How to Move Out of Your Parents House [10+ Simple Steps]
When it’s time to go, it’s time to go! We’ll tell you how to move out of your parents’ house and make it as easy as possible.
Moving out of your parents’ house might be painful at times especially if they were nice to you but howbeit, it is worth it!
Consider your commute distance to work and what amenities are important to you.
How to Move Out of Your Parents’ House
Moving out of your parents’ house is an exciting step into adulthood, but it can also be a little scary. Start planning your move well in advance so that you’re financially and emotionally prepared.
Give yourself plenty of time to save up enough money, make your preparations, and find a place that you can realistically afford.
Don’t be afraid to talk to your parents for advice or financial help if you need to. Becoming fully independent is a process and you don’t have to do it all overnight.
1. Communicate With Your Parents
Perhaps your parents are ready to see you go and have been encouraging your departure for a while. Or perhaps, they want you to stay forever.
Whatever their opinion on the matter, it’s important to clearly communicate your intentions to them – and, if necessary, your moving plan.
Even if they are excited about your new adventure, they could still be somewhat sad to see you go. With this in mind, make sure to be extra sensitive to their needs and emotions when communicating your move-out plans.
2. Develop a Move-Out Plan
Before moving out of your parents’ house, come up with a moving plan that both you and your parents can agree upon.
I recommend coming up with a goal date for when you think you will be able to move out. This doesn’t mean you have to move out by this date, but it is a starting point for you and your parents.
In addition to your move-out date, your moving plan should include where you intend to move, what type of property you want to move to (apartment, home, student housing, etc.), and whether you intend to have a roommate.
3. Establish Good Credit
Those who want to purchase a home, be aware that a less than stellar credit score (or no credit score) means you’re less likely to obtain a home loan from a bank.
If you’re unable to get a loan from a mortgage lender, you can kiss home-ownership goodbye (at least for now).
If you plan to rent, your credit history will also be important. Many landlords and property managers now run credit checks on rental applicants.
4. Start Saving Money for a Down Payment
If you’re planning to purchase a home, you’re going to need enough money in the bank for a down payment.
To get there, we suggest coming up with a savings plan that is realistic and reasonable. Tip: This is the time to curb unnecessary spending.
From temporarily canceling a gym membership and cooking at home to cutting back on shopping and travel expenses, there are many easy ways to save money.
5. Budget for After the Move
Once you have a budget to help you save money for your down payment, it should be easy to create a budget to cover all of the expenses of owning or renting your own space.
Some of your budget items will transfer directly from your current budget to your after-the-move budget. These include your loan payments, car insurance, and entertainment.
But you may have to make some changes. If you live further or closer to work, you’ll need to adjust how much you budget for gas, for example.
6. Decide Where to Live
If you prefer outdoor activities, access to restaurants, theaters, shopping, or all of the above, make sure your target area meets your needs.
You’ll also need to pick the kind of house you want. Do you want a single-family home, condo, or townhome? Do you want a move-in ready house or a fixer-upper?
Once you narrow things down and pick how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want, you’re ready for house hunting.
7. Start Touring Houses
Attend local open houses to see what’s available in the area. Bring a checklist with you to keep track of your must-have and nice-to-have items in each house you see.
Some good things to look for during a home tour are:
- Number and size of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Kitchen layout and finishings
- Parking availability
- Front and back yard preferences
- Type and condition of the floors
- Single or dual pane windows
- Overall layout and how it works with your lifestyle
Also, exploring the neighborhoods will give you the best idea of what it’s like to live there.
8. Join Social Groups Online
If you’re staying in your current location, you may already have a strong social network. If you’re moving to a new city, join some social groups online to get connected and learn more about the place you’re moving to.
In addition to general groups, hunt for specialized groups around your hobbies, interests, or volunteer opportunities like Habitat for Humanity.
Joining Facebook groups, Bumble BFF, Meetup, and other social media are all great ways to meet new people.
9. Find a Realtor
After you’ve determined your budget and saved up enough money for a down payment, start looking for a reputable Realtor.
If this is the first time you’ve ever purchased a home, enlisting a qualified and helpful realtor is especially important.
In addition to a real estate agent’s deep knowledge of the market, they also handle all negotiations and paperwork so you don’t have to.
10. Schedule Movers or Ask Your Friends for Help
Unless you have very little to move, we recommend enlisting either friends or professionals to assist with the move.
If you’re hoping to hire professionals to help with part of the move, you can enlist labor-only movers to assist with loading and unloading the rental truck.
This will most certainly be less expensive than hiring full-service movers to handle the entire move for you.
11. Donate, Sell or Consign Items You Don’t Need
Have too much stuff? If your closets are overflowing, it may be time to get rid of your belongings before you move. After all, the less stuff you have to move, the easier (and cheaper) your move will be.
Try donating gently-used items to local charities and consigning nicer items to local consignment stores. Also, consider throwing a garage sale or selling belongings via an online marketplace.
If you have a lot of junk to get rid of or large items you can’t donate or easily dispose of, you may want to hire a junk removal company.
12. Find Packing Supplies
From boxes and tape to bubble wrap and foam pouches, you’re going to need to find packing and moving supplies to help with your next move.
Fortunately, packing supplies can be found online, as well as at your workplace, nearby libraries, large retailers, and more.
Also, check out this list of where to find free boxes. To find out the exact number of moving boxes you’ll need, use Moving.com’s handy Packing Calculator.
13. Pack
After gathering your supplies, it’s time to get packin’! We suggest packing non-essentials (those items you won’t need in the coming weeks) first. Examples are seasonal clothing, knickknacks, photos, books, etc.
The day before you move, pack essentials, such as toiletries, pajamas, prescription meds, etc., in a separate box that can easily be found on moving day.
Make sure to clearly label all boxes and keep important documents with you at all times. If you are running out of time or need extra help, it is possible to hire packers to help you box your items for you.
14. Set Up New Utilities
If you’ve been living with your parents, you’ve been using their utilities. Unless you want to walk into a dark home with no electricity, you’ll need to set up utilities and cable in your new place as soon as possible.
We recommend calling the utility companies early on to let them know when you’ll be moving in.
Once you’ve scheduled dates for all utilities to be turned on, you’ll need to call the cable company to reserve an installation date as well.
15. Change Your Address
Unless you want your parents to receive your mail, change your address asap. Fortunately, USPS makes it easy.
All you have to do is go to USPS.com and choose the date that you wish to begin forwarding your mail. Don’t forget to also change your credit card billing address and let your bank know that you’re moving.
You may need to notify your college if you are attending school or your employer as well. To avoid confusion, it may also be helpful to send out an email to friends and family with your new address.
16. Move Out and Celebrate With a Housewarming Party
After saving your money and packing your bags, you’ve successfully moved out of your parents’ house and into your new place.
This newfound freedom was certainly worth every tedious step along the way.
Want to celebrate (without disturbing your new neighbors, of course)? Consider throwing a housewarming party.
It doesn’t have to be fancy: just a few friends, some budget-friendly food, and a great ambiance. But it gives you a chance to show off all that you’ve accomplished.
17. Explore Your New Neighborhood
Once you’re settled in, exploring your new neighborhood and getting a lay of the land is an important first step in getting your bearings and feeling like you’re part of the neighborhood.
We also suggest becoming a regular at a local coffee shop or restaurant. That way you can develop a routine and see friendly faces every day.
How to Successfully Move Out of Your Parents’ House
In most cases, you will want to discuss your plans with your parents. They can provide advice about whether they think you’re ready, help you with moving plans and talk through how they can support you.
Trying to keep your plans secret can be a sign that you may not be ready to move out.
If your relationship with your parents is strained, find a trusted adult (preferably someone older that is already self-sufficient) and talk with them about your plans.
The first thing that you’ll want to think about is whether you’re moving out of your parents’ house for the right reasons:
- You feel financially ready to support yourself, including a stable income and solid credit history.
- You’re ready to tackle the challenges that come with being self-sufficient.
- You are looking for more privacy than just your bedroom.
- You’re looking for experiences that aren’t available while living with your parents.
If you are only thinking about moving out because you had a temporary disagreement with your parents or “all your friends are doing it”, it may be wise to take a step back and make a concrete plan.
How to Save to Move Out of Your Parents’ House
There’s no doubt that some young adults are more than ready to move out of their parents’ house.
They graduate high school and head off to college, the military, a job, a gap year, a church mission, or something else and never look back.
But for many others, moving out of their parent’s house can be challenging. In addition to the financial change, it can also be emotionally challenging (for both you and your parents).
Here are some things you’ll want to consider if you’re planning on moving out.
1. Get a Financial Plan in Place
If you think that you’re emotionally ready to move out of your parents’ house, you’ll want to make sure your finances are in place.
This could include things like car insurance, health insurance, gym memberships, student loan payments, clothing, gas, auto maintenance, gifts, and savings.
If you haven’t already, set up a budget for what your finances will look like once you’ve moved out. Look at your income as compared to your possible expenses, and make sure to be conservative with your expenses
2. Consider the One-Time Moving Costs
As you prepare to move out, you’ll want to have the money to cover some of the one-time expenses that come with moving.
Your costs to actually move might be minimal if you’re just grabbing some friends and you’re just throwing your things in the back of a pickup truck. If you’re moving across the country or have more things to move.
Plus you’ll likely need money for a security deposit for an apartment or money to furnish your new place. Make sure you have an emergency fund in place in addition to these expenses.
3. Get Your Credit in a Good Place
Another hidden cost for many people is the cost of not having good credit. If you have below-average credit, then you may not have easy access to loans and other financial products.
If you do qualify for a loan, you may have to pay a higher interest rate. Many potential landlords also run prospective tenants’ credit scores — so poor or no credit could disqualify you from the apartment you’re looking at.
If you’re in a situation where you have a poor or no credit history, you will want to work on that before you move out.
The Emotional Costs of Moving Out
Leaving your childhood home is not only a financial transaction but it can also be an emotional one. And remember that it’s not only emotional for you; it can be emotional for your parents as well.
Even if you think you are ready, you may find it challenging, especially over the first few weeks and months.
- One way to help with the transition is to have open and honest communication with your parents to make sure you’re both on the same page.
- Find friends who share similar values and make them your new “family away from home”
- Another way to stay emotionally healthy is to start putting down roots near your new home. This is especially applicable if your new home is far away from your parents.
You can find friends you share similar values with at your workplace, at local organization meet-ups, and even in your neighborhood.
How to Move Out of Your Parents’ House At 16
Consider the following before moving out of your parents’ house.
1. Ask Your Parents for Permission
Provide a list of reasons why you want to move out and how you plan to support yourself. Tell them where you plan to live with and who with.
If your parents give you permission, you may be allowed to leave the family home. If your parents do not agree to you moving out, there are other circumstances in which you may be allowed to leave.
2. Support Yourself Financially
If you have dropped out of school and work full time, it is possible to leave home if you prove you can support yourself financially.
This law is subject to review and you will have your circumstances assessed before being granted emancipation from your parents.
Supporting yourself financially will show you are serious and can earn enough to take care of yourself
3. Get Married
If you are in a long-term relationship, or in the unusual event you feel ready for marriage at 16, this will grant you emancipation, therefore allowing you to move out of your parents’ home.
The Separated Parenting Access & Resource Center reports that marriage assumes that a person is able to support a minor of their own.
4. Provide an Agreeable Living Situation for a Minor
If you have a child and prove that you have the ability to provide a suitable living situation, you may be granted emancipation.
However, becoming pregnant is not enough to grant you permission to leave the parental household; you must also prove that you are capable of supporting the child.
5. Join the Military
In many states, becoming a member of the military automatically grants a person emancipation from their parents, as they are deemed independent.
CSN Team.