With fall weather fast approaching, there’s no better time to move in with your sweety. After all, how else are you going to survive the cold winter to come? Even though more than half of all moves occur in the summer, fall is a perfect time to settle down before the snow comes. When you’re ready to put down roots with your one and only, finding a place to live is just the first checkbox on your to-do list.

When you’re ready to make moving in with your partner a reality, here are some top tips to make the process as efficient — and amicable — as possible.

Keep criticization at the door

When you first start the process of moving in, you’ll likely spend ample time packing up your belongings. Amidst the countless boxes and bubble wrap, you might unearth some interesting knick-knacks or items owned by your partner. If you’re helping your partner wrap their glassware in newspaper, be sure to leave any condescending comments at the door.

While you don’t need to like every item your partner owns, criticizing their choices in furniture or books will start you out on the wrong foot. Most successful couples often have the same values, not the same tastes. If you see something you hate, your best bet is to hold your tongue. During this already stressful process, the last thing your partner needs is to hear their awesome Star Wars robe is too childish.

More often than not, childish or “ugly” items often hold sentimental value to the owner. Before you cast judgment on your partner, imagine that you’re in their shoes. This can stop a lot of unnecessary arguments during the moving process.

Have a meeting about money management

Money can be another issue when it comes to moving in with your partner. Before you find the apartment of your dreams, talk to your partner about how you want to split up rent and other bills.

You’d be surprised, but this chat can cause a lot of contention in a relationship. This stress is only amplified if you’re not on the same page when you move in. Before you make any moves or call for moving assistance, there’s no harm in hashing out the logistics.

For example, many couples find peace in splitting prices right down the middle. That means each person pays for half of the rent and half of the utilities. Luckily, there are plenty of money-sharing apps that make this feat easier than ever. On the other hand, you might choose to separate the payments based on income. If there’s a wide gap in salaries between the two partners, sometimes the wealthier of the two is happy to take on the additional financial burden. Each option works differently for each couple so don’t be afraid to discuss your options before jumping into a move feet-first. This can save you a lot of headaches in the long-run.

Establish a pre-move checklist

What’s mine is yours, but we might not need two of everything. If a couple was living independently before moving in, you might find that you have two sets of pots and pans, two coffee makers, and two beds. At the same time, couples often find that they may not have enough supplies for two people when one was more than enough. As you’re planning your big move, be sure to craft a checklist. This should include what the two of you will donate, what you’ll keep, and what you’ll need to cohabit a space peacefully.

If you’re stuck trying to decide on what to keep, you can always rely on the square footage of your house as a guide. Then, you can measure your items, consider storage opportunities, and go from there. You might even find that holding a garage sale is a great way to raise extra money for the move.

Rely on moving assistance

One of the hardest parts of your move is the actual transport of your goods. When you’re in the midst of a heated argument with your family and friends, put down the torches and rely on moving assistance to streamline the process.

The expert movers at Craig Van Lines has ample experience in packing and moving a variety of goods. From heavy furniture to sensitive electronics, our team of moving professionals is adept at offering the streamlined moving assistance you need. Avoid the argument by trusting our team to get your goods from point A to point B in one piece. All you need to do is give us a call: it’s that easy.

Fred Craig

Fred C. Craig III is the owner of Craig Van Lines, a Northern Virginia moving company his family has run for more than a century. The business began in 1918 when J.H. Craig hauled cattle, feed, and hay from Virginia’s rural farms to the markets of the DC area. As the region shifted from farmland to residential communities in the 1940s, the family started moving households after hours and on weekends, eventually building the full-service moving company Craig Van Lines is today. Fred carries on that tradition, providing the same quality and care his family has brought to this community for over 100 years.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Cohabiting: Here’s How to Move In With Your Partner