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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR YOUR NEXT BIG MOVE BY ABIGAIL HALL
It’s finally here: move-in day. You’ve signed the lease agreement, paid the move-in fees, packed all your belongings into your car and now it’s time to officially make the big move. Whether you’re moving into a new dorm, apartment or house, move-in day can be stressful and chaotic. To help ease the stress of move-in day, here’s a checklist of everything you may need to know for the big day.
1. PACK BY ROOM When you’re packing, it’s easy to throw whatever is closest to you into a box or bag. However, if you organize your packing by room — kitchen, bedroom, bathroom — your unpacking experience will be quicker and pre-organized, eliminating half the battle and ensuring a smooth experience.
2. DOCUMENT Before you rush to unpack, make sure to take photos of the condition of your new residence. If you see any marks on the walls or issues with appliances, make sure to document and inform your landlord so you aren’t responsible for any damages that occurred from previous tenants.
3. PRE-PLAN Map out where you think you want your larger furniture before you get into the nittygritty of unpacking. Once you open those boxes, everything will get messier and more difficult to move large items around. The best course of action is to maneuver your large furniture first and then begin unpacking room by room.
4. TAKE BREAKS It’s easy to get caught up in moving in and trying to get it all done at once, but it’s important to pace yourself. Take your time to figure out where you want everything located. It’s OK if you decide to rearrange when you’re less stressed and tired — just remember where you’ve stored things and keep your most frequently used items in easy-to-grab places.
5. DON’T DO IT ALONE PHOTO BY CASSANDRA SNOW
Moving alone is frustrating and unnecessary. Whether you’re a traditional student or not, your family and friends are there for moments like this. Don’t make moving harder than it needs to be — ask for help and it’ll make your unloading, organizing and unpacking a much easier experience.
