What I Wish I Knew Before Moving Into Student Housing

Last August, I was frantically scouring TikTok and Reddit for a guide to moving into residence. Jumbled in with ads for extravagant moving bags and horror stories about the building that was about to be my new home, I found a few tips and tricks that actually made move-in day better.

With O-Week around the corner, I thought I’d share some advice on what I learned moving out of my childhood home in Ottawa and into TMU‘s Pitman Hall.

To put it lightly, my move-in was a mess. I was coming off a high from a trip to Costa Rica with my family the day before my scheduled move-in date. I ended up staying overnight in downtown Toronto instead of driving all the way back to Ottawa, but I hadn’t fully organized everything before my trip. My parents drove back to Ottawa to pack up the car and tie up the last loose ends, but everything went wrong the second we opened the trunk to unload into residence.

We hadn’t labelled anything, which the volunteer movers assured us was fine. But as we dropped the last boxes in my room, we realized it looked a little empty. I knew I was packing light, but I didn’t remember it looking this sparse. Then we realized I was missing more than half of my boxes. We checked everywhere, knocked on doors, and talked to residence staff, but they were nowhere to be found.

My parents had to head back to work the day after my move-in. It was my first time moving out, and I was missing more than $2000 worth of items: prescriptions, my mattress topper, decorations, professional cameras, handmade cards, all of it gone.

My lowest point was crying at a restaurant called Flippy’s. I felt like I had gone from peak happiness to rock bottom in a matter of hours. I kept my head up and a smile on my face through all the frosh events, but when I came back to an empty room at the end of the night, I didn’t feel at home.

Just over 48 hours after my parents left, I got a text on Instagram from a friend of a friend: “Hey, are you missing a bunch of stuff?” I have never jumped up so fast. In that exact moment, I was tearing up on a phone call with my parents as we discussed how to begin replacing what I’d lost.

Turns out the moving volunteers had lost us on the way up the stairs, and since my items had no labels, they’d been left in a random room. By the time my friends and I hauled everything to my dorm, classes were about to start and nothing was unpacked.

The first few weeks of school were so busy that my boxes collected dust. I could barely walk around my room without tripping over something. It wasn’t until October that I felt fully moved in.

Although my story isn’t the most reassuring, pretty much everyone I knew had a smooth move-in. I think it’s important to know what could go wrong so you can avoid the headache. If I could do it all over again, here’s what I’d do differently, and what I wish I’d known before moving.

What You Can Do Now

Pack gradually

One of the things that helped me most was tackling my old room in stages over the summer, rather than leaving it all for the last minute, especially with a trip planned. I felt like I had a mountain of tasks ahead of me, and I didn’t want to come home over school breaks to unorganized junk drawers and expired products still sitting there from before I left.

I made “zones” in my room and bathroom and set deadlines for myself each week. For example, one week would be going through the clothes in my closet, and the next would be the cabinet under my sink.

The week before move-in is already chaotic between packing up and trying to see all your hometown friends before they scatter, so it’s best to take a bit off your plate if you can get it done now.

The University Pile

In my basement, I made a pile of things I didn’t need at that moment but could start packing up early. In it, I stored things like decorative pillows, books, and anything I’d bought specifically for university. I found it helpful to start this early because it got me thinking about what I’d actually need. If I was doing a task, I’d always ask myself, “Do I have the items to do this in the fall?” If I realized I wouldn’t, I’d make a note to buy it and add it to the pile. Always thinking ahead about what tools I’d need saved me from a lot of late-night dollar store trips.

At the same time, you don’t need to have everything before moving in. Buying bigger things after I arrived in Toronto, like my hamper and a mirror, saved a ton of room in the car. Your toiletries can be bought from any drugstore, so save the space for what you can’t replace.

Roommates

If you’re living with roommates, talk to them about what items you can share. You don’t want three air fryers or vacuums taking up room in one dorm. Save money where you can.

Living with roommates is different from living with your family, since everyone comes from a different home environment. That might mean one roommate is fine leaving dishes in the sink for days, while another cleans every day. Setting boundaries for who does what, or making a chore chart, can go a long way toward reducing tension.

Packing Hacks

Clothing

• Bunch clothes hung up in the closet together and keep them hanging in garbage bags, so you don’t have to put things back on hangers later
• Pack everything that goes in drawers pre-folded in a suitcase
• Use thick sweaters and jackets as bubble wrap for fragile items
• Put (clean) socks in mugs and glasses to keep them from breaking

The Essentials

• Make a separate, accessible bag with all your everyday toiletries to use while you unpack (my suitcase of necessities from Costa Rica was my lifeline when I was missing everything else)
• Keep your laptop and other valuables in a backpack with your essential toiletries, and keep this bag on your person

Right Before the Move

Plan your route

This is a big one for downtown Toronto, since it’s a zoo during move-in. Most residence buildings and apartments will have a guide online for where to park during your move-in slot, and which streets are best to take as you get close to your building.

Small but mighty

One thing I kept meaning to buy but forgot: a doorstopper. The doors in my building were heavy, and it saves you the hassle of unlocking your front door every time your hands are full.

Move-In Day

Your Boxes

• Label every box with your first and last name, room number, and a way to contact you. I can’t emphasize this enough
• Make an “open me first” box with anything you’ll want right away during the move. For mine, I wanted to clean every surface before putting my stuff down, so my cleaning supplies were the first thing out of the car
• Pack the car in the order you want things to come out. It’s a lot easier to decorate your room once you’ve already figured out where your necessities go

Inquire About Carts and Elevators

• Check whether your building has elevator access. Higher floors are usually prioritized, so lower and mid-floor rooms may be walk-up only
• Don’t pack your bags too heavy, and keep in mind you’ll be doing some walking
• Not every building has carts you can easily access if your bags are heavy

Say Goodbye to Your Old Room

One thing I regret is not taking a moment to properly say goodbye to my childhood bedroom before I left it behind. Do something to mark what the space has meant to you, whether that’s playing video games with friends or lighting a candle and reading. It’s a moment you can look back on, or even recreate, whenever you’re missing home.

To Sum It Up

Living away from home is amazing. You get so much freedom and make so many new friends. Once you leave home, it’s hard to go back, and it can feel all-consuming at first. But once you settle into your new room, it’s going to be great. Your year will go by so quickly, and if you miss anything, don’t worry: reading week is right around the corner. I hope my story can serve as a bit of a warning. Be prepared, and I hope these tips help. Wishing you the smoothest move-in day.