Your college experience essentially begins when you first move into your dorm room. What many freshmen aren’t aware of, though, is just how long it will take to move into their dorm. Don’t worry, it shouldn’t take more than a few hours if done right.
To have some idea of just how long it may take you to move in, you will have to appreciate the full process involved. So, you will find out just what to expect on your first day and various tips and tricks you can use to make the move even more efficient!
How Long Does the Total Move Take?
In most cases, moving into your college room will take between 1.5 and 3.5 hours. The exact time can depend on a number of factors including how much stuff you have brought, how many people are helping you, and even what floor of your dorm you are on.
There is also the fact that you are probably not going to have your dorm room just the way you like it the first time around. You may find that you need to bring in other items, appliances, etc. So, the move could span days or weeks as you fix up your dorm room to your expectations.
The Process of Moving In
Let’s consider all the steps involved in moving into your dorm room:
Packing Up
It is important to remember that packing up your stuff at home is also a part of moving. Thus, when you think about it, moving into your dorm begins a lot earlier than you think!
When it comes to packing up you shouldn’t wait until the last moment. Instead, start by boxing the items that you will need to take with you but that you will not require while you are at home. This way, you will have less work to do right before you need to move into your dorm.
Not to mention, when you break down your tasks, the whole process won’t feel as overwhelming. Keep in mind that packing up can be a rather emotional time. As such, it is best to do it slowly and over a longer period of time rather than all at once.
Arriving at Campus
You should keep in mind that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students are going to be moving into your university’s dorms the same day that you do. This is why you are given an assigned time to move in. Make sure to arrive precisely at this time. This can help to make the whole process a bit more efficient and to ensure that you don’t hold other students up.
Moving the Items
Once you figure out which building and room is yours, it is time to unload all your items. Start with the big items first. After all, you will need to identify where these have to go in the room. Only then will you be able to begin to fit the smaller items in.
However, don’t move your things in just yet. This is because your room needs to be cleaned out first…
Cleaning Out Your Dorm Room
Yes, your university will clean out each dorm room before students settle in. However, this tends to be a rather cursory process and you can’t expect any deep cleaning to be done. Therefore, your first order of business when moving in is to clean out your dorm room.
You will need to be rather thorough about this. Once you move in, your dorm room is going to feel pretty crowded. Due to this, it is unlikely that you will get the opportunity to clean it as well as you can when it is bare. Take this opportunity to get to all those nooks and crannies.
Lofting Your Bed
Most dorm rooms do give you the option of lofting your bed. This is where you raise it several inches off the ground. In doing so, you can use the space below for storage or to set up a small study corner. Since dorm rooms are incredibly small, this is something that you may want to consider doing.
You should loft your bed before you move any items in. This way, you will have all the storage space that you need once you have unpacked. After this, it is just a matter of moving your belongings where you want them to go.
Setting Things Up
Once your dorm is all cleaned up you can then begin to move your things in. It is a good idea to figure out the layout beforehand and to then simply slip your belongings into place. This will save you the trouble of moving your things around, further delaying moving day.
Don’t worry about getting things perfect the first time around, though. You can always change things up if you want to create a better a cozier or more efficient space for yourself.
The Top Tips for an Efficient Moving Experience
Here are the guidelines that you should follow if you want your move-in day to go off without a hitch:
Organize Your Packing
As mentioned, moving in really does begin with packing. So, if you are careful about the way that you pack, unpacking and organizing items will be a lot easier for you to manage.
When packing, make sure to group items together. For instance, study items like books and stationary should go in one box. Hygiene and similar items should be placed together and bed linen and towels should be packed away in the same box.
When you use this method, you will never have to figure out where similar items will be. Not to mention, they can be put away at the same time too!
To avoid any confusion on moving day, make a list of everything that is in each box. This will give you a good idea of which boxes you need to unpack first and which ones you can leave for later. You will also be able to cut down on the time spent looking for various items.
Keep Your Group to a Minimum
It is only natural for your whole family to want to help you move into your dorm room. However, you may want to limit how many people come with you for now. In particular, it isn’t a good idea to have too many kids around. Instead, try to only have people who can physically help you move into your dorm.
Remember that lots of other people are moving into your dorm at the same time. So, having a large group with you will only add to the chaos and the confusion. Not to mention, you may end up getting in the way of other groups as well.
Try to see if your family can make two separate trips so that other people can come and check in on you once you have moved in. Making this effort will really pay off on the day and make sure that you aren’t more stressed out than you need to be.
Consider a Larger Vehicle
If your college isn’t too far away from home, then you don’t have to worry about taking everything in one move. Here, you can afford to stagger things out as anything that you do need is just a short trip away.
In case you are moving to another state or quite far away from home, it is a good idea to pack everything that you need into a larger vehicle. If yours or your family car isn’t large enough, you may want to rent one out for the trip.
Pack Your Car More Efficiently
Be mindful of how you pack your car. Remember how you are going to be setting up big items first? Then, make sure that you pack these items into the car last. In fact, pack your car up in the order of how you will be moving the items out.
When you take this measure, there is no need to waste time moving things around in the car when unloading them. Also, you don’t have to worry about leaving unattended belongings anywhere. Instead, you just move them out as needed and put them away.
Rent Out a Dorm Moving Cart
Before moving day, call up your dorm housing staff and see if it is possible for you to rent out a dorm moving cart or dolly. Many campuses have this option available to you. If it isn’t, see if there are any agencies around that area that will let you rent out a cart or a dolly.
The benefit of this is that you will be able to move a lot more items at one time. As such, you will have to make fewer trips from your car to your dorm. This cart can also come in handy if you live on a higher floor and need to transport heavier items.
This is what you need to know about how long it will take for you to move into a dorm as well as how you can speed up the process. Follow these tips and moving day should be pretty smooth!
