don’t forget to transfer the utilities before the relocating day.
How Do I Cope With Moving Out for the First Time?
So as you’ve probably figured out so far, relocating abroad on your own can be quite exhausting and potentially overwhelming. Be aware that anxiety about relocating is quite common and nothing to be ashamed of. Many people go through different psychological issues during transitional periods in their lives, and it’s always nice to know you are not alone in this. Luckily there are plenty of tips that can be helpful with this.
Talk to Your Friends and Family Every Day
Probably the hardest part about relocating on your own is away from your closest friends and family members. Luckily there are plenty of ways you can stay in touch with them. You can video chat with them every day, talk about how your adjustment is going, and ask for advice on certain problems or whatever you are dealing with. That will definitely be useful to you during some tough moments.
Consider Getting a Roommate
When you’ve never relocated before, you probably don’t know how you are going to react to living completely alone in an unknown place. If you realize that living alone is not for you, you can always try and find a roommate. Having a roommate has plenty of advantages, especially when you’ve never lived alone before. You’ll always have someone to talk to and to keep you company. They might also make the adjusting process easier, as you’ll have someone to explore the town with.
Hire an International Moving Company to Assist You With the Relocation
If you feel like you won’t have the will or energy to deal with all of the relocation tasks on your own, you can always book international moving services. Professional movers can provide you with their packing services, which can be quite useful if you are in a hurry, last-minute relocating, or just don’t have enough energy to focus on it. Just make sure you find some reliable movers that are going to finish everything successfully and safely transport your belongings overseas to your future home.
Anyone Can Be Independent if They Prepare Well for It
Being independent and living completely on your own is not easy, but it’s also not impossible either. You just have to prepare yourself for it properly, talk to your parents, and ask people for different advice. So once your checklist is ready and you feel prepared, call your international mover and book a flight. We wish you the best of luck with this great new chapter of your life.