There’s no doubt that February is the month of love. On the 14th couples around the world celebrated their partnership with flowers, special dinners, and confectionary treats. Even long after Valentine’s Day is over we still see the vestiges of the holiday. Leftover chocolates and heart-themed toys share the shelves with the pastels coloured stuffed bunnies of spring. Even our crew isn’t invulnerable to the season of love, which is why we’re sharing our top tips for moving in with your significant other today.

But first, this calls for congratulations! This is an exciting new chapter in your life together, and our team wants to wish any moving lovebirds the best of luck. But before you break out the champagne and celebrate your new digs, don’t overlook the task that lies ahead of you. Once the thrill of sharing a space together wears off, it can be a challenge to make it work. We believe in you, especially when you read up on the following advice.

Get Rid of Unnecessary Stuff

Was your bachelor apartment cluttered before the big move? Don’t expect your new home will stay clean and organized just because it has more square footage. You’re going to have to share this space with your significant other and all of their stuff, too. It may be obvious to some people, but it’s a good idea to downsize before you move in together. Go through your personal belongings and determine what you want to keep, donate, and throw away. You’ll also want to brainstorm what you’ll need for the house. There’s a huge chance of having duplicates of household necessities if you don’t.

Talk about Finances

Some couples combine their financial accounts when they move in together. Some open joint accounts, while some keep them entirely separate. However you go about it, it’s important to stay open about money. You’ll be contributing to shared assets, like your mortgage or rent, insurance, and utilities. To make it fair and fiscally responsible, you should create a budget to determine how and when you’ll pay for these necessities.

… and Chores too!

A shared household means shared responsibilities. You should have a frank discussion about what you expect out of your partner and how you intend on helping them. Don’t be afraid to create some guidelines about cleaning, cooking, and other domestic chores — just be sure to take on your fair share of the work.

When moving in together is the natural next step of your relationship, you have a lot of things to think about. Thoughts about space, finances, and cohabitation take up enough of your brain power; you don’t need to stress about the physical move on top of everything else. Luckily, you don’t have to, either. With a quick phone call to our offices, you can have the GTA’s top moving team on your side. We’ll take on the logistics and heavy lifting, so you can devote your attention to what really matters: your new life with your partner.