movers – TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

April 8, 2019April 29, 2019 Movers Who Blog Moving, Uncategorized

A day in the life of a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® mover

Last month, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK kicked off its 7^th annual Career Move Month campaign to boost hiring efforts at franchise locations across the country, and the theme of hiring continues into the month of April.

We’re always looking to add talented, hardworking individuals to our franchise teams – especially movers and drivers – as we prepare for the busy moving season. In 2019, we’re also hosting statewide Day of Hiring events across five different states on the following dates:

Michigan – April 10

Illinois – April 17

Florida – April 24

North Carolina – April 25

Texas – May 1

These hiring events are a great way to get out and see what our company has to offer in terms of career opportunities, and for potential employees to get a taste of company culture.

Being a mover or driver with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is more than just moving people’s belongings – it’s finding a way to make an impact on the lives of our customers, and also a good way to build a career. We preach career advancement here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, and a large number of our franchisees started off in frontline positions. Plus, being a mover or driver is an incredibly rewarding experience!

“My favorite thing about working at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is the overall atmosphere, sense of accomplishment, and change in environment,” said Matt Wasalaski, a mover at our Brighton, Mich., franchise. “I enjoy the customers I work for, the employees I work with, and after a hard day’s work, I can always hold my head high knowing me and my crew helped someone during a stressful situation in their lives. In one word, I would describe this job as rewarding.”

So what does a day in the life of a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK mover and driver look like?

How does a typical day start as a mover/driver?

“Usually, we just prep our trucks and make sure we have the right equipment for the upcoming move. We call the customer ahead of time and ask them if there is anything they need like boxes, or if they have changed their mind on something last second so we can adjust and bring the proper equipment.”
– Jose Morales

How long does a typical day for a mover/driver last?

“It all varies on a lot of different things. Usually for us, the average is anywhere from six to 12 hours on a normal day. What changes it up is anything from someone having only a little bit of items to longer walks, apartment moves and condo moves, and parking difficulties, which all affect the time.” – Jose Morales

What do you do to make customers feel comfortable during a home move?

“I would say the biggest thing is getting to know the customer. At the end of the day, you have a service you are performing for them, but nothing is better than actually knowing you on a more personal level, because then they trust you more and you trust them more, and it adds to the overall experience of the move.” – Jabrion Burnside

What’s your favorite aspect of being a mover for your franchise?

“Meeting new people every day. Seeing beautiful homes and scenery. Getting an amazing workout in with every job we complete. I don’t really have a favorite aspect of my job, because I LOVE my job (I know, sounds silly). I love my crew, I love the look on customers’ faces when they see me get out of the drivers’ side of the truck, I love turning a completely stressful situation for the customer into an enjoyable and successful one.” – Laurel Bergeron

If making a difference in the lives of others and having an impact on your community interests you, then a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK mover or driver position might be for you! Visit our careers website to learn about all the wonderful job opportunities we have available.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

February 11, 2019March 4, 2019 Movers Who Blog Hiring Professional Movers, Moving, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Uncategorized

Taking a minute to discuss rogue moving companies

There’s no denying that moving is stressful. Shifting all of your personal belongings to a new home can take an emotional toll as you leave behind a place that is special to you or transition to a new phase of your life.

With all of the emotional factors that come with moving, it’s important the moving company you hire is one you can trust. Time and time again, you hear of nightmare stories involving fraudulent moving companies that wreak havoc for unsuspecting customers.

At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, this is what we aim to eliminate. We want to take the unnecessary stresses out of your life during the time of moving so you can focus on what’s important.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK CEO Jon Nobis took time to address this issue and assure our loyal and potential customers that we are a trustworthy brand, and deserving of the nickname “Movers Who Care®”.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

July 16, 2018August 6, 2018 Movers Who Blog Career Opportunities, Hiring Professional Movers, Moving, Our People, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Uncategorized

What’s it like to be a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® mover?

-Written by Erik Sargent

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK teams are fully submerged into the busy moving season all around the country and internationally, as our professional moving teams are working harder than ever to move people to their next steps in life.

Being a home mover is an incredibly taxing profession, and at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, we strive to hire the best team members to enter our customers’ homes and move their most prized possessions. It’s a rewarding experience for our moving teams as they establish relationships with customers and truly lend them a helping hand with one of life’s most stressful events.

We spoke with team members from our Pasadena, Cali., location to find out just what goes into a day in the life as a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK mover or driver.

Here’s what they had to say!

How does a typical day start as a mover/driver?

How long does it take to get ready?

“It varies, depending on whether the truck needs something special like boxes, or if the truck needs to be swept out. It all varies, but it’s usually between 15 and 20 minutes, 30 minutes at the most to get ready to go.” – Abraham Baustista

How long does a typical day for a mover/driver last?

Favorite parts of your job?

“I would have to say the people that work here. I do have a lot of experience working at different places, and I can say that from day one when I started here, I was a little nervous because I didn’t know anyone. But the thing about this company is they do a very good job of just getting you used to the environment, the people, and literally by my fourth or fifth day, I knew everyone. That’s just my favorite thing – the comradery in the office is what keeps us going.” – Jabrion Burnside

Challenges on the job?

“Definitely the heat. Lifting is not easy, and you’re already producing a lot of heat as is. When you add in the sun on you and how hot the truck can get, it sometimes just wears on you and can slow you down. Also, since we are in California and specifically the Los Angeles area, traffic can get really, really bad.” – Abraham Bautista

What do you do to make customers feel comfortable during a home move?

There you have it! Moving is one of the tougher jobs you’ll find, but when you have hardworking professionals like these three young men – and the team members at all 350 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK locations – it can make your moving process a little bit easier.

To learn more about how the outstanding movers like this can help you with your upcoming move, click here!

June 12, 2017June 22, 2017 Movers Who Blog Business Growth, Hiring Professional Movers, Moving, Moving with kids, Our People, Preparing to Move, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® prepares to move people forward with 2017 Busiest Move Weekend

-Written by Erik Sargent

The summer season is upon us! And that means warmer weather, sunshine, and moving! The busiest time for moving around the country starts during the month of May and peaks around July, according to the American Moving and Storage Association.

As the “Movers Who Care®”, we at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® are gearing up for our own busy season, and our Busiest Move Weekend which falls June 23, 24, and 25. That weekend alone, we’re expected to complete more than 5,500 moves! This averages out to 20 moves per franchise with an average distance traveled of around 25 miles for our move teams.

“Busiest Move Weekend is something we are excited to celebrate each year,” said TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® CEO Jeff Wesley. “Our locations take pride in our ability to move people forward each year with the best customer service experience in the industry. We are also excited to launch our new Value Flex® service this busy season, which is just another way we continue to serve our customers with a new, long-distance service.”

With more than 350 franchise locations in the United States, we will have our plates full with “Busiest Move Weekend”, and the amount of customers we’ll reach is bigger than ever before. Having recently completed our 6.5 millionth move, there isn’t a moving situation we aren’t prepared for in the moving and packing world.

St. Louis (MO), Columbus (OH), Des Moines (IA), Colorado Springs (CO), Tulsa (OK), Milwaukee (WI), Birmingham (AL), Charlotte (NC), Columbia (SC), and Cleveland (OH) are a few franchises within our system projected to knock out the most moves during this busy weekend, showing our reach across the map, moving our customers forward to a new stage in life.

If you are looking to complete a move this summer, look no further than TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®! Give us a call today, and find out how we can be of assistance. If you are scheduled to complete a move this summer, follow these outstanding moving tips we’ve gathered over the past 30 years of moving experience to make sure you’re as prepared as you can be when the big day comes.

Stay organized

It’s important to make sure when the movers arrive at your door, you’re ready to go with everything you need. Making sure all of your things are packed away in the correct boxes is key. Visit our packing and supplies page, here, to find out how we can assist you with packing services, or how we can provide you the proper packing materials.

It’s also a good idea to make sure all of your appliances are unplugged, and to make sure there is enough space throughout your home for the movers to navigate throughout the process.

Communication is key

We’ve been in the moving business long enough to know good communication between us and the customer, is critical to a positive experience. Be sure you have boxes labeled and your movers know where everything belongs in your new home. It’s also a good idea to know who your contact is at the office should you have questions or need anything else during or after your move.

Call for a free estimate today, and work with us to find out all of the details prior to your move so that when the day comes, everything is scheduled correctly and we can get you on your way.

Don’t stress – we’ve got this!

Moving can be a stressful time, but when you hire TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, there’s no need to worry. We try our best to take all of the stress out of the moving process, and do everything to make sure our customers receive the best service possible.

May 1, 2017May 17, 2017 Movers Who Blog Moving, News, Our People, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Uncategorized

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® moving teams find their way into news spotlight

-Written by Erik Sargent

With more than 370 locations around the country, the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® brand reaches far and wide, and our outstanding teams continue to make an impact within their local communities.

With an incredible amount of move heroes across the system, the positive news continues to pour out from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchises all across the map, full of stories featuring prominent movers, going above and beyond to assist customers and members of the community.

Here are some of the recent headlines from the “Movers Who Care®”.

Miami movers act quickly in time of crisis

20136 — **TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®** President Randy Shacka recognizes the members from the Miami move team.

When Miami movers Telaysis Lee, Eliel Perez, and Danny Hogan left for a normal Friday morning move in early March, they could have never anticipated how the day would end as they dispatched.

After honking at a reckless driver who came close to interfering with their truck, a situation escalated with the driver continuing to follow them, and eventually using a gun to fire shots at the truck. Driver Eliel Perez was struck in the face, and his fellow team members acted quickly to help their co-worker.

“I thought we were in a movie, it didn’t feel like it was real,” Lee said. “It says a lot about us. It shows that we all have great judgment, and good character. It brought Eliel and me a lot closer as friends.”

Both Lee and Hogan didn’t skip a beat when reacting, with the duo calling 911 immediately, and using work shirts to cover the wounds on Eliel’s face to prevent further bleeding. They also provided him with water and comfort to help calm him down in the situation.

“It was very shocking and I am just glad to be alive,” Perez said. “The guys worked very well. If they were not there, I would have passed out, and I don’t know if I would still be here or not.”

Wisconsin movers assist woman who crashed near move

Team members Murl Monroe, Marshon Bogan, and Deonte Walton from the Racine, Wisc., TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise were in the middle of a move when the crew heard a car crash into a tree roughly 100 feet from the move.

Continuing the theme of “Movers Who Care®”, the movers immediately dropped what they were doing and ran to the accident, which could have been a life-saving effort. The team members recognized upon arrival to the scene that the driver was having a seizure, and quickly called 911 while checking on the woman.

The crew also recognized the woman had a 6-year-old in the backseat, and quickly pulled him out and away from the accident to safety. It speaks to the overall character of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® team members, and shows impact the brand makes in all aspects of life.

“I was not surprised by their reaction at all, these guys are just this way,” said TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Madison Franchisee Tim Lightner. “They would take the shirt off of their back for you if they thought it would help. They work hard, take care of customers, each other, and they live out the ‘Moving People Forward”’ theme each day in the field. There are many other stories, like helping people stuck in a ditch, carrying groceries for non-customers who need help, and many more. These guys are total rock stars who quietly get it done every day.”

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® completes series of White House moves

No move is too big or too difficult for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® brand, and that was on full-display with the Arlington, Va., franchise as they recently completed a series of moves for the most high-profile building in the country – The White House.

Team members from the Arlington franchise helped the White House staff complete moves for various members of the RNC, and also completed moves of furniture for the White House. It’s not a normal moving process by any means, and everything is closely monitored by White House personnel.

“When moving to the White House, we are only allowed to move the items to the door,” said TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Arlington Franchisee Martin Pollack. “Once furniture gets to the door, the White House staff takes over doing the moving to the final location within the building.”

Along with not being allowed access into the building, team members are required to undergo numerous rounds of special clearance to be allowed to handle the belongings of high-profile staffers.

“We first had to get TSA security clearance prior to each of the moves that we did,” Pollack said. “We had to provide information on the employee’s names, social security numbers, date of birth, and vehicle information. This allowed us to be pre-cleared to get the gate access. Once we arrived at the White House, we had to then go through an additional screening by Secret Service. The trucks were screen by K-9s, X-Ray, and other security measures.”

April 17, 2017May 8, 2017 Movers Who Blog Leadership, Our People, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Uncategorized

Patrick Worthy humbled, motivated by TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Move Hero award

–Written by Erik Sargent

The core values of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® aren’t just a list of ideas, they’re a way of life that each team member in the system strives to live by daily, in both their professional and personal lives.

One example are team members that exemplify this motto set by our brand, who are consistent in making a positive impact for the customers we are moving forward. We have begun recognizing these team members as TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Move Heroes, and it’s a prestigious award given out to extremely deserving candidates.

This year at the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, two system employees – Patrick Worthy and Stephan Eveland – were both honored as this year’s Move Heroes. Worthy is a training manager at the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina location, and was recognized for his outstanding ability to always put others before himself in everything he does at work.

“Being nominated as a Move Hero winner was very humbling,” Worthy said. “I was honored to be recognized among my colleagues as one who conveys heart toward others, which is demonstrated by the energy given toward whatever task is before me.”

When Worthy found out he was nominated by his franchisee – Brooke Wilson – he found himself engulfed in emotion, and was extremely thankful to be honored for his work.

“Some of the swirling emotions that I felt when I found out I was the recipient of the Move Hero award were that of excitement and awe,” Worthy said. “I was totally surprised, and felt an overwhelming sense of joy and gratefulness to be acknowledged for serving.”

For Wilson, nominating Worthy was a no-brainer given the consistent level of customer service he provides and with the positivity he brings to the Durham office.

While there were numerous people around the office Wilson felt were deserving of the nomination, she felt Worthy truly exemplified what it meant to be a “hero”.

“Patrick is a mentor to our staff. He strives to create a positive influence in everything that he does, whether it’s with employees or customers,” Wilson said. “Through his actions, he represents the core values of business and communicates the importance of the core values in training our people, not just as a professional, but also in their personal lives.”

Wilson noted that Worthy stands for everything she hopes her employees at the Durham franchise stands for, and he carries himself like a leader throughout their community.

“Patrick is a true representation of what we want to see in all of our staff members,” Wilson said. “Someone that strives to positively influence those around them. In a training position for our business, he instills a commitment to care with all new hires. He leads by example, and mentors employees.”

Faith is also a major part of Worthy’s life, and something he tries to implement into every action. While he appreciates the accolades he has been able to receive, he’s more proud of the impact that he’s been able to make with those around him.

Moving forward, he said he plans on continuing to do what he does best – help people. He’s thankful for the opportunity TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® gives him, and he will continue to live by the core values that helped him earn the Move Hero award.

“What I do each day is try to implement the core values,” Worthy said. “The core values keep up with the standards of God – do onto others as you would have them do unto you. I’m grateful to be a part of a system that is much larger than me. To create culture that adheres to the core values takes each individual buying in. Every day I try to practice this with those I come in contact with.”

August 29, 2016 Movers Who Blog Hiring Professional Movers, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

What to expect from professional movers

It’s no secret, moving can be a difficult task! Between packing up your belongings and preparing the kids for a new school, you may find yourself overwhelmed with the options before you when it comes to hiring professional movers to help.

At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, we have more than 30 years of experience in the moving industry and make it our top priority for our trained, uniformed, and caring teams to exceed your expectations. We treat your items like our own and strive to make your moving experience stress-free and enjoyable.

We asked our move heroes what customers can expect when they move with the Movers Who Care®, here’s what they had to say.

Like us on Facebook for more helpful tips and updates. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward!

August 1, 2016September 6, 2016 Movers Who Blog Moving, Organizing, Preparing to Move, Tips and Tricks

Surviving your move: What to know about moving into your first apartment

Apartment moving pic

Written by Katie Peterson

At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® we know moving can have its fair share of challenges. There’s the packing, the cleaning, and let’s not even mention move day itself. Moving into your first place is stressful, and apartment moving has its own set of headaches. Neighbors are more like roommates, there are a ton of rules and regulations while renting an apartment, and what about all those stairs? We’ve come up with some tips to help you survive your first apartment move.

Ask questions

-Ask the landlord about any concerns beforehand. Good questions to ask might include what kind of maintenance is available if something goes wrong in the apartment, how old the building is, and even questions about the previous tenants. Your landlord will love bragging about any new construction, and you will be making a more informed decision about your new place as a result.

-If you have a chance, talk to some of the current residents of the building while you are there. What do they think of the landlord? How are the other tenants in the apartment? This will help you make an informed decision about the apartment and give you a chance to introduce yourself to some of your future neighbors if you are already serious about renting.

Be prepared and organized

The actual move into your new apartment is all about being prepared and organized throughout the process. With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way.

Before your move:

-Make sure to bring paper documentation to your lease signing. This might include proof of employment or a copy of your lease with highlighted areas you might have questions on. Especially in competitive markets where multiple tenants are looking to rent, it pays to be prepared! This will also give your landlord a good idea of your trustworthiness and ability to bring important documents in on time (like your rent).

-Schedule a walk-through of the apartment with your landlord before you move in. This is a good opportunity to take photos of the condition of the apartment for reference when you are negotiating your security deposit. The photos can also be used to ensure you took care of the apartment when you eventually move out and want your deposit back.

-Measure the dimensions of your new apartment before you buy furniture or bring in items you already own. This will save you the headache of having to return any items that won’t fit, and the backache of your movers trying to fit the furniture through the door. Important spots to measure include the area for a washer and dryer and the nook for your refrigerator (if you have to supply them), tight doorways, and wall space for seating.

On move day:

-First things first, clean every nook and cranny of your new apartment! Scrub all those places you won’t ever be able to get to once your furniture is moved in, and even the places you will. It will save time and energy later in the day when all you have to do is a quick trip around the apartment with the vacuum.

-Schedule a timeframe to move into your new place at a reasonable and respectable time. The earlier, the better! Make sure you have enough time to finish moving in before residents in your apartment building are thinking about going to sleep. Your neighbors will appreciate meeting you during daylight hours as opposed to when they are complaining about the noise in their pajamas.

-Schedule any big items you’ve purchased to be delivered on separate days or spaced apart on the day of your move. Items such as mattresses and large furniture pieces will have their own deliveries and can create inconveniences on move-in day if arriving all at once. The day after your move, or a few hours after the movers have gone, are good times to schedule these deliveries to ensure the elevators and parking lots aren’t crowded and remain accessible to other tenants.

Be friendly and considerate

-This probably goes without saying, but be friendly! Introduce yourself to your surrounding neighbors. Even if you don’t go around knocking on your neighbors’ doors be sure to say “hi” in passing or on the elevator. You might make new friends, or at the very least, get to know their names in case their mail ends up in your box by accident.

-Make sure your landlord knows who you are and has a face to go with your name. It will be useful for him/her to know you in case you have a maintenance problem or you are a few days late on the rent. A little effort will ensure your landlord knows you as more than just a name on a check.

-Be considerate of the noise level and your activities at certain hours. Bouncing a basketball in your room on the third floor is never a good idea, especially if it’s at three o’clock in the morning.

Moving into your own apartment for the first time can be exciting, scary, and stressful all wrapped up in one. Making preparations beforehand, staying organized, and being considerate of your neighbors are great ways to help you survive your first apartment move!

What advice do you have for moving into your first apartment? We’d like to hear! Like us on Facebook for more helpful tips and updates. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward!

July 5, 2016June 29, 2016 Movers Who Blog Moving, Packing, Preparing to Move, Tips and Tricks, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Moving with kids: avoid the moving day blues

TMAT306

Written by Katie Peterson

In movies, it always seems like moving is just about the worst news a kid can hear. Boxes are packed, the sad music plays, and it starts raining just as the car pulls out of the driveway, right past the “sold” sign in the front yard. But moving with kids does not have to be a dramatic movie plot-twist. Here’s how to help your kids avoid the moving blues and maybe even have a little fun along the way!

Before the move

Move meeting

Conduct a family “move meeting” to talk about the process and ease their nerves about the move. The more your children feel involved in the decision making, the less they will feel like they are being forced to do something they don’t want to do. Create a moving day plan so they may check off the events as they happen. For example, 1. Movers arrive, 2. Truck is all loaded up, 3. Drive to new house … and so on.

Start planning their new room

Help your child plan their new room setup and design. Take your child to the new place and have them talk about where they want to put their furniture or what color they want to paint their walls. This will help build up their excitement and give them fun decisions to make.

New owner letter

Sit down with the whole family and write a letter to the new owners of your home. This can be a fun and memorable experience for everyone. Tell the family moving in why the house is special and what they need to know going in, such as the first bedroom being the best room for making forts or the neighbor’s cat Frisky often wanders toward the apple blossom tree in the back yard. The family will have fun remembering stories while you write and the new owners will love the personal instruction guide.

During the move

Put them to work!

Assign age-appropriate tasks for the kids. Utilize those extra helping hands! Older kids might be able to help label or tape boxes while younger kids help wipe down tables or clean windows. Make a game out of these mini tasks by awarding winners for the fastest packer or the most rooms vacuumed.

“Day of move” box

Pack a “Day of Move” box for each child to keep their favorite small items with them. Packing all of your belongings into boxes and putting them in the back of a moving truck can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t quite understand where your stuff will end up. Your child might even like Truckie’s moving journal to write down some of their thoughts about the move to keep with them. If your kids have some of their favorite things, they will feel more comfortable with the rest of their belongings being packed .

After the move

Go exploring

Explore your new neighborhood! Once your tennis shoes are finally unpacked, take a stroll around the neighborhood with the kids. This will be a great opportunity to get familiar with the area and maybe meet some of your neighbors.

It’s all about attitude

Stay positive and keep your excitement up. Make sure your kids know how happy you are to be in the new house. Your kids will feed off of your energy and how you are reacting to the move, so if you are positive and excited about it, chances are they will be, too!

Moving with kids can be tough, but with the right preparation and a positive mindset, you can make moving with your kids a memorable adventure.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

July 27, 2015July 24, 2015 Movers Who Blog Moving

College moving 101: tips for your first move

Written by Corinne DeVries

Where do you even begin?! Preparing for your first move to college can be stressful and overwhelming, to say the least. The uncertainty surrounding what will soon be your college life is looming ahead. You’re not sure where everything on campus is, where your room is, what you should pack, if your new peers will be welcoming, or if you’ll get everything done before your move in date.

Thankfully we have quite a few college moving experts on hand to offer their advice on expertly preparing you for your move, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about!

Getting started and getting there

Most universities and colleges begin sending brochures, flyers, and check-up emails a mont College moving h or two in advance to prepare you to move in. Often, among these materials will be a list of suggested items you need to bring. This is a good way to start your list of items you know you need to bring. Another important thing to remember is most campuses get crazy busy during move-in days. A high influx of cars are on campus, makes parking and getting to your dorm or apartment just short of impossible. Be sure you check what time you are scheduled to move in and where you can park to unload your belongings, and try to stick with this schedule! A lot of students will be moving in on the same day, and if you try to move in at a different time, there may not be a place to park and unload. Lastly, on move day, give yourself a little extra time to get there—there are many people in one area, and getting through campus or around town can take a lot longer than usual, and you want to make sure you are punctual for your move-in time.

Roommate bonding

It’s a good idea to get to know your roommate and become familiar with them so you don’t feel like you’re moving in with a total stranger. Meeting up to grab lunch is the best way to introduce yourself but if you don’t have time, or you roommate doesn’t live near you, you can always chat online or over the phone. This way you can find out what they like to do in their free time, as well as figure out who will be bringing what items. The typical list of items students share with their roommates are things like a futon, fridge, microwave, TV, carpet, etc.!

Sharing a bathroom

Check if your dorm is suite style or community bath. If you’re in a suite style dorm, you will want to stock up on cleaning supplies. Usually with four people plus your friends that come over, your bathroom gets gross pretty quickly. Get to know your suitemates and set up a weekly cleaning schedule for the bathroom. Since cleaning supplies can be a hassle to pack, you will most likely want to find the local convenience store once you move in, and get cleaning supplies for your bathroom.

If your dorm has community bath, you will probably want to invest in a carrier for your shampoo/conditioner, tooth brush, razors etc. to make trips to the bathroom simple. You can just grab your carrier rather than trying to carry everything in your arms. Sometimes toiletries can be awkward to pack. If you don’t want to deal with trying to find a place to squeeze your toiletries in with all of your clothes on move day, you may want to wait and buy these items at the convenience store once you arrive.

Other essentials

Be sure to read through all of the information the university has sent you about measurements. All dorms are different, so before buying your futon, carpet, or fridge, check the size of your room to ensure what you’re buying will all fit in your room. Also, double check things like bed size. Some bunk beds or lofts in college dorms are longer or a different size than your average twin bed. If you’re planning to buy your own sheets, double check the bed size to make sure the sheets will fit.

Linen agreements

Some campuses offer linen agreements for on-campus living. So if you don’t want to go out and find sheets that fit, check to see if your campus offers a linen agreement. Often linen agreements include washing the sheets as well as shower towels. These items usually need to be returned at the end of the year during checkout, but it’s one less thing to pack!

In addition, check the laundry situation in your dorm. There may be washers and dryers in your dorm hall. Some campuses may include the use of the machines in your housing contract. However, some may require you to use cards or quarters. If this is the case, you may want to bring quarters or find a nearby location where you can exchange cash for quarters!

Survival kit

Some things you may not think about when moving into the dorm is that you will most likely get sick whether it be a cold, the flu, migraines, or maybe you will get a really bad paper cut! Or for those bad days where you seem to be spilling everything, whether it be on your carpet, desk, or even on yourself, there are a few things you will want to pack:

First aid: bandages, antibiotic and hydrocortisone ointments, pain killers, digital thermometer, decongestant, and antacids
Laundry: detergent, stain remover stick, and fabric softener
Cleaning: antibacterial wipes, glass cleaning wipes, microfiber dust cloth, roll of paper towels, broom, and dustpan

Tips

Pack light
- The dorms aren’t very big and there isn’t a lot of room for clutter. Try to only pack the essentials with maybe a few decorative items such as pictures of family and high school friends to make it feel more like home.
- It may be easy to pack clothes in a suitcase, however there isn’t a lot of storage space in a dorm room so try to pack clothes in garbage bags or something that can be easily thrown away or stored for when it’s time to move out again.
Pack like things together
- If you pack similar belongings together, it makes unpacking on arrival so much easier.
Tool kit
- Bring a tool kit for move in day and have it handy in case you want to loft/de-loft your bed, put together a table you brought, or something of the sort.
Explore
- Introduce yourself to people living on your floor or in your hall. The friends you make in college will likely become lifelong friends.

Also find nearby convenience stores because we all know there is that one thing you forgot to pack and you won’t be able to wait for mom to send it to you in the mail.

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