Getting Ready for Move-Out Day

Moving Out
It's almost time for the mass campus exodus, as campus dwellers vacate their spaces and head to their summer sites. If your student lives on campus, here are some things for you all to start thinking about now in order to make a smooth transition:

Getting Info Early. Gathering checkout information from residence hall staff members by going to meetings and reading what's being passed out is your student's responsibility. So encourage her to ask questions — she'll be in the know and ready to go!

Heading Home. How will your student get home? Discuss whether a van, his own vehicle, a borrowed truck or another mode will work best.

Storing Stuff. Since most campuses don't have summer storage space, consider where that rug, microfridge, furniture and more will go. If your student is moving off campus next year, maybe he can get permission to store some stuff over the summer — it's better for him to ask now, though, rather than expecting it'll be okay at the last minute. Or, he may need to rent a storage space in town.

Having Enough Containers. Encourage your student to gather boxes and bags now because they can be tough to come by at the very end of the year. Suitcases, duffel bags, crates and plastic containers work well, too.
Starting to Pack. The packing should start before move-out day in order to prevent stress, anxiety and a hectic scramble on that last day. Indeed!

Cleaning It Up. The dust bunnies and sticky residue will be plentiful once things get boxed up, so prepare your student for the clean-up job ahead. And encourage her to clean as she goes. It's important to leave the room clean — not only is leaving a mess disrespectful to the kind cleaning staff who have helped your student all year, there is also a hefty charge associated with room cleaning.

Throwing Stuff Out/ Recycling. Students need to find out how to recycle and discard unwanted items so they can put those things in their proper place. Things can't just be left in the room, waiting for someone else to take care of them — make sure students talk to residence hall staff to get the scoop.

Move-out is an inevitable necessity that students can't ignore. Doing so will just make their final day in the halls messy, confusing and expensive, if they don't follow the process in place. Better to get the info now and plan ahead for a smooth transition!

The Rise of Emotions
Saying goodbye on move-out day can get emotional for some students. It may hit them that they're leaving behind some great friends for the summer — or maybe longer for those who are graduating. So, be prepared that move-out day won't just be about the packing and cleaning tasks. Your student may want to track down friends, spend some time and say good-bye in his own way.