Living in on-campus housing is a great way to make friends and feel engaged with your university. But as your college years go on, being in the hustle and bustle of on-campus living and dorm communities may not be the right fit anymore. Moving off-campus may seem like a big transition, but with the right know-how you can save a lot of money and create a space that truly feels like home. Before you say goodbye to your RA, here are some tips to consider for moving off-campus:
- Get organized. Randomly tossing everything you own into boxes is time efficient for packing, but problematic for unpacking. Set yourself up for success by packing each section of your house one room at a time. Use large, clear storage bins so you can see exactly what you have in each box or label your cardboard boxes with which room it should be unloaded into when you reach your destination. It’s a good idea to keep your shoes away from your utensils, but labeling boxes with what they hold can save you time when you’re unloading them. When you get to your new home, you’ll spend less time sorting and searching for items you need.
- Take inventory. A new house is a fresh start and perfect time to get rid of everything you don’t need anymore. Assess what still serves its purpose and donate or sell anything else. Purge your closet with a simple rule: if you haven’t worn a garment in at least a year, get rid of it. Getting rid of items that you no longer need will save you trips back and forth from the car to your new house on move-in day, but will also make your new space feel fresh and uncluttered.
- Talk It Out. The best time to have a conversation about your expectations for the school year is before you move in. Establish ground rules about chores, quiet hours, guests and shared spaces. Costs, and dishes, can quickly become overwhelming if responsibilities have not been evenly distributed beforehand. Decide how you will pay for services you all use, like electricity, Wi-Fi, cable, water, and shared furniture. Renting furniture is a great way to avoid one roommate paying for, and then being stuck with, a bulky living room set. Apps like Venmo make it easy to safely pay back your roommates for uneven expenses. Level-setting before anyone’s pet peeves get the best of them ensures accountability.
- Rent the big stuff. Moving clothes and personal items takes time, planning and effort, but moving furniture can be even more challenging to coordinate. Save time, money and make your move hassle free by renting your furniture. When you rent furniture, it is delivered right to your door at a fraction of the cost of buying brand new furniture. It also helps you avoid future disputes with roommates over who will keep the couch you all bought together at the beginning of the year.
With these tips in mind, moving to your new home will be a hassle-free, smooth experience!
