Start early
Look around your place right now. What things are you least likely to use before moving-time? Pack them up in boxes now and save yourself the hassle come June. Moreover, if you’re graduating and don’t want to take your furniture with you, sell it to other students who are sticking around in Eugene, or arrange for it to be picked up and given to charity. Get rid of what you don’t need now so you’ll have fewer boxes in the moving van. And the more packing, cleaning and moving you can start now, the better.
Re-route your info
Make sure your landlord, service agencies and family all know your latest address. (I’ve received letters, magazine subscriptions and bank statements for phantom renters who have long since moved out, and had nowhere to send them.) Updating your contact information will ensure that your personal mail, statements and renter’s deposit refund all get to where they need to be. On a similar note, contact agencies a week before move-in to set up your new place’s utilities like electricity, water, TV and internet so they’re ready to go soon after you get there.
Make sure people know
Contact your current landlord as soon as you can to make sure they know when you intend to move out, so you can hand off keys within the week. Also be sure your new landlord knows when you plan to move in. Sometimes, last-minute repairs or maintenance can push back a move-in time — check to make sure your landing pad is clear before you’re ready to go.
Get some boxes
With thousands of college students moving around every summer, boxes for stuff are in high demand. Snag some now and put them under your bed or in a spare closet for the big day. If you haven’t already, save boxes from items you or your roommates receive in the mail. You could also ask local stores — like grocery stores — if they have any unused boxes lying around. When things are finally put into those boxes, be sure to label them.
Find a way to move
Renting a moving van is fairly easy, but tough to do in a short amount of time. Reserve a van one to two weeks before you want to move to guarantee yourself a ride. You can also split van costs between friends by moving multiple people’s stuff on the same day. Or, if you know friends who have cars, ask for their help and promise them gas money or a meal as incentive. Grab two or three friends and make the task of moving your large, unwieldy objects less overwhelming.
Clean it up, clean it out
Decide with your roommates who’s going to clean what when it’s time to move out, and stick to it. Routine things like vacuuming and sweeping shouldn’t take too long, but allow yourself plenty of time to clean out the fridge, remove any stains from the walls or carpet, or patch any holes in the walls. You want your old place to look as nice as it did at the beginning — how would you want it to look if you were moving in? Plus, more cleaning on your part means less cleaning on your landlord’s part — and less deposit money spent doing it.
Know before you go
Decide on the route you want to take from Point A to Point B before you set out. Scope out your new place before you intend to move in, being sure to check to see that your keys work and that it’s clean and in good condition. Taking pictures before moving in lets you prove the place’s move-in condition when it’s time to finally move out, too. If it’s not to your liking, clean it and fix it before all your stuff is in the way.
Be prepared
Make sure your new keys, vehicle and moving assistance are all ready to go when you need them. Scout out your new neighborhood to check for parking restrictions during certain times of day, especially if parking is an issue. Check the weather the night before to avoid soggy possessions the next day. And, if you can, pack up and move early in the morning, when there’s less traffic to deal with on the roads. By moving early in the day, you can also avoid the hot afternoon sun later.
Have an overnight kit ready
Personal stuff can get lost in a sea of moving items. Have a change of clothes, toiletries, wallet/purse and food set aside so you don’t have to go hunting through boxes later. Keep all the rental agreements, start-up bills, important documents and keys for your new place in a big envelope so you know where it is while you’re moving. And the one thing needed, but least readily available, in a new apartment: toilet paper. Pack some and you’ll be your moving party’s hero.
Help your friends move
Pass on the goodwill by helping your friends cart around their stuff when they need it. If your friends have enough belongings of their own to transport, your help on moving day is a favor they’re not likely to forget. And when it comes time for you to move, they’ll be more inclined to give you a hand. If you have a group of people helping you, celebrate afterwards by buying them dinner and being moved-in and exhausted together.