It can sometimes be difficult to know who you can turn to for advice when you make the decision to move in with a partner, as there can be a seemingly overwhelming amount of things that need to be taken into consideration before the move takes place. Something that can be overlooked in amongst the relocation craziness is the sheer hassle of organizing how to combine you and your partner’s possessions, which can make a situation that is very stressful to start with even more of a strain. The good news, however, is that there are a few helpful tips to make the process run a little more smoothly.
One thing that you should do straight off is make an inventory. You cannot start deciding what should and should not be kept if you are not fully aware of everything that you own. That may sound like an obvious point, but the truth is that accurately counting items such as books, glasses, plates and shoes will be of great assistance when choosing what should be kept, what should be thrown away, and what should be donated or sold. Take the time to count all of your possessions; when you and your partner both have an accurate list you can compare them to make the decision as to what can be kept, what can be discarded, and if there is anything crucial that neither of you own and will thus need to be purchased.
Another good tip is to know your space. If you do not have a floor plan of your new abode then you should measure and take photos of each room. It is crucial in the planning stage to be aware of the amount of space you have to work with; accurate dimensions can be very useful to sort out if items of furniture will fit into a particular room, for example. Online resources can help you to visualize where you are going to put things.
Planning ahead is of vital importance, and it is also vital to make sure that you are realistic. Making reasoned and realistic decisions is crucial, and both people need to be prepared to sacrifice a few of their possessions even if one person is making a move to live with the other. Absolutely everything should be available to be either kept or disposed of. While some items may be easy to get rid of, it may be more difficult to part with some others, even if it seems logical and necessary to do so. On the positive side, a sentimental item need not be thrown out but can be given away to someone who needs it.
Above all, communication between you and your partner is key – do not delay making difficult choices in order to avoid arguments, as this will only result in problems later on. Do not pay to have an item of furniture moved to your new home if you know that it will not fit. Flexibility is all important.
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