1. Create a checklist
You don’t really need to create a physical checklist. You just need to be able to keep track of all the things you own, be it mentally or physically by writing them down on a list. If you’re a student, you probably don’t own much. And if you just signed a contract to your new place, you might be weeks away from your move. However, it’s a good idea to make notes on what you should do in the coming days, such as booking a mover or asking a friend with a car to help you move. Moving is stressful, there’s no way around that, but mentally preparing for it can ease your burden.
2. Buy moving boxes from Action, Praxis, Gamma, or any kind of hardware store
Heck, even your nearby grocery store might have unused boxes previously used for fruits or vegetables. You want those thick, easy-to-assemble moving boxes, which are plenty stocked in hardware stores. I’ve never really organised what I put into my boxes – since, again, as a student, I don’t own much – so I never needed to label them, but if this helps then of course feel free to do so. I probably got around six medium-sized boxes to move all of my things, including a 3D printer, a monitor, and a bunch of mugs and plates.
3. Roll your clothes into your suitcases
My two suitcases have come in handy in the two times that I’ve moved. I used them for my clothes, which I rolled military-style to pack them full as efficiently as possible. Rolling lowers the amount of space they take up and decreases the chances of your clothes wrinkling. You’ll probably have no energy left to iron your clothes after a move, so by rolling your clothes you can just chuck them straight into your new closet and leave the ironing for another day.
4. Put all of your important documents into one folder
Documents such as passports, family cards, insurance, and contracts are what I would consider important. Store them all in one single folder and carry it around with you at all times when you’re moving, usually in your bag where you don’t carry anything too heavy. It could also be a good tip to scan your documents and copy everything to a USB drive or your laptop, but I’ve never needed to do this.
5. Find a mover
Again, as a student, you’ll probably not need the services of a moving company with their trucks and vans. Instead, make use of your social circle – who has a car, for example? Don’t take their help for granted, though. Pay for their gas or buy them lunch and/or dinner.
If you’re in any marketplace groupchats, you might find people advertising their moving services on there. I know a bunch of people that have hired them for a move, and if you’re willing to spend a little money (since they usually charge around 30-40 Euros per hour), then there’s no problem with using their services. I’ve never had to spend more than two hours moving, but your mileage may vary.
However, if you’re well-versed in student culture and you know a person or two, then there are rumours of people on the campus who are willing to move your things for around 20 Euros an hour. Whether or not this is true is up to you to find out.
If you need to buy furniture from somewhere like IKEA, then tell your movers in advance, since they usually need to keep another hour free to haul your things from the store in Hengelo to Enschede. In short: be smart and be prepared.
6. Explore your neighbourhood
Before you finalise your move, or even before you sign your new contract, take some time to explore your new neighbourhood. Take note of where the nearest supermarkets are, where the nearest bus stops are, and whatever else you think you’ll need. Familiarise yourself with the area to know where to go when needed. Also a good idea: talk to your future housemates so that they know when you’re moving. They might even be willing to help you out.
7. Move all of your things outside when the day comes
This is mainly to speed up the moving process. Usually, if you are hiring movers, they come with a van or with a cargo attached to their car, so they’ll be carrying your boxes to their vehicles. They’re also typically very picky about how their van or cargo needs to be organised, so don’t even try to be helpful and just sit back and let them do their work. If you do want to help them, just make sure all of your things are located in one spot and make the route from your things to their vehicles as accessible as possible.
8. Move all of your things at once
You’ll probably get the feeling that you need to move your things little-by-little over the course of a couple weeks before your big move. Speaking from experience, you don’t need to do this. It’s much better and much less tiring to just leave everything until the day your mover comes. For my first move, I would pack things into my suitcase, move using the bus, and then unpack once I got to my new place, only to repeat this once or twice more that same day. Not only was this tiring, it was much less efficient. My moving guy even commented on it, asking where all my stuff was, because by the end I only had one box and two suitcases for him.
If you must visit your new place before your move, then I would recommend getting a bed sheet and some pillows/throwers (assuming your place is furnished) and preparing your bed, so that you can immediately go to sleep once you’ve unpacked your stuff.
Like I said, moving is always a stressful experience. As a student living in a rented room, this is quite literally your entire life that you’re moving, so how can you not be stressed? However, like most things, you can do stuff in advance to ease your experience, and by the end of it, you’ll have learned a thing or two about logistics. Good luck with moving!
