While Melbourne may be one the world’s most liveable cities, it can be hard to experience all that this urban centre has to offer when you’re living in your family home. But moving out of home is a daunting process, and although it brings with it a whole host of exciting adventures, it also presents a huge uptick in responsibility. Regardless, moving out of home is certainly a worthy next step in your journey of growing up and becoming your own person.
If you’re thinking it may be time for you to spread your wings and experience some inner-city living, then we’re here for you. Read on to shed a little light on the moving process.
Consider the financial viability and begin your budgeting
Moving out for the first time can generate a slew of unexpected expenses. It’ll be advantageous in the long run to develop a budget now so you know what to expect going ahead. Alongside considering the costs associated with rent and utilities, don’t let yourself be blindsided by other expenses like your rental bond, or the costs of furniture and necessary appliances like fridges and other kitchenware.
On top of this, don’t just budget for your rent alone when you’re calculating your ongoing living expenses. It’s also important to keep on top of your estimated utility costs (i.e. electricity, gas, internet, etc.) as well as other recurring expenses like your phone plan and gym membership.
If you weren’t paying rent at home, then all of these sudden costs compounding can easily leave you blindsided. So ensure that you have a watertight budget and an adequate salary to accommodate these expenses before you’re already off the deep end.
Find a location that you like (and that’s within your budget!)
Your instinct may be to move out towards suburbs like Brunswick or Fitzroy that are hip and trendy – however, these can also often be some of the most expensive suburbs to live in. So consider what you need from the location of your home before it’s too late and your hasty decision has already begun putting pressure on your life, or wallet. What you need out of your location, and what you value, is sure to be as unique as you!
A general rule is that the closer to the city that you’re renting, the more expensive it will be – perhaps you study or work in the city, however, and the ease that living there adds to your commute is worth the extra expense. If you have a car, parking your car by your home may prove difficult in the city and inner suburbs, unless your accommodation comes with plenty of ample private parking or parking permit areas for you and any of your other housemates to enjoy. But sadly, an abundance of free parking is just an unlikely reality for many of Melbourne’s inner city suburbs, Brunswick and Fitzroy included.
The good news is that these areas are amply serviced by public transport anyway, often making cars redundant for most residents.
Meet people, strike up conversation
With an increasingly turbulent rental market and incredibly low vacancy rates, there are simply far more people looking for rentals than there are properties available for rent. So one of the best ways to secure a place to live is through finding a vacant room through word-of-mouth rather than via scouring real estate listings or other more traditional means. You may have better luck pursuing a lease transfer through another friend or maybe even looking for rooms on the internet or social media.
Letting people know, even in conversation, that you’re actively planning on moving out of home effectively crowdsources your property search. A passing friend or someone you meet at a party may end up knowing someone with a room to fill. Often, if it’s through a friend, you’ll be a much more appealing candidate too – having already been vetted and given a stamp of approval, unlike a stranger they might find off the internet otherwise.
Get ready for the freedom as well as the responsibilities
Depending on your current workload around your family home, you may be swiftly surprised by how much work goes into keeping your home neat, tidy, and a comfortable environment to live in. Many of the chores you resent your parents making you do will swiftly become necessities, lest those problems escalate. For example, leaving food scraps out can lead to rats and cockroaches, where an improperly maintained bathroom can lead to mould, grime build-up, and the growth of other bacteria.
However, in contrast to living under your parents’ roof and their rules, living out of home brings with it unique opportunities to live the way you want to live and will be a huge boon to your sense of self-expression and self-discovery. Have you always wanted to decorate with your eclectic taste, or keep many pets? Perhaps you’d like to commit fully to sustainable living?
With your own house, you can feel totally free to experiment with these lifestyle additions. Try them out for size and see if they’re a good fit. If not, then keep the experimenting going until you find a domestic lifestyle and habits that work best for you. After all, that’s what moving out is all about!
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All in all, keep in mind that this guide is only designed to be a jumping-off point when it comes to moving out of home in Melbourne. There are bound to be challenges or obstacles that will be unique to your own situation. Or in contrast, your moving process may be a touch easier than your friends or other loved ones, as you may have gathered up some furniture and home appliances well before the big move.
Even so, everybody knows that moving out of home is a massive life change. Nobody expects you to know everything right off the bat or to have all the answers. So never be afraid to ask for help when you need it, even when it comes to the simple tasks – from friends, family and everyone in between – you may be surprised by who’s willing to help.
Be sure to check out more of our Melbourne home articles to find recommendations, trends and things happening around Melbourne that are fun for the whole family.