You’ve been living under your parents’ safety net for as long as you can remember, and now you’re finally ready to break free. Moving out of your parent’s home for the first time can be daunting, but it is also a great opportunity to learn how to be an adult! This article will help you make your first move as smooth and easy as possible, so you can get to enjoying your new lifestyle.

Before your actual move, it’s a good idea to take a day to go over your apartment and do a thorough cleaning. This will give you a fresh start on your move and help keep you from feeling overwhelmed by unpacking and cleaning all at once. You’ll want to clean out your closet, pantry, and cabinets to get rid of food that has gone bad, old clothes and shoes, and other unwanted items. You should also get rid of any papers that don’t contain important information, unused toiletries, and expired medications.

Another thing you’ll need to do is set up utilities for your new place, including water, gas, electricity, cable and internet service. This will include setting up a deposit and arranging for a day to disconnect your services at the old address. You’ll also need to file a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service if you’re moving to a different state.

While it may be tempting to pack everything you own into a truck you first moving and start your new life with nothing, this is a terrible idea. You’ll likely regret it later, and you might find that you haven’t even moved all the things you thought you had. Plus, you may have forgotten a few things that are essential to your comfort.

A few of the things you should make sure to buy before your move are bedding (unless you can bring your mattress from your parents’ house), a new television, curtains for your bedroom, and basic cleaning supplies. You’ll need these to tidy up your new home once you move in, especially if the previous inhabitants were messy! A hoover, antibacterial spray, cloths, bin liners and toilet cleaner should be among your purchases.

If you’re hiring professional movers, be sure to check every box before they leave and take pictures for your records. This will help you determine if any of your belongings were damaged during the move, and it will ensure that they’re taking care of your possessions. It’s also a good idea to ask a friend to look over your home one last time before you let the movers in, as their fresh eyes might spot something that you’ve missed!