The last few weeks of the semester are always a chaotic combination of studying for finals, saying goodbye to people for the summer, and preparing for the dreaded move-out. I know that when I’m in the haze of finals, the last thing I want to do is take the time to pack up my whole life. Whether you love packing or hate it, here are a few tips to hopefully make your move-out as easy and efficient as possible:
- Start Early!
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Packing always takes longer than you expect, and you don’t want to get overwhelmed packing everything mere hours before you leave. If you have heavy winter clothes that you know you won’t wear anymore or other things you realistically won’t need at the end of the semester, start putting them in boxes as soon as you can. This can be challenging if you’re living up the hill and don’t have much storage space in your dorm, but I always utilized the space under my bed to store my bags and boxes.
- Organize and write down/label
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There’s nothing worse than forgetting if you packed something or where you put it, which is why organization is essential. Whether that means labeling containers, making a list in your phone of what goes where, or any other method that works for you, staying organized is key. That way, when you get home and start unpacking, you’ll know where everything is and can make sure you didn’t forget anything. This is especially helpful if you put items in storage over the summer, as when you go to unpack in the fall, you’ll likely have forgotten what exactly you stored.
- Be realistic (about what you can keep)
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You’ll inevitably accumulate a lot of stuff over the year that didn’t move in with you in the fall. Whether you’re flying, driving, or taking a train back home, it’s highly unlikely you will be able to bring everything back with you. Some hard decisions about what to keep or get rid of will have to be made, but donating your items is super easy. COVE Salvage always puts boxes around dorms at the end of the semester, and donating your items there is a great way to ensure they will benefit someone else who really needs them.Â
Hopefully, these tips will help make your packing process a little smoother! The most important thing is not to get too overwhelmed, and as long as you can get everything moved out in time, I’d consider it a win.Â