Moving to college can be both exciting and stressful. If you decide to live in the dorms, it’s wise to develop a detailed packing plan and follow it to the letter so you don’t get overwhelmed. Even when hiring professional movers, without proper planning, students may experience unnecessary stress, extra costs, or missing essentials.
Here are the most common mistakes to avoid when preparing for the move:
- Overpacking Unnecessary Items
Many students bring too much because they overestimate the space in a dorm or apartment. Large pieces of furniture, too much clothing, or too many decorative items can clutter up a small living space. Instead, they should focus on the essentials and think about what they can buy at a later date.
- Poor organization and labeling
Improperly labeled boxes can make unpacking chaotic. To avoid confusion, students should make sure that boxes are clearly labeled (e.g., “Bedding,” “School Supplies,” “Toiletries”) – this will help movers https://bestmovescalgary.ca/ unpack faster. For easy access, pack important documents, chargers, and essentials separately.
- No review of college policies
Some colleges restrict certain appliances and furnishings, such as hot plates, extension cords, or oversized items. Failure to check the list beforehand may result in movers transporting prohibited items, resulting in unnecessary costs or items being sent back home.
- Failure to pack seasonally
Packing too many seasonal items at one time creates unnecessary bulk – for example, bringing heavy winter coats in August is a waste of space. Instead, students should pack for the current season and plan to send additional clothing later if needed.
- Forgetting daily necessities
Many students pack everything away without setting aside a “first night” bag of essentials, which should include toiletries, medications, chargers, pajamas and a change of clothes, important documents (ID, bank details, college paperwork).
- Do not coordinate with roommates
Duplicating large items like mini-refrigerators, microwaves, or coffee makers is a mistake. Discussions with roommates about shared items in advance can save space and moving costs.
- Wait until the last minute
Putting off packing leads to rushed decisions and forgetting important items. To stay organized, students should start packing at least two weeks before moving day and create a checklist to make sure nothing is overlooked.