Six things to consider while preparing to move out

Written by Kaitlynne Rainne, Illustration by Abby Chadwick

It’s that time of the year again! With only one week left of the quarter, SCAD students are buzzing around completing finals, hosting thesis exhibitions, hitting up their favorite Savannah spots before heading back home for the summer and of course, the dreaded yet inevitable task of packing. Now, there are two categories of students when it comes to packing – the ones who cannot wait to clean out their dorm/apartment and hit the roads or the ones who dread having to meticulously remove command strips and say goodbye to the space they called home for the past year. 

Regardless of which category you may fall into, packing and moving out is unavoidable. It’s happening. For our veteran students (the ones who’ve been doing this for the past few years) or for our first-year students, we got you!

District is here to help with some packing tips and having been a part of Residence Life and Housing for the past twelve quarters, I’m excited to be able to put together this fun listicle for everyone! 

• Make a packing list: Believe me, it seems like such a trivial thing to do but I’ve been there. Halfway through packing and moving thinking I’d gotten everything only to realize that there were still a few drawers and stray art supplies I didn’t account for. Whether it’s by a spreadsheet, notion template or by the trusty pen and paper, it’ll make things a lot easier for you if you go through each nook and cranny of your place, making notes of which things are where and how you’re planning on grouping them into boxes. 

• Contact your landlord/resident assistants: There’s nothing worse than running into surprise issues or unexpected charges when it comes to moving out. So, the easiest thing for both you and your wallet is to contact whoever is responsible for where you live and get detailed information on moving out. Knowing your move-out procedure will help you feel less stressed. For our first-years and upperclassmen who live in the dorms, each of your Residence Halls is equipped with all the necessary paperwork and answers if you have any questions! 

• Separate into groups: Now this would come after you’ve compiled a list of everything you have but once that’s done, you’ll want to separate everything into groups. Depending on what you have or what you’re planning, you could have three general groups: Donations, Keep/Storage and Take Home. It’s a simple method that will not only help packing seem less daunting but it’ll help you organize in the process. 

• Increments: With the number of art supplies we’re required to get each quarter, by the end of Spring, we’ve accumulated a lot. Not to mention all the personal items and room decor as well. So, to spare your sanity which is already being stolen by finals, it’ll be easier to pack by increments. A little each day in boxes or donation pods and if you can manage to take multiple trips out to your storage unit, I’d wholly recommend doing so! 

• Storage: On the topic of storage, let’s just say it. It is expensive. After a year of paying art school tuition, no one wants to be breaking the bank on storage units. So, gather up some friends, roommates or suitemates and split a storage unit! 

• Clean: I think this comes without say but, but dusting the furniture, taking out the trash, cleaning the bathroom and cleaning out the fridge are all important to do. Especially since there can be a cleaning fee that’s charged for an unclean room. A tip is making a list of all of the areas that need cleaning and dividing and conquering amongst your roommates. 

Lastly, take a breath. You’ve done it. Week 10 can become a very stressful time for everyone and it gets even more chaotic with packing and moving out. Just know that you’re almost there! And (cue Bob Marley) Every little thing will be alright!