As the academic year 2022/23 is coming to an end, many LSE students are moving out of their halls. I’m here to share my tips on how to prepare for moving out from halls – this will be particularly useful for those of you considering to stay in LSE halls next year!
Research available storage options
I’d strongly recommend that you look out for storage companies as early as possible, way before your student halls contract ends. If you take everything back home with you over the summer break, it will cause you double the hassle, since you’ll have to carry the same luggage back to wherever you’re staying next year in London. If you’re an international student, you might even incur extra charges for additional luggage weight. Bearing this in mind, you should research the best storage option for you beforehand – preferably sometime in April before you get busy with the end-of-year assessments. If you have a close acquaintance in the UK, ask if you can store your belongings in their house over the summer break. This is the safest (and probably the cheapest) option. If you’re like me, however, and have no one to ask, you should pay a storage company. Most self-storage only provides a space to store your goods. You’re responsible for moving your belongings if delivery service is not included. Trust me, everyone becomes eager to sign the contract with the storage company between May and June (when their moving-out date is close). So, it’s much better to decide what suits you the most in April, so that you can easily store your goods before you leave.
Here comes the paperwork
If you end up sticking with the self-storage company, you should discuss your options with the storage officer. This includes the ideal size of storage space that you require, the duration of your contract (how long you aim to store your stuff for), and the cost of your storage. Some firms offer student discounts if you bring your LSE student ID card. Some recommended criteria to judge the storage companies include the distance from your accommodation next year, cost, additional free services the company provides, and so on. Each company has a different policy, so I recommend that you get a quote from several companies before you make a final decision.
Once you decide on the company, that’s when you should book your visit and sign your contract a week before your moving out day. Beware that some companies will charge you the first monthly cost on the day you sign your contract.
Endless packing
Now it’s time to pack your belongings. While it’s possible to order packaging boxes online, this option can sometimes prove too expensive. A tip of mine, therefore, is to recycle the boxes you got from online shopping throughout the year. Don’t throw away those Amazon or Hello Fresh boxes – they can be valuable boxes to store your clothes in!
As you begin to pack, you’ll realise that you’ve never used some of your goods throughout the year. Be realistic. If you didn’t use something for a year, you won’t need it in the next year or two. Create a list of items you’ll dispose of and donate. Remove them from your room as soon as possible – you’ll need space to place the boxes!
Eat up, and move
Most self-storage companies prohibit storing any food items. If you’ve got food or beverages, don’t leave them in the fridge until the last minute.
Now onto moving your boxes. If your storage includes a delivery service, all you have to do is hand them your luggage on the move-out date. If not, maybe ask your friends to help you move your boxes, or call a courier service company. Beware that courier service companies charge you extra costs if they help you with loading and unloading your stuff – they are only responsible for delivering your belongings to a particular destination.
Always check your budget before you start planning to move out. Also, as I said above, start early. By leaving everything to the last minute, you might run into unecessary trouble on the moving out day!
