As anyone who has moved apartments before will tell you, moving can be expensive. Packing materials, transportation, movers and/or a moving company, setting up the new apartment, putting down deposits, and everything in between costs a pretty penny. If you’re moving with another person, that does make things a little easier, but ultimately you’re going to have to shell out some cash in order to get from your old home to your new one. Although moving with someone else can have its advantages, how you handle things depends on who you’re moving with. Here are some options when it comes to moving apartments with a fellow renter.
Moving Apartments with Your Significant Other
Moving apartments with a partner is a big step, no matter what stage of a relationship you’re in. Whether you’re just starting out or have been together for years, moving is still a little tricky to handle. If you’re splitting the cost of moving apartments with your significant other, you might…
Go 50/50: Splitting the bills evenly might be the simplest way to divide up the cost of moving. This is easiest since all you have to do is keep track of the expenses, including security deposits.
Pay by Ratio: If one partner is paid significantly more than the other, it might be fairer to split the expenses proportional to your salaries. Be sure you hash this out carefully however, and that both parties think the agreement is fair. Harboring resentment over moving costs is no way to start life in a new apartment.
Divvy Up Certain Costs: Another way to keep things fair is to have each partner take care of certain expenses. For example, you might pay the movers, while your partner takes care of the security deposit.
Moving Apartments with a Roommate
Living with a roommate can be a great way to alleviate some of the financial burden of living in an apartment. This is true of moving costs also, but navigating the logistics of changing apartments can lead to conflict if you’re not prepared. If you’re moving apartments with a roommate, you could…
Go Down the Middle: Dividing moving costs 50/50 might be the least complicated way to do it for you and your roommate. Just keep diligent documention of all the moving costs, and make sure you’re clear from the start what the agreement is.
Pay by Ratio: You may find it fair to split costs proportionally; that is, according to the amount each person can afford to pay given their current job. However, this number may be difficult to agree on, and if one person’s pay goes up or down, you may run into more complications.
Divvy Up Certain Costs: To keep things fair, you could also have each person take the appropriate bills and fees. For example, if you have a dog, you should take care of the pet deposit, and if your roommate will need a parking spot but not you, be sure she picks up the tab for the apartment’s parking permit.
How to Deal with Utilities: When it comes to turning on the apartment’s water, gas, electricity, cable, etc., consider who will be paying in the future and which roommate will use which utility more. You can either put all utilities under one name, then make sure the other roommate writes a check to that person every month, or you can divvy up each utility cost in a way you think is fair. (For example, you could have the person who watches more TV pick up the apartment’s cable bill.)
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