17 Crazy Helpful College Move In Tips That Actually Work
Want to know how to make move in day as easy as possible? Here are 17 college move in tips that are so smart, it will make you feel like a pro.
Best College Move In Tips:
Before You Move In
1. Check Your College’s Move-In Instructions
There’s going to be a lot going on during move-in day, so you want to be as prepared as possible before-hand. This means, checking the move-in instructions on your school’s website, double-checking your move-in appointment time, and having any paperwork that you need ready to go.
This is just one less thing you’ll have to stress about on the day of.
Also, know exactly what is provided for you on move-in day. Everything from what’s in your dorm and included in dorm living, to the tools they’ll give you to help you move into your actual dorm.
A lot of colleges will have carts to help you carry everything into your dorm, but people grab these fast. The earlier check-in times will give you a good head start and allow you to take your time. So if possible, try to choose an earlier check-in appointment.
2. Coordinate With Your Roommate
Reach out to your roommate ahead of move-in day so you can talk about what items each of you are bringing so you don’t end up wasting money or space in the dorm with duplicate items that you don’t need.
To keep track of what each person is bringing, you can download a shared inventory chart below to avoid confusion.
3. Measure the Room (or Look It Up)
Check your school’s website for measurements of your dorm room. If they don’t have it on the website, unfortunately you’ll just have to wait until move-in day to take your own measurements. Either way, make sure to bring a measuring tape!
Smart Packing Strategies
4. Pack by Zone
Categorizing your packing by different areas of your dorm will make your life so much easier on move in day!
Instead of pulling a bunch of random items out of boxes, you’ll have everything you need for a specific area of your dorm in one spot. For example, pack all of your desk items in one box, bedding in another, etc.
Anything you can do to make your life a little less stressful on move-in day is worth it!
5. Label Everything Clearly
Another easy way to keep track of all of your different bins and boxes is to label everything! This way there’s no guessing and you know exactly what’s in each box or bin.
6. Use Clear Bins or Rolling Suitcases
Pack any clear bins or organizers with items for your dorm. This makes moving in 100x easier if all of your stuff is in organizers. You’ll definitely need some boxes for bedding and larger items, but you can definitely fit a lot in the organizers you already have.
And rolling suitcases are soooo helpful for heavier items. Don’t rely on them having a cart for you to use. Just in case they don’t have any available when you’re moving in (because they do run out quickly), have a couple of rolling suitcases you can use to make the job a lot easier.
You can also bring your own fold-up trolley (doesn’t take up much space in the car) for any bigger furniture or items you’re bringing from home.
On Move In Day
7. Get There Early (But Not Too Early)
You definitely don’t want to be late to your move-in time! Get there right on the dot, maybe even a few minutes early, so you’re one of the first ones in your move-in time slot to get checked in. You’ll also have a better chance of getting some kind of big cart to help move in all of your items.
Just know, if you’re more than a few minutes early, they will probably make you wait until your move-in time before you can start bringing stuff to your dorm.
8. Clean First, Then Unpack
The dorm, for the most part, should be pretty clean, so doing a once over with a mop and wiping down surfaces should be all you need to do.
It’s always easier to clean before everything is unpacked.
9. Make the Bed Last
You can use your bed to layout decor and unpack your items, so don’t start putting the bedding on until everything else is unpacked. You don’t want to get your new bedding all dirty on the first day.
10. Unpack by Priority
Since you’re moving into a pretty small space, it shouldn’t take you too long to unpack everything. But it’s always good to start with the items you’ll need first, just in case.
So start by unpacking toiletries, shower items, and bedding that you’ll need on the first night. If worst comes to worst, you can always finish decorating and doing the final touches the next day.
Move In Day Tips
11. Introduce Yourself to Your Roommate & Neighbors
I know it can be intimidating, but the sooner you introduce yourself to your roommate and the neighbors in your hall, the better off you’ll be.
Even if you don’t end up becoming best friends with these people, you’ll probably spend the first few days with them, so it’s good to get to know each other!
12. Let Go of Perfection
Everyone has expectations of what move-in day is going to be like. And no matter how good it goes, it’s never going to be perfect. There are always a few bumps in the road or things that don’t go exactly as you planned.
But that’s okay! It’s always fun and exciting, but with a big change also comes stress. Just take a deep breath and try to go with the flow. The more easy-going you are, the more enjoyable it will be for everyone involved in the process!
13. Take a Break When You Need It
Decorating your dorm is super fun, but it’s also really exhausting! So allow yourself to take breaks. Also stay hydrated! It’s still summer when you move-in and unless you get lucky with overcast weather, it’s going to be warm.
Especially with all of the moving and setting up the dorm, it gets toasty in that room. So you might want to open a window and step outside every now and again.
Pro Dorm Room Tips
14. Take photos of the room before unpacking – This is SO important for documenting any damage so when it’s time to move-out, you aren’t charged for anything that was already there before you moved in. The last thing you want is to be fined for the chips in the paint that were there on day 1!
15. Use vertical space — Hang organizers, shelves, and lights to open up the floor. This will make your dorm feel a lot bigger so your room doesn’t feel cluttered.
16. Keep empty bins or suitcases under the bed – You’re going to need these when it comes time to move out of the dorm, so if you have room, store them under your bed.
17. You don’t have to have your dorm fully decorated on day 1 – It’s okay to not have your room completely finished after move in day. In fact, in will save you a lot of space and hassle if you wait to get some of the decorations until you get to college. That way, you know exactly what kind of space you have in your dorm room and what will fit vs. what you just don’t have room for.
Don’t Forget These Extras…
Command hooks & strips – These are going to be your best friends when it comes to decorating your dorm. Since you can’t put any holes in the wall with hooks and you have to be SUPER careful not to cause any damage, these are your best bet for hanging decor and any wall storage or organization.
Extension cord & power strip – You’re definitely going to need more outlets than the dorm has. Between electronics, hair tools, and lighting, a power strip with extra outlets is a must!
Rotating Fan – If your dorm doesn’t have AC, a fan is going to be a life saver, especially during the beginning of the school year when it’s still hot out.
Even though I had AC in my dorm, I still had a small fan because it can get stuffy in the dorms and a fan will give you good circulation! It also makes for good white noise when you sleep.
Small toolkit – You don’t need a full tool kit, but items like a measuring tape, double-sided tape, zip ties, and putty (great for hanging posters and pictures without damaging the wall!).
Laundry bag or backpack – Since everyone is so focused on decor and how to make their dorm look cute and aesthetic (totally understandable!), a lot of people will forget the basics like a laundry bag.
You want one that’s easy to carry around, since you might have to go up or down a flight of stairs to get to the laundry room.
Over-the-door hooks – Over-the-door storage and organizers are a great way to make use of extra space! A lot of people forget that they can use the doors in their room for extra storage. But it will give you a lot more space, so take advantage of it!
Trash bags – From all of the unpacking, you’re going to need some trash bags! The dorms rarely provide these, so bring your own just in case. Always better to be prepared!
Zip ties or twist ties – Honestly, zip ties come in handy a lot more than you think when decorating and putting together your dorm. So it’s good to bring some with you in your move-in day toolkit.
This post was all about the best college move in tips that will save you from chaos.
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