Moving is a difficult process that consumes a lot of time to organize and usually a lot of money. And when you think about moving in with a roommate it may look even more complicated to you. Still, there are some tips that can direct you into the right way. Moving in with a new roommate does not have to be stressful or worrisome; just the opposite – it should be easy to organize and a useful experience.
Finding the Right Roommate
Are you going to college or just changing your living place because of a job? Whatever the reason moving in with new roommates is something that you can certainly cope with, along with the moving itself.
First of all, when you go through the ads and meet people be reasonably selective – you want to live with a person of similar lifestyle and habits like yours so you can get along. Sometimes just one meeting may not be enough to decide but if you meet the person and something just doesn’t feel right don’t take the chance and risk, move on. There are many people who are looking for roommates as well. Try to be open minded when selecting a roommate and be ready to make compromises and look for ways to understand the other person. If your selection went successfully you and your new roommate should be able to get along and understand each other well.
When looking for a roommate go through the ads and carefully select people - put safety first. Try to find someone with a lifestyle similar to yours in order to minimize potential conflicts.
Things to consider when moving in with roommates
There are some questions to ask when moving in with roommates. They will prepare you for the moving itself and how to organize it.
- Are you moving in with roommates or with just one person? How large is your room and how much space will you have for your things? Which other premises in the house or apartment can you use and how many other people will you be sharing them with? You should know the answer to this question before moving in with a roommate because you need to plan your inventory sheet and what you will take with you. It makes a great difference between moving into a small 2-bedroom apartment with 3 people and moving into a spacious 3-bedroom large house with 2 people in it only.
- See which is the common space and area of it you can use. If the kitchen for example is small and already has a fridge you can perhaps sell yours at a moving sale. On the other hand, if the living room is large you can move in your couch. Just make sure you get the measures of the larger pieces of furniture so you can be sure they will go in through the door.
- Set ground rules and common boundaries. It is important when moving in with a roommate to communicate and say to each other anything that any of you may find bothering. In that way your living together will go well and you will understand each other. Be rational, logical and reasonable. There is no point in arguing about minor details that do not make much difference anyway.
How to handle the moving?
If your roommate has moved and was happy with the moving company he/ she used you can ask for a recommendation. Certainly someone who was satisfied with their moving experience will tell you all about it.
If you are moving in with a roommate you need to find a reputable company to trust your belongings to. See if you can find recommendations from your current roommates, for example.
If so far you have been living on your own or in a large place and it is time to downsize you may need to leave some things behind when moving in with a roommate, sell them, give them away or just store them. Whatever you decide, movers need to know about it. When a representative of the moving company comes to your home show them everything to be moved. Once you get a few quotes and talk to the moving companies who gave them to you decide which one is reputable and continue with discussing the type of estimate you prefer. This is important because once you and the company representative signs it this becomes one of the main moving documents you need to have, along with the bill of lading and the mover’s inventory sheet.
Since the size of your move is most going to be smaller you may make things easier for yourself in terms of time by going for the full moving service. Movers will come, quickly pack everything, load it and then just deliver it to you to your new home. By the moving day you should have gotten rid of all things that you don’t need. Also, if you need storage – let the movers know in advance. They will offer you a place where they can take your things until you need them again. After the moving is over remember to come back and let us know how was your experience by writing a review. Your review may help others with their moving experience.
