How to Move Out of Your Parents’ Home
It’s a big step in the life of every young person. Moving out of the family home can be an exciting yet daunting time, with many people wondering how to go about finally flying the nest.
Often, people make the decision to move out of the parental home after they’ve returned from university, but the process can be different for everyone. As a leading removals company, the team at Britannia Sandersteads has helped countless young people move out over the years, providing them with a dedicated service that makes the whole process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
With this in mind, we’ve put together our own advice on the steps you can take when moving out of the family home.
Decide Whether You Want to Rent or Buy
The first choice to make is whether you want to buy or rent. There are pros and cons for each, so it’s worth assessing your situation, and weighing up both options before settling on what’s right for you.
Some people don’t like the prospect of living in a property they do not own. If you want to move into a house or flat that is yours, then getting a mortgage and buying is the direction you’ll be heading towards. If this is the case, you may have to accept that it could take a while. Saving money for a deposit, applying for a mortgage and finding a house to buy all take time. If you’re happy to stay with the parents for a bit longer, with the reward at the end of it being a property you own, then buying is likely the option for you.
Others may want to move out almost immediately. This could be because of a difficult home environment, not having the finances to buy, or simply because they want instant independence from their parents. Whatever the circumstances, renting a property is far faster than buying one. It also offers you more flexibility as it’s quicker and cheaper to move again should your circumstances change.
If possible, be sure to discuss your individual situation with your friends and family to come to a decision that is best for you.
Set Out a Budget
The biggest factor to consider when moving out of your parent’s house is money. Before committing to buying a house or renting a property, you need to put together a budget. Living at home means your outgoings are unlikely to be as high as they would be living away from the parents.
First, make sure you fully understand how much money you have coming in each month after the relevant taxes have been deducted. Then, figure out how much you will need to spend on:
- Mortgage payments or rent
- Utility bills
- Council tax
- Transportation
- Food
As well as these necessities, you should include rough estimates on how much you may spend on luxuries on an average month. This could include eating out, entertainment (such as cinema tickets, attending sporting events, video games etc) and buying clothes. It’s important you draw up an accurate portrayal of what you’re likely to spend, as this will help when deciding on which property to opt for.
Compare the Cost of Living
The cost of living is different in different areas. Even within the same city or region, the cost of living can significantly vary depending on where you live. Make sure you shop around and compare things such as public services (including transport if you need to commute to work), food shops and average property prices.
All these factors can change from area to area, so do your research to discover where you can get the most for your money.
Build Up a Good Credit Score
This is particularly important when buying a property, but can have an impact when renting, too.
Your credit score represents how reliable you are when it comes to paying back money, and is represented by a number between 300-850. The higher your score, the more likely it is that you’ll be approved for a mortgage or loan.
Getting a good credit score is fairly straightforward, and is something you can work on long before you move out. If you have a credit card, then making sure your repayments are regular and on time will help boost it. If you’ve never owned a credit card before, then start out with a basic one, and only use it for small purchases before you become comfortable with how it works. Your local banking branch will be able to help advise you, here.
Being on the electoral roll will also help increase your credit score.
How Britannia Sandersteads Can Help
Once you’ve gone through the process and it comes to moving day, Britannia Sandersteads can help make the whole transition smooth and straightforward. We provide a wide range of removals, storage and packing services that make moving out a breeze. Operating throughout London including Croydon, get in touch with our team to find out more.