As our summer comes to a close and we begin to settle in to Ames for another year, the stress of move-in day may take a place in the back of our minds.

For many, move-in day is a new beginning. It’s exciting and full of new opportunities. For some, it’s just a day filled with sweat and hard work, and let’s be realistic, maybe a little — or a lot — of anger and frustration.

I’ve moved in to both a residence hall and then to an apartment, and so I would like to share a few of my personal move-in day tips to hopefully make the ride a little smoother.

 1. Timing is everything

There are certain times throughout the day that are more popular for moving in. Late morning and early afternoon seem to be very popular, both for dorms and for apartments. 

To avoid the move-in day rush — and the wait times in lines for elevators or crowded stairways — try to come earlier in the morning or in the evening. However, be sure to check the specific times allowed for moving in with your property manager or resident hall director well beforehand.

 2. Use boxes instead of bags

Try to pack things in laundry baskets or plastic storage bins. Garbage sacks tend to stretch and get holes very easily, so try to avoid those at all costs. Additionally, boxes stack more easily in cars or trailers than bags do. Boxes are also easier to carry and you can easily balance another box on top. Most importantly, you may be using plastic bins to store things in your room anyway, so if you pack up your bin with the items you’d like to keep in it, you can easily stow your box under your bed right away and not have to worry about it again.

 3. Talk to your roommate beforehand

Make sure to plan with your roommate who brings what. You don’t want to both bring a microwave in to your tiny dorm room. In my experience, usually someone will bring the fridge and someone will bring the microwave. Discuss the big things like televisions and futons before. Don’t forget the small things as well. Figure out what you will want for plates and silverware or throw pillows and rugs. Get a plan and stick with it. 

Additionally, decide who is going to move in at what time. When I moved in to the dorms, I tried to move in earlier in the morning and my roommate moved in later on in the day. That way we weren’t both trying to figure things out in our tiny room at the same time.

4. Pack your things in a strategical way

When putting your things in boxes, try to put like items together. For example, keep all your bathroom items in one box, your food and kitchen items in one box and your school supplies in another. This way, you can unpack one box at a time and not be looking around for some stray notebook. This will make moving in organized, easy, timely and efficient.

5. Unpack things in a certain order

Odds are, if you’re moving in on an August day, it’s going to be hot. So when you pack up your car, put the fan on top. That way it’s the first thing you set up in your room and you can be as cool as possible. Bring up a power surge strip early too. Then when you unpack your electronics you won’t have to worry about finding somewhere to plug everything in — you can do it as you go. Also, unpack the big things first. If you’re moving in to an apartment, bring your bed, desk and dresser up first. It’s easier to add the little things once the big things are already in place. If you’re moving in to a dorm and plan on bringing a futon — bring that up first. That way, if you need to take a rest you have a comfortable place to do so — and you can have the fan cooling you off.

6. Bring manpower and assign tasks

You’re going to want to have help moving all that stuff in. Regardless of it being family or friends, more may not always be better. If you have too many people helping out, hallways are bound to get clogged and people will get in each other’s way. A good number to have is three people besides yourself. That way you will have enough help to make the move-in quick but not bump in to each other along the way. Once you have your helpers, be sure to assign each person a task. That way, you can stay out of each other’s way and have an efficient system going on at the same time. Have someone organizing your closet or desk while a tech-savvy person sets up the television and other electronics.

7. Bring a mattress pad

Those dorm beds are probably going to be pretty thin and a little uncomfortable. Don’t forget to bring a pad to add a little extra comfort. You don’t have to go out and buy some really expensive memory foam — I got mine from Wal-Mart for about $20 — and it was really comfortable.

8. Don’t bring everything at once

You might think it easy to bring everything right away. But both dorms and apartments can be a little pressed for space. For the first few weeks, try to only bring the necessary things. You can decide then if you have enough room to bring some extra clothes or to put a printer on your desk. 

In addition, you probably don’t want to bring all your winter clothes up yet either. You can switch your shorts and sandals for your coats and boots when you go home for Thanksgiving break.

9. Bring water

Like I said, if you move in on an August day, it’s bound to be hot. Bring water bottles to stay hydrated. Bring snacks as well to keep up enough energy to haul all your things into your room. Also make sure you stay comfortable to avoid any grumpy moods and fights with your friends or family while moving in.

10. Have fun with it

Yes, moving in can be stressful and sad. However, this is also an exciting time for both you and your family. You’re starting a new chapter of your life — whether it’s your first year at Iowa State or just a new year here. Be sure to joke around a bit and try to relax. The day will be over before you know it.