Being a student is very often both a very exciting and a very exhausting experience. On the one hand, this is a time of learning – and not just in the sense of “attending lectures and sitting exams” but also in the sense of “learning about you and your limits”. On the other hand, it is a time when people start to get a taste of the “real life out there” too.
Moving house off campus is a big step in every student’s life. Very frequently, this happens somewhere at the beginning of the second year of study precisely because the campus is left for the freshmen coming to university.
If you have reached that moment as well, you probably feel slightly “terrified” by the idea. Moving off campus is the kind of step that puts you out there in the “real world” – and most of the students would be very happy to avoid that.
Which are the things you should know about moving off campus? Read on and find out more.
1. Start searching for a place yearly. Preferably, start searching for an apartment or house to move in at least in the summer preceding the second year of study (or the year of study when you plan to move off campus). This way, you will be able to hunt for the best places and you will also be able to avoid being overcharged as well.
2. Team up with some friends. Most of the students who move off campus do it with a few friends. There are multiple benefits to doing this. One of them is related to the fact that you will feel less “scared” this way and you will be able to make the transition from living in the campus to living off the campus more easily. Even more than that, it is quite likely that you will end up paying less for rent and living expenses by living off campus in a larger house that can accommodate you and a few friends.
3. Be informed. Most likely, you don’t have much hands-on experience with moving. Being informed will help you handle everything much easier and it will also help you avoid picking a place that is not suitable for you and your needs. Furthermore, being informed will also help you avoid being overcharged. Know exactly how much you should be paying for certain services and don’t allow yourself to be “swindled”.
4. Make a moving checklist to make sure you include everything. Also, make sure you write down a moving timeline as well – this will help you go through the “moving house” experience much easier and in a much more organized way.
5. Take photos of the place you move in one day before actually moving in. Print out two copies and send a set to your landlord via traditional mail, with the date on the envelope (and with timestamps on the pictures as well). At the end of the tenancy, you will be able to show your landlord the pictures and he/she will not be able to accuse you of breaking something that was already in a bad state.
6. Leave the place in good state. Make sure you do a thorough cleaning before handing in the keys and make sure not to miss those “hidden” spots such as the back of the toilet and certain areas in the kitchen.
7. Do ask for the services of a professional moving company if you feel the need to. Truth be told, professional movers can help you a lot. Even if it may cost a bit more than doing things on your own, hiring small removals services is definitely extremely beneficial for you.
