A student move starts with a list of things
Students don't move once every ten years, but almost every year. That's why moving a student into halls or a rented room follows different rules from moving a whole household. There aren't many things, there isn't much time either, and a lot depends on what you take and what you leave at home.
Find out what's already there
First ask what comes with the room. Halls usually have a bed, desk, chair and wardrobe, sometimes bedding as well. A furnished rented room differs from flat to flat. Without finding this out, you'll bring a second desk lamp and forget the clothes airer.
What's worth bringing
Take what's hard to find and easy to transport. Bedding, towels, crockery for one, an extension lead, a desk lamp, basic tools and a first-aid kit. Leave your winter things at home and bring them in the autumn.
What to leave at home
Don't take bulky and rarely used things anywhere. A whole year's worth of sports equipment, a bookcase, a big monitor when you have a laptop. Every extra item has to be moved again in a year and takes up space in a room that has none to spare.
Packing that survives repeated moves
Plastic boxes instead of cardboard
Plastic boxes with lids last through several moves in a row. They stack on top of each other, don't go soggy in the rain and serve as storage under the bed in your room. Cardboard boxes are cheaper, but you'll throw them away after the second trip.
Label the contents
A label on the box saves your first evening. A few words on a sticker are enough. One box should contain everything for the first night: bed linen, a towel, a toothbrush, a charger and something to eat.
Mattress and bedding in a cover
Your own mattress needs protection. It's handy to have your own in halls or a rented room, but without a cover it will get dirty on the van floor on the way. A large bag or an old sheet tied with string will do. Laid flat it takes up less space than standing on its edge.
Documents in one folder
Put your papers in one place before you leave. Your tenancy or accommodation agreement, confirmation of studies, health insurance card and account numbers. When you're checking in at the porter's lodge or taking over the flat, you don't want to be searching for them through boxes.
Keep electronics with you
Your laptop and documents don't belong in the cargo area. Keep them in the cab and don't leave them in the parked van. Coil up your cables and put them in one bag, otherwise you'll spend half the evening looking for them.
