Moving In

All the Tips and Tricks to Make Moving Easy

Once your student has been given their move-in date and dorm or residence assignment, the process of handling what can be a stressful, labor-intensive and often expensive process of moving begins. Traditionally, female students tend to take a full-on decorating approach complete with wall décor, signs, pictures frames, string lights, desk accessories, and many other decorative items. Male students do not go that full in and often just want a comfortable bed, maybe a poster or two and perhaps a rug. It is quite humorous after each drop-off, whether it is for summer or fall, to see my friends’ postings on Facebook and Instagram and see the obvious male/female difference between a completed dorm room.

This may be one of those sticker price shock moments. According to the National Retail Federation, back to college spending averaged $1300 in 2019. This is big business with college checklists resembling the lists usually reserved for wedding and baby shower registries. If you go by the many college dorm checklists, you will be faced with a list filled with items you may have never considered. Some, like gaming systems, seems a bit far-fetched. You are not looking to entertain your student for the next four years; just to set up a comfortable room where they can study, relax and feel a bit of that home feeling they left behind. The key is to try to get a head start on shopping. Perhaps you are a one-store-gets-it-done type of person. Maybe you are a bargain shopper. We have a New Student Shopping Guide to help you out!

Break It Down

Let’s break moving in down with some tips for both genders:

If you have a student living in a dorm, the beds are not necessarily the most comfortable. You will want to get a mattress protector pad, mattress cover and for the best comfort, a memory foam mattress topper. You will find these at Target, Walmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond and many department stores. Consider this an investment for this year as many students move off campus their second year and end up with full or queen size mattresses.

From there you will need a minimum of two sets of sheets (fitted, many students don’t use flat sheets anymore) plus pillowcases.  They won’t need the top thread count but certainly try to get a set that will not pill after one wash. They will want to wash their sheets once a week minimally so two should be sufficient. Next, most will want a comforter or duvet cover. Consider getting a queen size comforter if you want their comforter to transition from the dorm size twin xl bed to most apartment’s queen size beds. Throw in an extra blanket as the dorm rooms tend to be kept very cold.

A floor rug, if they have hard floors, is not a bad investment, not the Persian variety but just a rug that will cover some of the floors between the traditional two-bed dorm rooms. A 5’ x 7’ should be sufficient.

And More Moving Tips

Most of the dorms do not have walk-in closets, the area that is considered a closet has ample space yet does not have a door or enclosure. You can purchase a curtain or panel, a tension curtain rod, and clip rings but keep in mind, many times these tend to fall down. This is more what we consider to be decorative. If your college student is planning on having a television in their room, you will need a coaxial cable. Extension cords are not allowed in UNF dorms; they do suggest a power surge outlet that can come with extra plugins. Many students also like to have a mini-refrigerator in their room. Some roommates may share the refrigerator to determine the size, but some may prefer their own. Many stores, such as Best Buy, will allow you to order it online and arrange to pick it up or have a family member or friend pick it up, at the store of your choosing.

Most dorm check-in processes allow you to use their carts.  They do not have dollies or hand trucks or flatbed hand trucks. The entire process of moving your student into the dorm during the heat of August will be quicker and easier with the use of a hand truck. Personally, I bought this folding hand truck and left it with my daughter her freshman year so she could use it during the year and move out.

Can You Bring It?

You will need to check with allowable items but you may want to consider purchasing a small microwave as well. Another great item to have is a Keurig or one cup coffee maker. If you have a student who cannot live without hot coffee, this is very convenient, but definitely more expensive, way to have coffee. There is a Starbucks on campus and countless Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts close by, but having your students make their own is often more economical. Target and Walmart sell the bottles of Starbucks Iced Coffee which have six 8 oz. servings.

A Brita water filtration system is also recommended over the more convenient plastic bottles. For one, Florida water doesn’t taste so great and two the filtration system will remove any unnecessary chemicals, etc.

If your student is like mine, there just is not enough closet and drawer space to accommodate all of his or her clothes, shoes, dry goods, toiletries, medicines, etc. That is where the under-the-bed plastic drawer system comes in handy. The problem you may face is availability. Here are a few tips. Either bring them with you if your vehicle space allows or order ahead of time. Besides Target Bed, Bath & Beyond and Walmart, which is where most will head, consider Office Depot, Dormify, Overstock. We purchased ours at Office Depot so with the 20% off coupon I had, it was comparably priced.

Instead of a traditional iron and ironing board, consider using the now popular mini hand steamers. They are very easy to use and work just as well. Another great item, especially if your student needs a step stool to reach the bed, is a storage ottoman. Clearly, by its name, you can see it can be used for storage but it is a more decorative way for them to climb into bed. Looking for something fancier, try Dormify. Overstock has some reasonably priced ones too. Bed, Bath & Beyond also carries them.  Most of the stores were sold out when we got to campus, so we would recommend either bringing it with you (and store stuff in it) or ordering online.

For our complete shopping guide for new college students, click here.

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