With finals week already beginning or wrapping up for some, that’s hopefully one stress put to bed. And from here, it’s all about bright, sunny days of summer and moving back home for an extended vacation or, for most other students, scouting around town for an apartment. If you’re in the latter group, there are a number of factors that determine how well the search and moving process goes.
From making sure you’ve done your due diligence on finding a moving company to signing the dotted line on a lease, here are a couple helpful reminders on how to come out smelling like a rose with your new pad.
1. Decide If You Want Roommates: Seems simple enough, right? Well, yes and no. It’s easy to decide on roommates if you’re eyeing a pretty pricey apartment or home nearby campus or some other hot spot and want to ensure that your monthly finances aren’t committed strictly to rent. On the flipside, you want to make sure you’re comfortable with your roommates and trust they’ll hold up their end of the deal with rent and utilities and just general care of the place.
2. Find A Reasonable Place: Landing the right apartment or home for the summer and beyond is crucial from both a comfort and financial standpoint. On one end, you don’t want a place with thin walls or windows that are too drafty. Oversights like these can slowly chip away at your utilities and downgrade your “play” money.
The trick is to be on the hunt early and often so that you’ve compared/contrasted numerous places to the point you’ve zoned in on a building that’s favorable towards your monthly budget.
3. Finding A Moving Company: Getting into the dorm room was more than likely a headache in and of itself. Getting out of there and into an apartment can be just as time consuming if you don’t prepare accordingly. Which is why most look to moving services for help. Here are just a few tips on finding a mover nearby and what to do before and after.
- Don’t Put Off The Search - Waiting until the very last days of your move to find a company can leave you at risk to where the company booked up for that day or you’re stuck with an unknown moving company to do your bidding.
- Look Over Customer Reviews - Go online to moving reviews with sites like Angie’s List or other known properties, ask around town to friends and family on what company they’ve used in the past and weigh each searches.
4. Pack Your Supplies Accordingly: If you’re not counting on the movers to pre-package your possessions, you’ll want to make sure your items are properly boxed up and ready for moving day. Look for sturdy boxes around campus by talking with the cafeteria to see if there are any empty food crate boxes they could spare or visit a grocery store and request the same thing. Like with the moving company tips, here are a few reminders on efficient packing.
- Use Proper Cushioning Materials - If you’ve got a fairly large box for electronics such as laptops, cameras, radios and other delicate items, make sure they have a little extra TLC by wrapping individual items with old newspaper, line the inside of the box with bubble wrap or use any extra T-shirts. The key is to protect your belongings for the long haul as best as possible.
- Don’t Overstuff Boxes - As much care should be paid to how you wrap and pack, the same goes for knowing when to say “uncle” on a box. Trying to cram one last item into an already full box can put too much pressure on other items inside. It’s best to organize certain boxes and have enough reserve boxes to ensure every item is transported comfortably.
5. Do A Walkthrough: While most students do this with their first apartment, there’s a select few who might just approve without seeing the place firsthand. It’s important to go through the place, pick out your rooms and survey the living room and dining rooms to see how where furnishings will be situated and determine what else you might need.
6. Look Towards Classified Ads: If you’re in need of an extra couch, chair or some other fixture for the new place, be on the lookout with “for sale” items on the campus directory or bulletin boards before leaving or look to Craig’s List, as well. Most of the time, you should be able to find good deals with students looking to get rid of something on the cheap. This will help offset the costs of moving and make it so you’re not having to buy brand-new possessions at the same time.
7. Budget For The Here and Now: Getting your first apartment is a milestone for every student and should be approached with your present and future finances in mind. Whether it’s leaving a little extra money for the move to having the necessary funds for rent, utilities and groceries, being prepared and having a savings fund to cover any unexpected costs is a must.
Getting settled into a new place should be a rewarding and engaging time in the lives of every student. Experiencing the freedom and responsibility that goes with living on your own is made all the more enjoyable by being ready from the get-go.
Author Bio: Kyle is a freelance writer on moving tips and advice for college students and everyone else looking to embark on their first apartment experience and beyond and is a consultant for a local moving company in his hometown, Great Day Moving.
We’re now halfway through May, which means we’re right in the middle of prime college graduation season. Colleges and universities all over the nation are wrapping up and handing over diplomas to those who don the cap and gown and walk across the stage as a college student for the last time. Once the commencement ceremony as ended, the next part of a young college graduate’s life soon commences.
Moving is often cited as one of the top most stressful life events, alongside death, divorce, illness and other dramatic changes. Although it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to eliminate this stress entirely, you can help reduce your burden by approaching the situation with a foolproof plan in place. One of the best ways you can prevent overwhelming yourself is by taking the process step by step. Before you call the 
