Moving is no easy task and when you are moving out to college for the first time it can be especially stressful. It is likely the first time you have had to move and don’t really know what to expect. You have read reviews of moving companies and have tried to make a list of all your dorm room essentials, but there are still things you are not aware of.
There are a few things that you must organize and prepare for so you can make sure that you are able to have a smooth move without too many issues. Of course, you always need to expect the unexpected. Yet, when you are prepared then you can usually get by in good shape. In this article, we will go over some tips to help you get organized for the big move.
1 – Understand the space
Without knowing the exact dimensions, you already know one thing about your dorm room. It will be small. That’s ok because there are a lot of space-saving furniture and products that will help you use the space wisely.
It is important to understand what kind of space you are working with, however. This is because the type and shape of the furniture you will be buying will have to fit within the confines of the dorm room. You’ll also need to understand how much of the space you will be needing since you will likely be sharing it with somebody.
Try to find out by contacting the university. They should be able to give you some plans for the rooms so you can get prepared.
2 – Set up utilities
Setting up utilities needs to be done at least a few weeks in advance. How you set them up is going to be determined by whether you are going to live in a dorm or in an apartment. If you are living off-campus then you may need to set up your heat, electricity, cable, and internet. Living in a dorm means that you don’t have to worry about heat and electricity, but you may end up needing to take care of your own phone line and cable TV.
3 – Don’t shop just yet
Moving with the least amount of stuff possible is your best bet so try to not have too much to bring. This means holding off on shopping until you get to the dorm. At that point, you can go out and get everything you need.
There are a lot of stores near universities that have everything that a college student will need to furnish their dorm or apartment. You also have the luxury of buying only what you know that you need instead of guessing beforehand. Knowing what you really need will happen once you arrive and move all your stuff in. At that point, you will be able to narrow down things that are missing and you can then buy them nearby.