If you’re moving into new student accommodation, whether it’s at your university’s dormitory or a shared flat, then there’s a good chance you’ll need student movers to help you make the move.
What are student movers? It’s simply another name for a removal company; or “man with a van” who can help you when moving your possessions from where you’re currently living to your new place. They can often help you with storage too.
Keep reading for more information on the types of things that affect the cost of hiring student movers, the best way to find them and general advice on making your first move as a student.
Student surrounded by boxes
How much does it cost to hire student movers?
The cost of a student mover service will vary depending on a few key things. The main ones are:
- The amount you have to move – The volume of items you have to move will certainly affect how much you pay. For student movers, there’s usually very little to move when compared to a full house move, so it should be affordable and in most cases, a single small van will be enough.
- The distance to travel – The distance you need to travel will be taken into account too. Most student moves are within the same city but depending on the size of the city, there can still be quite a distance from where you’re currently living and where you’re moving to.
- Any additional services – Additional services usually refer to things like packing and cleaning services. The latter isn’t often required for student moves but packing can be a useful additional service if you don’t want to do it yourself and don’t mind paying extra.
- Packing materials – Packing materials can usually be supplied by the moving company you hire and this will also be added to the cost. Of course, if you already have your own boxes and other materials, you can save money by using them instead.
What sorts of services do student movers offer?
The two main services that student movers provide are student removals and student shipping. They’re both similar, in that they’re designed to help students move their possessions but they’re used for quite different purposes.
Below is an explanation of both.
- Student removals
Student removals is a service for students who need to move their possessions from their current home to their new one. The movers will load your possessions onto a van or truck and unload them where you’re going to be staying for the upcoming semester, whether it’s a shared flat/house; or your university’s dorms.
There are sometimes additional services available for student removals, such as packing and cleaning but this isn’t always the case.
- Student shipping
Student shipping is for students who are travelling long distances and need to take their possessions with them. This might be foreign students who are going back home; or students who are on a gap year and travelling. In either case, student movers will be able to ship your items to the location of your choice.
Going to the airport with all your possessions is impractical and depending on how much you have, there’s a good chance you wouldn’t be able to take them with you. Student shipping helps you avoid this problem and can have your possessions sent to any part of the country or overseas.
What’s the best way to find movers for students?
If you’re about to start a new university semester soon, then you’re likely going to need the services of student movers. But what are the best ways to go about finding them?
- Google search – A Google search is the most obvious way to find student movers in your area. It will give you the ability to look through many different companies and decide which is right for you depending on what your needs are. You can also use a quote comparison service to get quotes from multiple companies at once.
- Recommendations – An alternative to using Google is getting recommendations. If you know other students, then they’re the ideal ones to ask, especially if they’ve used them recently.
Saving money on student movers
Being a student can come with a lot of expenses already, so anything you can do to mitigate that is worth doing. Considering this, below are a couple of great ways to save money when hiring student movers –
- Get quotes from different companies – This is the most obvious way to save money but is an often overlooked one. The rates for student movers can vary quite a bit from one company to the next, so it’s always worth getting at least 2-3 quotes to compare.
- Declutter and pack light – Moving from home for the first time is a great excuse to declutter your room. Not only will this help to make it a more enjoyable place to live, it will also help reduce the number of items you need to take with you and decrease what you pay for student movers.
Advice for making your first move
Of course, making your first move from home as a student isn’t just about organising for your stuff to be taken to your new place. Below are some other great tips for new students living away from home for the first time.
Set a budget for yourself
One of the best habits you can establish early on when you’re living alone for the first time is to set a budget for yourself. If you’ve not been used to paying for the daily essentials, then it can come as a shock just how much they add up. It’s easy to end up spending all your money on things like the cinema, going out, drinks etc. and leave yourself very little for the essentials like food, clothing and your mobile phone bill.
Only pack what you need
If you’re moving from home for the first time, it might be a good idea to take everything you have to your new place. This isn’t the best idea, however. Not only is it going to make it more time-consuming and stressful to pack everything but you’ll also have to pay more to have it moved.
It’s better to only pack the things you’re really going to need and use. Things like your phone, laptop, clothes and toiletries are obviously important but anything that you’re not likely to use on a daily basis is usually best left behind. You can always go back for anything you find you need later.
Familiarise yourself with your surroundings – This doesn’t just mean the dorm or flat you’re living in but the areas nearby too. Knowing where the nearest supermarket, post office, bank etc. all are is essential, so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the new area you’ll be living in as soon as possible.
Have a good balance between study and leisure
Having the correct balance between study time and leisure is something a lot of new students can struggle with. Some do nothing other than study, while others indulge too much in the drinking culture that goes along with university life. The best way is to find a good balance between the two.
I’m Paul Smith, Founder and Director of HouseMoveHelper. I have a great love of business, marketing, the wilderness and love to travel. You can learn more about me here.