Moving out of your dorm room – what’s to know?

That time of the year has come again. After a hard, but wonderful semester at college, it’s time to move out of your dorm room. You’ve had some great times in that room. But the summer holiday is just around the corner. Soon you will finish your last final exam and head home. But over the past semester, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of items. And you worry if you will be able to fit everything into your car. Here are a few tips on how to make moving out of your dorm room easier and stress-free.

Moving out of your dorm room for the summer holiday

Moving out of your dorm room is not as stressful as moving in. On the move-in day, almost all of the students in your dorm are moving in. Things get hectic and you want to get it done as quickly as possible. In contrast, people move out when they finish their last final exam. There’s probably not going to be a big crowd. But you are still time constrained. And you don’t want to spend days packing. You want to be as efficient as possible. So make sure you have everything planned out.

Find out about check-out rules

Every college has its own set of rules. But they are, for the most part, the same. The first thing you should do is find out when you need to check out. Most college dorms require you to check-out of your room a day after your last exam. If not, there is probably a final check-out date. Find out which day that is and plan accordingly.

Every college has rules about moving out that you should follow

Other things to consider

There are also other rules other than the date. You are required to clean your room and remove your items from the walls. If you decide to move, you should do it the right way, or else you might be fined. Return your room as close as possible to the state it was in when you moved in it. That takes a lot of time as well. So make sure you know everything that you need to do. And by knowing the exact dates and rules you should be able to start your move-out preparations on time.

Get rid of unnecessary stuff

Over the semester you have probably accumulated a lot of stuff. Maybe because you thought you absolutely needed that mini donut maker. Or because there was that awesome online sale. Either way, there’s a lot of stuff that you don’t actually need. Now is the perfect time to get rid of it.

One option is to sell your stuff before moving out of your dorm room. A lot of appliances that you bought but are not using anymore can be sold for a decent amount. Clean them, check if everything is working and offer them for sale. You will get some extra money and packing and moving out of your dorm room will be much easier.

You should pack only things you need

Another option is to donate. From unopened food to clothes that you are not wearing. There are people who would be very grateful to have them. And you will feel good about yourself for doing a good deed.

Throw away everything that you can’t sell or donate

After you’re done selecting items you intend on donating or selling you can start throwing stuff away. Start with the larger items. And while you’re at it, you can collect all of the accumulated trash in your room and throw it out as well. Empty your fridge, drawers, and any other piles designated as trash. It will be much easier for you to pack when you only have your own things to work with. Yes, you will probably need to do another trash run with the leftover packing materials. But your packing will be much easier.

Start Packing

As soon as you know your check-out date you should start packing. Little by little you should be able to do everything hassle free. There are many guides on how to pack like a pro. So if you are not so good at it, just follow one of the guides. Here are some of the general guidelines for properly packing your belongings:

• Start with gathering the packing materials you need. Make sure you get enough of it. If you run out of cardboard, some of your delicate items might remain exposed to damage.
• Start with the larger items. Make sure you protect your TV and laptop for transport. Give them a good plastic or paper wrap. If you have the original box use it. It will usually give it the best protection. If not, use plenty of packing peanuts.
• Try and fold your clothes as best as you can. It can save you a lot of space.
• Make sure that everything can fit into your car

Use a good, reliable suitcase

Consider the alternatives

If you realize that you can’t fit everything into your car, or if you don’t own a car, consider some alternatives. You can go to Best Movers in Florida and find an affordable moving company. If you can afford it, moving company can also pack everything for you.

Storage is another great option. If you are coming back to the dorm for the next semester, you should consider renting a local storage unit. You can store some of your larger items that you won’t need at home. And when you come back, they will be waiting for you. It’s a great way to avoid packing hell.

Employ your parents to help you

Your parents can help you when you are moving out of your dorm room. If your parents live within a driving distance from you, they can be of great help. When they come to visit you, give them some of the larger items. It will reduce the number of items you need to pack and ship. If you want to maximize this, you can also give them your clothes, books and other things you no longer need. Just make sure you don’t overdo it. Keep it within reason.

When you finish college, you can choose where you want to live next

Clean out your room

When moving out of your dorm room make sure you clean it. It’s required in most dorms. Remove all the posters you might have hanged. Empty the fridge. Clean the stove and oven if you have one. Take out any nails from the walls and empty the trash cans. If you removed curtains or blinds make sure you put them back. Do a final inspection of the room and head back home.