For many young people, their first moving experience occurs when they leave for college. Lots of schools require that incoming freshmen live in the dorms.

If your son or daughter plans to attend a distant school, he or she will need to make decisions regarding what to bring. Here are some tips that will make the moving process easier for parent and child alike.

Pack Light

Dorm rooms tend to be a little smaller than they appear in the university’s promotional material. There will not be enough space for everything your child currently has in his or her bedroom, and organizing essential items such as textbooks and a dorm fridge will consume even more of the available area.

Dormify recommends looking for products that are specially designed for dorms and other small/minimal living environments. Moving numerous possessions also incurs greater expense. Encourage your student to downsize and bring only what will be genuinely needed. It pays to pack light.

Use a Storage Unit if Needed

With that said, your child might want to have access to belongings not needed on a daily basis. Consider renting a storage unit for these things. When storage organization is planned ahead of the move, it can provide availability to recreational equipment or additional clothing.

Once you have an idea of how much he or she will want to place there, price out a unit that has some extra space for further storage. All Storage Online describes how doing your homework and asking the right questions before renting a unit can really make a difference in multiple ways.

Review Your University’s Move-in Policies

Make it a point to go over the school’s move-in regulations with your child well in advance of the transition. No matter how prepared you may be, move-in day is generally more hectic than planned. Research whether there is a possibility of moving in early.

For this effort, universities have increasingly begun to set aside several days scheduled before the first week of classes. Jessica Slaughter recommends to get your time slot reserved well in advance, and to be aware of conditions like the weather.

Map out parking areas, and try to find a spot close to the assigned housing. Finally, make sure the student does not bring items forbidden by the school. For safety’s sake, many schools prohibit items such as candles, hot plates or microwaves.
Moving from home to attend a university represents a milestone for parent and student alike. It is often the first time a young person feels like a genuine adult.

Parents often balance pride in their child’s achievement with some worry as to how he or she will fare away from home. Careful planning will ensure a smooth move and a happy day.

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