How to Move Out at 19: A Financial Checklist

Moving out and establishing an independent living situation marks a significant milestone. This transition offers opportunities for personal growth and increased self-reliance. Successfully navigating this period requires thoughtful preparation and a clear understanding of the responsibilities involved. Approaching this step with careful planning can help ensure a smoother and more confident start to independent living.

Understanding Initial Financial Requirements

Before committing to a new living space, it is prudent to establish a clear financial foundation. This process begins with a comprehensive assessment of all potential upfront costs associated with moving. These initial expenses often include a security deposit, the first month’s rent, and various utility connection fees.

Security deposits range from one to two months’ rent, depending on the landlord, location, and the applicant’s credit history. For example, if rent is $1,200 per month, a security deposit could range from $1,200 to $2,400. Utility connection fees for services such as electricity, water, gas, and internet often total between $100 and $300 per service. Moving supplies like boxes, tape, and packing materials cost $50 to $200, while renting a moving truck for a local move ranges from $50 to $200 per day, plus mileage and fuel.

Assessing current and projected income is a subsequent step to ensure financial stability. Landlords commonly seek tenants whose gross monthly income is at least three times the monthly rent. For instance, if the monthly rent is $1,200, a prospective tenant would need a gross monthly income of at least $3,600. This benchmark helps confirm that income can adequately cover ongoing housing expenses and other living costs.

Creating a detailed budget for the move helps manage these initial outlays. This budget should account for the security deposit, first month’s rent, utility setup charges, and any moving purchases. Setting a saving goal for these sums allows time to accumulate funds without strain. Tracking expenses during this phase provides a realistic picture of the financial commitment.

Beyond the immediate moving costs, establishing a small emergency fund is an important step for the initial transition period. This fund serves as a buffer for unexpected expenses, such as minor repairs, unforeseen utility bills, or temporary income disruptions. While a general emergency fund covers three to six months of living expenses, a smaller fund of $500 to $1,000 for the first few months post-move provides peace of mind. This cushion helps prevent financial distress during the adjustment phase.

Choosing Your New Living Situation

Selecting the appropriate living situation is an important step, requiring careful consideration of available housing options. Common choices for young adults include renting a traditional apartment, opting for shared housing with roommates, or exploring sub-leasing opportunities. Shared housing reduces individual housing costs, as expenses like rent and utilities are divided among occupants. Sub-leasing, where an existing tenant rents out their space, can offer shorter lease terms or furnished options, beneficial for flexibility.

The search for a suitable rental property involves using online platforms such as Zillow, Apartments.com, or Craigslist, which list available units. Local real estate agents specializing in rentals can also assist, often with access to unadvertised listings. Community bulletin boards or word-of-mouth networks within desired neighborhoods can yield leads, especially for shared housing arrangements. Using these resources broadens the scope of potential living spaces.

When viewing properties, several factors require inspection to ensure the space meets needs. The location’s safety and accessibility to work, school, or public transportation should be evaluated. Prospective tenants should assess the condition of the unit, including appliances, plumbing, and electrical systems, and inquire about included amenities like laundry facilities, parking, or communal spaces. Observing the landlord or property management’s responsiveness during the viewing process offers insight into their attentiveness.

Understanding the lease agreement is important before signing any documents. A lease is a legally binding contract outlining the terms and conditions of the tenancy for a fixed period, such as 12 months. It specifies the monthly rent amount, due dates, and any penalties for late payments. The agreement also details the responsibilities of both the tenant and the landlord regarding maintenance, repairs, and property rules, such as pet policies or restrictions on alterations. Reading every clause, including early termination provisions or security deposit return conditions, avoids future misunderstandings.

The rental application process requires documentation to verify identity, financial capability, and reliability. Applicants are asked to provide proof of income, such as pay stubs, an employment offer letter, or bank statements. A government-issued identification, like a driver’s license or passport, is for identity verification. Landlords conduct credit and background checks to assess financial responsibility and review rental history. Providing references from previous landlords or employers strengthens an application, demonstrating responsible tenancy or employment.

Executing the Relocation

Moving requires a detailed plan for a smooth transition into a new living space. Developing a comprehensive moving checklist, starting several weeks before the move date, helps organize tasks. This checklist should include:

Decluttering
Acquiring packing supplies
Scheduling utility disconnections and reconnections
Arranging transportation for belongings

A systematic approach prevents last-minute rushes and oversights, contributing to an organized move.

Packing involves decluttering belongings before boxing them. This reduces items to move and allows donating or discarding unused possessions. Labeling each box with its contents and destination room simplifies unpacking. Packing an “essentials” box with items like toiletries, medications, and a change of clothes ensures comfort upon arrival. Fragile items should be wrapped and marked to prevent damage.

Arranging transportation for belongings is a key consideration for moving day. Options range from borrowing a large vehicle from a friend or family member for smaller moves to renting a moving truck from companies like U-Haul or Penske. For larger moves or those requiring professional assistance, hiring a full-service moving company alleviates the burden of packing, loading, and unloading. The choice depends on the volume of possessions, the distance of the move, and the available budget.

Changing one’s address officially is a necessary step to ensure continued receipt of mail and important documents. The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers an online change-of-address service, or forms can be completed at a local post office. Mail forwarding typically takes a few business days, so initiate this process a week or two before the move. Additionally, notifying financial institutions, employers, subscription services, and government agencies like the Department of Motor Vehicles about the new address maintains continuity in services and communications.

Setting up utilities at the new residence is an important step to ensure services are available upon move-in. This involves contacting utility providers for electricity, water, gas, and trash service in the new area to schedule connections or transfer existing accounts. Initiate these requests at least one to two weeks before the move-in date to allow for processing and scheduling. Confirming the exact date and time of service activation avoids periods without amenities.

Performing final walk-throughs of both the old and new residences documents their condition. Before vacating an old residence, a thorough walk-through should be conducted to clean the property and identify any damages beyond normal wear and tear, ideally with the landlord present. Documenting the condition with photos or videos protects the security deposit. Upon moving into the new residence, an initial walk-through should be done immediately, documenting any existing damages with photos or videos, and submitting a move-in condition report. This protects the tenant from pre-existing issues.