You’ve found the best student housing in your college town. You’ve driven your parents nuts for weeks as you talked about your excitement about move-in day. Now, it’s time to move in and you want the process to go as smoothly as possible.
Here are six tips that will help your move go smoothly:
No. 1. Move-in day starts well before you actually move in.
It starts with packing. Though there are some people who move by throwing all of their possessions into garbage bags at the last minute and dealing with the chaos on the other end, a smooth, easy move is best accomplished by preparing ahead of time. As you pack, keep in mind the things that you’re going to need the most when you get there.
Make sure that you have easy access to enough clothes to get you through a few days. The tools that you’ll need to make breakfast in your new kitchen, and the sheets, blankets, and pillows you’ll need to make your bed. Everything else will sort itself out eventually, but knowing which items are essential will make the whole process easier.
No. 2. Get an early start.
The later in the day you begin, the harder it will be to get done with everything on your list. This is especially important, if you have a long drive ahead of you. You don’t want to arrive at your destination exhausted and already prepared to call it quits.
No. 3. Enlist plenty of help.
Sure, you can’t wait to get out on your own and ditch your parents, but move-in day isn’t the time to prove your independence. If they’re offering to help, take them up on it. The saying goes, “Many hands make light work,” and that’s especially true if you’re hauling your possessions up several flights of stairs to reach your new apartment. The first couple of trips aren’t too bad. By the tenth, you’ll be glad for every person helping you carry boxes.
No. 4. Don’t worry too much about settling in all at once.
Once all the boxes are in and the furniture is in place, take some time to get out and get to know the area. Check out a local coffee shop, look for your new favorite restaurant or take some time to wander around campus. Remember, you’ve got all year to settle into your apartment, you don’t want to stress yourself out doing it all at once.
No. 5. Mark your territory.
On the first day in your new apartment, put out something that makes it feel like home, whether that’s a fresh bouquet of flowers in the kitchen, arranging all of your books in their shelves or tossing your favorite blanket over the back of the couch. Your new apartment may feel a little lonely once all your family has headed back home and having that touch of home will help you feel less lonely.
No. 6. Take lots of pictures.
Any time you find anything that doesn’t look quite right in your apartment, make sure you document it. This is very important, especially if you have to put down a security deposit. When the time comes to move out, you want to leave on good terms with your landlord. Snap pictures of stains, holes in the wall or places where the carpet has been pulled up–anything that might lead to you being accused of damage later. Be smart now so that you’ll appreciate it when move-out day comes.
Settling in to your first apartment is an adrenaline rush like no other. You’ll love the independence that comes along with having your own place even as you miss your family and there’s one thing you can count on: the next few years are going to be a fantastic journey and your apartment is going to be where many of your greatest adventures take place.
Do you have any tips for move-in day? Let us know about them in the comment section below.
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