MARCH 24, 2014
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
HOUSING
5
Moving checklist
It’s almost that time a year again when students frantically look for subleaser for their room or hunker down to spend the summer in the shadow of Grand Valley State University. Whether living in a dorm, apartment, townhouse or house all students eventually face the dreaded task of moving. Moving isn’t a science, but a strategic plan can make the move easier. Before a wave of stress crashes over you do to the big move, use the following checklist to dam up those unneeded emotions. 1. Donate Living somewhere for months, a year or even years can result in some unnecessary hoarding. Before packing up go through your clothes, books, movies and other items. Separate your belongings into two piles – keep and give away – in order to cut back on back-stiffening pounds you will later have to carry. 2. Don’t Procrastinate Call around to get the best prices on moving trucks or trailers and arrange to rent one before moving day. If using a personal, friend’s or family member’s vehicle okay it with them before the early morning on the last day of your lease. Leave your procrastination in the classroom because when it comes to moving the dead is already bad enough.
3. Compare and Contrast Communication is key in any relationship and especially with roommates. Prior to moving you and your roommates should chat about who is bringing what to the new home and what is still needed. This will simplify the moving process even more. 4. Fold, Tape, Label Begin the packing process before heading into that sleepless week of exams. Pack up items you don’t use daily. Buy plastic bins, and just enough to pack all your stuff. These stackable, reusable containers can help ease the stress of moving throughout your entire college career and beyond. Also this is an easy way to contribute to the sustainability of the environment by not buying new boxes every moving season. 5. You scratch their back, they’ll scratch yours Recruit friends to help the moving processes along, but remember to pay it forward and help them move, as well. All the extra hands will make the relocation faster and easier. The end of the semester already comes with enough tears, stress and all nighters without the adding moving into the equation. This checklist will allow students to concentrate their stress primarily on exams instead of anything else.