Going away to college is going to bring about some changes in your life. It might be your first time leaving away from your family and you will find that you have many more responsibilities. But this is a good thing. You will learn a lot about everyday life and how to handle different situations. There are many lessons to be learned, but first, you need to relocate. Read our moving guide for college students and get to know what you will need to do.

Get familiar with the college rules and guidelines

The first thing you should do is contact your college and find out their rules and guidelines regarding your relocation.  Find out everything you can about deadlines, needed documents, important policies and regulations, check-in times and procedures for moving into the college dorm. Once you have this information you can think about things such as the timing of your move, potential roommates, packing and transport which could be done by a moving company such as Zippy Shell Moving and Storage DMV, and other factors which are important for your relocation.

Take Care of the Documents

Gather your important documents. Besides documents related to your studies, you should have:

• Your birth certificate, ID card, social security card, passport.
• Health insurance card and all the medical records that you require.
• Drivers license, insurance, and car registration. You need to have a parking permit for campus grounds if you plan on using your car.

Get to know your new housing in advance

Ask for your housing floor plan so you can get to know your space. When you know the dimensions of your rooms and whether there are shared spaces as well as what furniture and appliances there are for you to use, you can begin to think about how to fill your space.

Moving to a dorm room? Try to find reviews from former students that lived there so you know what to expect.

Moving to an off-campus place? The place you choose needs to satisfy your requirements. Make sure you clarify your responsibilities and rights with the property owner. Be careful when signing a rental agreement.

Before you settle in your new home, inspect everything. If there are damaged parts of the property you need to tell your landlord so you don’t get blamed for causing the damage. If you are interested in more organization tips when moving as a student, look here.

Contact your roommate in advance

If you plan to move into a dorm and to have a roommate try to contact them before your relocation. This way you can decide what to bring and which appliances you can share. Get to know each other’s habits and consider all the pros and cons of having a roommate.

Plan the logistics of your college move

There are several options that you can use for your move, judging by the moving guide for college students:

• When your college is located relatively near to your home, it is easy to ask your family and friends to help you with the move.
• If you are going somewhere further from your home and have numerous large items, renting a moving truck can be a good option. Keep in mind that in addition to the vehicle rent itself, you will need to pay for the fuel, road tolls, insurance, and parking permits.
• The easiest option is to find good college moving companies that provide professional services. You should ask for a student discount. Be sure that the movers that you hire are reliable and try to book them in advance.
• If you are moving long-distance you might want to consider shipping your belongings.
• Renting storage containers is a good option. There are storage units that are specially designed for college students. This means you can leave your belongings somewhere close to you and you don’t have to pack them each time you need to go home for the summer.

Pack your belongings efficiently

• When packing for college you should pack all the things you will need for a comfortable life but keep in mind that you will not have a lot of space. Take your most basic belongings with you and after a while, you will see what else you might need.
• Try to choose clothes and shoes that are suitable for the local climate. You should find out what the weather is like in the town where your college is so you could come prepared. Make sure to have some casual and some formal clothes packed.
• You should pack a month’s worth of necessary toiletries and prescription medicines. Pack a first-aid kit that contains, at least, a thermometer, essentials in case of injury, pain and allergy relievers.
• Bring your phone, laptop and other gadgets that you need and enjoy. Don’t forget to pack all the chargers and cables.
• You should take a toolkit with screwdrivers and pliers, a hammer, nails, screws, duct tape, a measuring tape, scissors, and anything else that can help you with minor repairs or decorating.
• Don’t forget to pack items you use daily such as cups, glasses, plates, a pot, a pan, a bottle-opener and can-opener, and eating utensils.
• Pack your favorite decorations and keepsakes which will help you feel at home.
• Consider whether to take a toaster, a coffee maker, a mini-fridge, a hairdryer, an iron, a flashlight and anything that makes your life easier. These are only some of the tips on your packing for relocation a good moving guide for college students suggests.

Packing tips moving guide for college students suggests

Try some of these tips for easier packing:

• Organize your items by purpose
• Stack smaller items into larger ones
• Pack heavy items like books in smaller boxes because they are easier to carry around
• Use plastic wrap for packing and securing your possessions
• Clothes, towels, socks, paper bags, and beddings make good padding materials.
• Pack any bins and boxes that you plan on using as storage containers with items that you plan on keeping in them.
• As you pack your boxes make sure you label them clearly. This will make unpacking and settling in a lot easier.
• Keep your important documents and expensive belongings in a box that can be locked. It is best to keep this box with you during the move.
• Make a backup of the important files on your computer before you pack it.
• Have a box where you will pack all the things that you need for your first night in your new home and label them clearly.

Conclusion

Reading a moving guide for college students is a good start when you need to move to college. There is a lot of useful information that can help, so don’t hesitate to read our moving guide for college students again to make sure the beginning of your new journey goes as smoothly as possible.