How to Relocate for College Students

When you’re relocating for college, call on the experts in residential and apartment moving at All My Sons Moving & Storage to help you get settled in and ready for class. 

Will you be going away for college? This is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for young adults. Moving out to go to college often marks the first time young adults get to taste true independence. The bills might be addressed to you, and you could be the one responsible for paying them. All the chores like the laundry, the weekly grocery shopping, and washing dishes now fall solely to you and whatever roommates you might have.

Make this transition an exceptional start to your adulthood and follow these tips from the professional movers at All My Sons Moving & Storage.

Will you be living the dorm life or will you move into an apartment off-campus? Will you have roommates, or are you truly flying solo?

If you’re going into a dorm, inquire with your school as to when students can move in. Some schools will have a specific date or range of dates when students are allowed to move into the dorms. Your college dorm might have a list of allowed and prohibited items that will help you get packed up and sometimes student groups participate in move-in days to help everyone get situated. Ask your contact at your college where you can find information about moving into the dorms.

Making your first apartment hunt for a home off-campus? Here are some important factors for you and any prospective roommates to consider.

• Distance From Your College: You want to pick a place that isn’t too far away from your campus. Some days you’ll be running late to class and as a commuter you’ll also have to hunt for a good parking space, so try to pick an apartment or house within a 5-to-10-mile radius of your college.

• Commute Time From Your Job: If you are working while going to college, you should factor the commute distance into your search for a place to live. Ideally, your job and your college will both be a reasonable distance from the place you choose to live.

• Nearby Study Spaces: Since you’re entering into a season of studying, you should keep an eye out for spaces you can have a quiet moment to study during your apartment hunt. Some apartment complexes have great co-working spaces that might work well for this purpose, or you might be able to find local coffee shops or libraries close to your apartment. If you’d prefer to study at your apartment, then ensure your apartment has enough room for a study space where you can keep a desk or your study supplies.

• Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms: If you are moving in with roommates, it might be a good idea to ensure you can all have your own bathrooms. You will likely keep different schedules and constantly fighting over the bathroom could become a pain-point for you and your roommates in the future.

Be sure to also check out our guide for How to Choose an Apartment in 2025. 

Before you set out on your own, make sure everything coming with you counts. If you’re going to a dorm, you’ll be entering into a season of life where space might be limited. As you pack your belongings, consider every item you’d like to take with you. How often do you use it? How easy is it to replace? Can you digitize it or take a picture of it and preserve what’s special about it?

Sort your belongings into four categories:

• Discard: These belongings of yours are not in good condition or would be utterly meaningless to another person. They should be trashed or recycled. Some examples would be a broken coffee maker or an old crafting project you have determined you do not wish to keep.

• Donate or Sell: These are the items that are in good condition, but you no longer desire to keep. You can either attempt to sell the item or give it away to a local charity.

• Keep: Your treasured and frequently used items get to go in your ‘keep’ box. You’ll be taking these items with you to college.

• Leave Behind: If your parents are not cleaning out your room immediately, you might be able to store some treasured items with the rest of your old childhood artifacts. You can come back for these items later, or allow your parents to keep them for the time being.

If you would like to keep some personal childhood effects and your parents don’t want to leave space for them, then consider renting a storage unit. This will be an extra expense in your budget, so think carefully before you decide to commit to a storage unit long-term. It may be some time before you’re able to afford a home with enough storage space for your treasured childhood items. 

With independence comes managing your own finances. You should craft both a budget for your moving expenses and a monthly budget to use during the school year.

Your moving budget should include:

• Moving Supplies: Boxes, tape, packing paper, and anything else you need to get your stuff packed up.

• Movers or Truck Rental: If you are hiring a full-service moving company like All My Sons Moving & Storage then these items will be grouped together. If you are doing a DIY move, you may have to pay for a truck rental and lunch for family and friends who are helping you.

• Rental Deposits: When you move into an apartment, you and your roommates are usually responsible for some kind of rental deposit. This helps protect the landlord in case of any damages done to the apartment while you’re living there.

• Fuel Costs: If you rent a truck, you will probably need to fill up the tank before you return it. If you hire a moving company, they may include fuel charges in their rate or they might add an additional fuel surcharge.

When budgeting for your move, be sure to include these hidden costs of moving in your plan so you’re not caught off-guard by additional expenses.

Your monthly budget for the school year should be an app, spreadsheet, or series of envelopes that you return to every month to ensure that you’re on track and not taking on more debt than you need to. To start your first independent-living budget, 

• Record All Income Sources: Write down your monthly cash flow from sources like your job, scholarships, financial aid, or money from home. 

• Create an Emergency Fund: Start saving a little every month to give yourself a $1,000 or more buffer in case of unexpected expenses like car repairs and health problems.

• Categorize Monthly Wants and Needs: Create categories of spending like housing, food, entertainment, bills, and school supplies. Give yourself a set cap on how much you can spend in each category that adds up to your monthly income. If you’re going over your monthly income, look for items that are wants instead of needs to cut or look for ways to reduce regular bills.

With your budget for the year in hand, you’ll be able to comfortably make it through the year without overspending or getting into debt.

Moving into a dorm room or into your own apartment often means you’ll need to grab some things that were always on hand at your parents’ home. Besides essential furniture (Bed, dresser, and desk), there are a few common household staples you may need to purchase to live comfortably.

Your dorm might already have furniture or stocked essentials, but if you are moving into an apartment off-campus then you will have to provide these items yourself.

Take a look at these lists and coordinate with roommates to determine what you need for your dorm or apartment.

Bedroom Items

• Sheets

• Pillows

• Comforter

• Extra Blankets

• Alarm Clock

• Bedside Lamp

Kitchen Items

• Coffee Machine

• Kettle

• Can Opener

• Trash Bags

• Kitchen Towels

• Microwave

• Dish Detergent

• Sponges

• First Aid Kit

• Cough Medicine

• Pain Relievers

• Extra Batteries

• Extra Lightbulbs

• Cleaning Supplies

Bathroom Items

• Shower Cady

• Shower Shoes (If you live in a dorm)

• Bath Towels

• Hand Towels

• Hairbrush

• Toilet Paper

• Tissues

• Shampoo and Conditioner

• Soap

• Deodorant

• Toothpaste and Toothbrush

• Shaving Cream and Razor

• Air Freshener

• Nail Clippers

• Nail File

Laundry Items

• Laundry Basket or Hamper

• Laundry Detergent

• Dryer Sheets

Study Items

• Pencils and Pens

• Notebook Paper

• Highlighters

• Planner

• Scissors

• Ruler

• Desk Lamp

Once you have reviewed these lists, you’ll be able to purchase the items you need for independent living so you can move into your new place with confidence.

You’ve selected a space to call home, you’ve decluttered what’s coming with you, crafted a budget, and purchased the items you need for independent living. Congratulations, now comes moving day. 

Here are some tips to make certain your move is speedy, seamless, and efficient.

• Create a Moving Checklist: Start your big move off on the right foot by getting organized with your own personalized moving checklist. Check out our Moving Checklist for First-Time Renters if you’re making your very first apartment move. 

• Make a Moving Inventory: Know exactly what’s in every box and what all is coming with you when you take the time to create a moving inventory. If you do not have the time or energy to create a full inventory, then label all your boxes thoroughly.

• Separate Essentials to Unpack First: Some items in your household you will use up until the moment of your move and then need again almost immediately upon settling in. Separate these items into essentials boxes so that you can unpack them first. 

• Keep a Bag on Hand: During your move you should keep an essentials and emergencies bag on hand. This bag will contain items like important documents and paperwork, a first aid kit, medications, overnight toiletries, a change of clothes, and cash.

Load ‘em up and move out! You’re officially leaving your parents home behind. 

As you’re moving into your new college home, think about setting your dorm or apartment up in a way that will help you make the most progress in your academic journey.

• Organize Your Space: Take the extra time to designate spaces for everything from your toothbrush to the kitchen can opener. Label your boxes and bins so that you can always know where to return an item if you have gotten it out. This way, you’ll never have to go hunting for something you need again.

• Create a Designated Study Station: Set up an academic workspace in your apartment or dorm. If you do not have the room for a separate home office, make sure you at least have a sturdy desk and comfortable chair. Stock your workspace with your school supplies and textbooks and organize items so that they can be reached easily.

• Decorate for Joy: Put up posters, pictures, and wall-hangings that make you happy when you look at them. Make sure the things you choose to decorate with motivate you to accomplish your goals.

Once you have unpacked and set up your new dorm or apartment for success, you’ll be well on your way to conquering the school year. Best of luck!

Ready to get moved for college? Ask for a quote from All My Sons Moving & Storage and make this a seamless, stress-free move. Our company can take you local to your state school near home or long-distance to that dream college out-of-state. We excel at the special challenge of apartment moving if you’re going to be living the off-campus commuter lifestyle for the school year. Call 1-866-726-1579 to reach one of our 90+ locations across the nation or get started with an online quote.