Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us, and love is in the air! Moving in together has always been the most significant step in many relationships, besides getting married, of course. More and more couples are now deciding to move in together before getting married so they know what they are truly in for. Many couples also tend to make big decisions such as moving in together around big holidays such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Perhaps it’s all of the good food and wine that bring out all of those feelings of love and warmth that inspire us to want to move in with our significant others, or it could just be the fact that we tend to realize how precious our family and friends and are to us during holiday festivities. Either way, there is most definitely a lot to be said about one of the biggest commitments a couple can make.

When you are your partner decide to move out together, you will likely want to rent an apartment together. Renting an apartment is fairly ideal for those who are starting out in life, and are looking to build their savings or save for a wedding if they were recently engaged. Once the decision has been made to move in together, that’s when it starts to “get real”.

We’ve compiled this handy guide to Apartment Hunting and Moving In Together for New Couples, and we hope it makes your transition a bit easier!

Decide Where, Why, and How?

Before any apartment hunting can begin, you’ve got a few major decisions to make as a couple. Where exactly do you want to live? You may know what city you want to live in, but what about the area of the city? He may want to live closer to his friends, and you may want to live closer to your employer. For example, in Los Angeles, there are a few key areas to live in, and each one could affect a commute significantly. Decide the pros and cons of each region, and make the best decision that you can possibly make together. Ask yourself why you want to live in that area. Is it safer? Are these apartments more affordable? Are they a smarter choice all-around? Be sure your reasons are realistic, and that they contribute to both of your overall life goals, whether it is to save money, or eventually buy a home of your own.

Next you must decide how you want to make the move. Ask yourself the following questions:

How will you guys move your things?

Will you pack, or will you hire help?

Will you hire movers?

When you can be ready to move out?

Will you have to take time off of work?

These answers will help you when finding an apartment because if an apartment is ready sooner rather than later, you can realistically gauge when you could be out of your current living situation.

How Much Space Do You Really Need?

Take an inventory of each others things. What are you willing or wanting to sell, throw away, or put into storage? From there, decide how many rooms you will need. Does he need a home office? Do you need a craft room? Make sure you have enough closet and storage space for the things that you use in your everyday life. If you are living on a budget, use every bit of storage by being very organized and throwing away or donating items that you no longer need. Shop at stores like Ikea and Crate and Barrel for space-saving storage solutions, to maximize every bit of space in your new apartment.
Discussing and making all of these decisions in advance, will help your apartment search as a new couple go over in a smooth and stress-free manner.