It’s that time of the year. It’s time to pack up all of your dorm stuff and say goodbye to your residence hall.
Moving is always a lot of work, especially when your stressed about making your dorm look exactly like it did when you moved in, but don’t worry. We’re here to help smooth the transition and make sure you’ll get your entire security deposit back.
Move bit by bit
If you live nearby or have the opportunity to send a few things home early: do it. It’ll drastically cut down the amount of time you spend lugging your stuff up and down the stairs.
Find an off time
Waiting for the elevator and trying to wedge your car in amongst all the others in the parking lot is not fun. Try to get your stuff out of the dorm before or after the mad rush. If you live in a huge dorm that might not be possible but do your best to get out immediately after your finals.
Fill in any holes
If you used a nail to hang a picture make sure that you fill in the hole before you leave. Since I’m not an expert, here’s a video with instructions.
Dump the trash
Make sure you clean all of the trash out of your dorm and the fridge before you leave and drop it in the dumpster. Don’t count on your roommate to get it done.
Think Twice
If you haven’t used or worn something since you moved in, do you really need to keep it? If you get rid of all the unnecessary stuff you’ll have to make a lot less trips up and down the stairs.
Pack before Mom and Dad Get there
Everything will run a lot smoother if you’re all ready to go before Mom arrives. So pack up what you can in the reusable bags, hampers, and storage bins that you have with you. If you need more space, don’t wait for mom to arrive with boxes, ask your RA if the university gives any away or check with the local grocery store to see if they have any for free.
Don’t have the whole family pick you up
You will need room in the car for all of you things. So even though your grandparents and your little sister haven’t seen you since January, it’s probably a better idea to host the reunion when you get home. Otherwise you might have to rent a truck to get all your stuff back home.
Make friends with the burly guy down the hall
Yes, this advice might have been better months ago, but hindsight always is 20/20. If you’re not buddy-buddy with the strong people, get your friends to lend a hand. Offer to help your friends move out if they’ll return the favor. It might be difficult to schedule all your move-outs but it’ll make your life a lot easier in the long run.
Clean Early
You can wait until all of your stuff is in the car to start cleaning, but then you’re not really going to be in the mood. So get started early by vacuuming/swiffering the floors and dusting off the furniture.
Use lots of soap and hot water
Once you’ve got all your stuff over, give your room a quick scrubbing. If you and your roommate divide up the room it won’t even take very long. Just make sure there are no giant sneaker streaks or smudges on the walls, floors, and furniture.
Double check everything
Before you hit the road, give the room a final walk through. Open every drawer and cabinet and check under the bed and behind the dresser. You don’t want to leave anything behind.
Don’t forget to drop off your key
You will be charged if you forget to turn in your key at the end of the semester. So before you leave make sure you sign out at the front desk and give your key to the right person. Don’t trust your roommate to do it for you.
Image: College Candy
