Checklist for Moving Out of Your Parents’ Home

There comes a time for everyone to leave the nest and strike out on their own. For some, it’s when they move away for their first year at college.

It’s an exhilarating time, but with adulthood also comes the responsibility of buying, cooking, and washing your own stuff. Bright side, at least you won’t have to worry about your parents making you eat your greens anymore.

But as you start managing your first apartment or even dorm room alone, a few things could catch you off guard.

The following tips and checklist will help you lock down a few basics for a smooth transition to living independently.

8 Things You’ll Need for Your First Move

1) Prepare Your Pivotal Paperwork

Before packing, gather important documents and keep them close (either the actual paperwork or the digital files). You’ll need quick access to these docs for various things during and after your move:

Government IDs

Birth certificate



Driver’s license



Passport



Social security card/info, etc.

Financial documents

Bank account statements



Loan papers



Tax receipts, etc.

School records

Transcripts



Diplomas



Professional licenses



Degree certificates



Letters of recommendation, etc.

Medical records

Vaccination card 



List of health issues, medications, etc.

2) Set Up a Virtual Mailbox

As you prepare to leave your childhood home, a virtual mailbox assures that your mail always follows you wherever you are – whether you’re on campus, back at home, or traveling. A virtual mailbox is the future of how we’ll handle mail and is perfect for your first move:

A virtual mailbox allows you to easily manage your mail through a mobile app so you can focus on other things while knowing your packages are kept safe and sound until you’re ready.

Bonus: your parents won’t be keeping an eye on your mail and packages. Ahh, the sweet smell of much-needed privacy.

3) Stock Your Kitchen

One of the hardest parts about moving out is missing homemade meals. Alas, it’s time to become an adult and cook your own food. Here’s a checklist of kitchen essentials to help you get the job done so you don’t have to be ordering delivery 24/7:

Fridge/Microwave/Toaster

Pots/Pans

Bowls/Plates

Cups/Mugs

Kettle

Spoons/Forks/Knives

Chopping board

Oven mitts

Paper towels

Trash bin

Sponges

Tupperware/Storage containers

Cling wrap/Aluminum foil

Measuring cups and spoons

4) Make a Clean Break

Once you move out of your family home, any mess you make, well, it’s now your mess. Eventually you’ll have to get to the cleaning of dirty dishes and old laundry.

Here are some basic cleaning supplies to have on hand to tackle dirt and disorder:

Trash bags

Multi-purpose cleaner

Dishwashing liquid

Vacuum cleaner

Mop

Dust pan/Broom

Rubber gloves

Stain remover

Air freshener

5) Equip Your Bathroom Zen

Nothing’s better than a warm, comforting shower after a long day. Make sure you’ve got these stocked in your bathroom so you can relax efficiently:

Toiletries (e.g., shampoo, body soap, shaving cream, etc.)

Shower curtains

Bath mats

Toilet brush

Toilet plunger

6) Get Your Snooze Spot in Shape

Sleeping on the floor or a bare, dreary room is always doable. Not recommended, though. Turn a house into a home and ensure you get a good night’s rest with the following:

Duvet

Mattress sheet set

Bed

Pillows

Bedside table

Lamp

Coat hangers and drawer organizers

7) Travel with Your Toolkit

While you can always hire a handyperson for small repairs in your apartment or dorm, it’s still worth having a basic toolkit on hand so you can do minor fixes yourself.

These are some essential items your tool kit should have:

Tape measure

Hammer

Screwdriver

Wrenches

Utility knife

Scissors

Clamps

8) Finally…Fix Up Your First Aid Kit

You’ll never know when you or your roommates might need a first aid kit, so it’s always a good idea to prepare one ahead of time so you’re ready.

Here’s a list of items you should include in your kit:

Bandaids

Scissors

Tweezers

Medical tape

Gauze pads and rolls

Hand sanitizer

Digital thermometer

Disposable masks and non-latex gloves

Hydrogen peroxide

Antiseptic wipes

Cotton balls

Antibiotic cream

Eye drops

Cold and cough medicine

Painkillers

Farewell Nest, Gotta Fly

Leaving your parents’ home is a big deal. And it’s rarely easy.

It’s okay to feel unprepared and overwhelmed. After all, you’re starting your life on your own for the first time. But with a little planning and prep, you’ll be ready to soar.

Huge congrats on this next step of your journey…