Move In Day Tips

Parents Forum
1

<p>I was speaking with my sister and she had some great tips for move in day. I have only sent boys to college at this point and they literly left with two duffle bags and an Xbox. So this is what she said...I would really appreciate any other tips...</p>

<p>--Pack all bedding to make the bed that day in a heavy duty contractor bag. Pack it backwards so the bed skirt is on the top, followed by the mattress pad, sheets, blanket, etc. Put the pillowcases on before you put them in the bag and then use this bag for any trash that comes about.</p>

<p>--If clothes are being hung, put them in rolling suitcases already on the hangers. </p>

<p>--Make sure anything that is packaged is unpackaged if possible. If you are driving in a car, take the frig out of the box before you leave home and put all your towels and extra sheets inside. A dorm room is really small to be trying to get the frig out of the box.</p>

<p>--Put a lightbulb inside the desk lamp before you leave. Unpack that too and sandwich inbetween the clothes in the suitcase, same for an alarm clock, etc.</p>

<p>--If you are bringing storage drawers, take all the tape and cardboard pieces off and put in the drawers what you think will be storing inside. </p>

<p>That's all she said....except this piece of just general advise. If you kid has a "suite" bathroom or shares with just one person, buy a caddy anyway. Duplicate shampoo, etc in the caddy and especially a toothbrush, deodorant, and hair brush. If your child in a hurry for a test and someone is in the shower and the door is locked, you can at least grab your caddy and head for the community bath.</p>

2

<p>She forgot a few things:</p>

<p>Bring trashbags, you will enevitably need them on move in day. One will not be enough.</p>

<p>Ducttape is always good to have on hand, as is sizzors.</p>

<p>Tools! Know where they are at, because most likely the ones the dorms have will already be ‘borrowed’.</p>

<p>A broom helps much after move in, especially with all the stuff tracked in.</p>

<p>Remember to pack a cooler with cold drinks and whatnot.</p>

<p>Lable ALL of your stuff so you don’t get it mixed up with other peoples stuff.</p>

<p>Things like matress pads need to be left in the packaging or else you’ll loose what little space you have in the car.</p>

<p>First thing you should set up in the room is a fan. Its pretty much garenteed that the room will be hot and outside hotter, and in that way you won’t have to ‘bake’ as much.</p>

3

<p>Pack light.</p>

4

<p>Emotions will be running high, so as parents we need to be prepared to step away or slap a piece of duct tape over our mouths. </p>

<p>Let your child determine what he/she wants you to do.</p>

<p>I think if you can make the bed, hang the clothes in the closest and quickly point out where the first aid kit is then you have done a great job.</p>

<p>Bring a roll of paper towels.</p>

<p>Many colleges seem to have a set time for the “big goodbye” and then they want the parents to vamoose. This was a difficult moment. I remember walking to the car and most of the moms had that “I am going to break down in tears any moment” look and most dads were looking straight ahead with a very “tight” face. Though there were a few parents doing cartwheels in the parking lot…</p>

<p>Both my H and I had some alone time with S1 last year the night before dorm check in. I will forever treasure that wonderful walk along the beach.</p>

5

<p>We will actually not be pushed away too quick on this one. Unfortunately Sorority Recruitment starts that evening and my daughter as well as her suitemates want the moms to stay around until after their meeting is over. So the parents are going to dinner and the moms will settle the nerves and the dads…I have no idea what they are going to do…but that is not my concern…lol.</p>

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<p>Label everything with the student’s name, dorm, and room number.</p>

<p>Have the student or family members carry anything that’s readily breakable – like a laptop or a musical instrument. Don’t entrust it to the helpers. Their priority is speed; they may not be particularly careful with the things they’re transporting.</p>

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<p>Breathe. Smile. Everything else is commentary.</p>

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<p>Very first thing to do: have someone go look at the room before you move anything in. If the beds are bunked and you want them unbunked and rearranged it is MUCH easier to do before you move all your stuff into that small space. Get the furniture where you want it, then bring up your stuff.</p>

<p>First thing out of my pocket was a doorstop - made it easy for going in and out, even if one person stays in the room to unpack and the other(s) make trips to the car. Our son’s door was the type that closes behind you.</p>

<p>We packed all of our sons clothes on hangers in large black garbage bags.</p>

<p>We packed a small dolly in the car and that helped move-in go quickly. There was one available on the floor but kids were taking turns with it and mostly lugging things by the armful. (We had the fridge so this was useful.)</p>

<p>We packed the bedding just as OP mentioned.</p>

<p>S has a storage drawer thing and we packed all the drawers at home, then ran a piece of packing tape down the front and over the top and bottom so we could move it in without the drawers flying open.</p>

<p>Pack things the way you intend to unpack them. Pack desk items together, dresser items together, closet shelf items together, etc. It makes it easy to unpack.</p>

<p>I second the ‘breathe, smile’ sentiment. Also, don’t let yourselves get thirsty or hungry.</p>

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<p>Lots of good suggestions above. get a small handtruck. Sam’s Club has a collapsible one for about $25.00. It proved to be very helpful. Keep your cash/credit card and change in your pocket, as well as a hanky or two. It’s hard to keep a purse balanced on your shoulder when you’re shlepping stuff up two flights of stairs, and it could be easily stolen during move-in commotion. Remember to pack books in small boxes. There’s a big temptation to back them in a big box b/c they fit so well. Don’t do it! No one will be able to carry it! Visit the liquor store for sturdy/small boxes.</p>

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<p>Bring a camera and take pics of anything that is not “perfect” - such as duct tape on walls, marks on walls, adhesive on walls or anywhere else, hooks adhered to walls, tacks/nails, holes, scratches on furniture, missing drawers, stains anywhere, etc. </p>

<p>When the person who checks the rooms comes in to check, make sure to point out everything so he/she can make a note of it. </p>

<p>I made the mistake of not doing this and the bed my son took had a piece of plywood that was obviously not original and it was marked as “normal” on the check in sheet. I had made the bed and the plywood was covered. We wound up paying a small amount for the “damage” and I didn’t bother to contest it as it was fairly insignificant (but still.)</p>

<p>Bring a tub of cleaning wipes to quickly wipe down window sills, decks, shelves, wardrobes. These are not cleaned before you move in.</p>

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<p>Great stuff. Wish I’d seen this before D1 moved in three years ago!</p>

12

<p>You are not allowed to paint walls or pin things to the wall in dorms. A great tip to bring some color and post it boards is this: buy a sheet of foam core, spray it with glue and glue a nice fabric on it. Then lean it to the wall, secured by the bed or desk. It will add color and a place to pin pictures of home and friends.</p>

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<p>We also brought a bunch of those Command Adhesive picture hanging strips and Command Adhesive large hooks. The picture hanging strips make it easy to put up and take down posters. S put a hook up for wet towels by his closet. (We also put one by the shower since there wasn’t anywhere for them to hang their towels.)</p>

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<p>Be sure the student is actively involved in the packing- they need to know what they brought or months later won’t know they have Advil… when they need it.</p>

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<p>thanks for the tips- We plan to take very little- the kids can go to Target or Wal Mart if they need something that was forgotten</p>

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<p>The foamcore leaning bulletin board is a great idea!</p>

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<p>I agree with setting up a fan right away. Unpacking and making the bed in a small dorm room made us (my son and I) very hot! Also we were lucky that we got there well before the roommate did, it would have been way too crowded for everyone to move in at once.</p>

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<p>Love the door stopper suggestion. I put a pack of two in my Amazon cart. One word of warning. Every college has different ways they do the move in. We were prepared to do lots of sweaty moving with our #2 college son, but we were swarmed with a student moving team the moment we stopped and every thing was unloaded very quickly. We had to guard our own suitcases so they didn’t take them up! We had bought this dolly [Costco</a> - Magna Cart? Personal Hand Truck](<a href=“http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11650178&whse=BC&topnav=?adID=10030&cat=51856&hierPath=860*&lang=en-US]Costco”>http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11650178&whse=BC&topnav=?adID=10030&cat=51856&hierPath=860*&lang=en-US) at Costco and didn’t even need to use it. Fortunately, it was used in later moves. If you buy a hand truck, make sure to buy bungie cords or straps other wise your stack of stuff will fall off.</p>

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<p>At our S’ college, you were allowed to paint the walls. Nice to do that FIRST. Also, depending on which dorm you had, they had specific guidelines for hanging things. Some required pushpins only, others tape only, etc.</p>

<p>I agree with putting your name, dorm, & room number on the outside. Our college had a crew there move in day for the freshman. They grabbed stuff from your stack and whisked it upstairs. If it gets in the wrong spot, it’d be nice to have your information on it.</p>

<p>S’ roommate arrived at the same time. He brought ALOT of shelving, big and small. He waited until he got there to assemble it. We were trying to move our stuff in but his packaging, boxes, pieces, etc were everywhere. Added to our frustration. Be courteous of the roommate.</p>

<p>The dad’s had to ‘redo’ the wiring for the tvs, computers, xbox, etc with some extra cables, powerstrips, etc. It was nice to have a few tools.</p>

<p>Have an exit plan. I thought we’d walk out toward/to the car , give our hugs, and go. No. H out of nowhere said 'well, we better get going"…hugged in him in the room in front of the other roommate & his parents…and out the door we go. I felt very unsettled. If S was at all upset…it just happened in front of other people. I didn’t feel as comfortable with the love you’s, or any final words we had. S was also surprised. Not at all how I wanted it to go. Have a plan. Have a plan. Have a plan. (And make sure you ALL know what it is)</p>

<p>S didn’t want me hovering, of course. So my job was to make the bed, maybe put away towels, hang up clothes. H did the electric & moving stuff. S put away everything else. Clarify what your job will be - so you’ll know but also so your kid will know what to expect. </p>

<p>Great idea on the door stop !!</p>

<p>First, we checked in & moved everything into the dorm. We had most things put away, and then went to the bookstore to pick up our early bird book order. Afterward,we walked over to the transportation office to pick up the parking permit. We put those things in S room and made a quick trip to Wal Mart for a couple of things he needed and then we came home. We just had the one day, so had to accomplish a lot in a short time. Make a plan for all that too if you’ll have several stops.</p>

<p>Organization is key.</p>

20

<p>Try to avoid bringing along Grandma, Uncle Fred, Aunt Susie, the baby, and the dog.</p>