Moving out of your parents’ home or even the dorm can be beyond exciting. This excitement can also be overwhelming if there is poor planning or no organization behind it.
Now that you are on your own, you need to decide where that wall hanging will go and how many sheets or towels will you need. To stay stress-free, one needs to stay organized. At Trimark Properties, I work with student renters who are either new to Gainesville and are living in luxury dorm or they are searching for apartments near UF. When I asked them about some organizational tips for new student renters for their first apartment, here are the top 4 tips that they shared:
1. Chores are still a top priority – Yes, the chores follow you everywhere you go in life. It is imperative to take care of these tasks on time, or they will multiply into many other chores. If you are living with roommates, make sure that you have a clear understanding as to who is doing what and on which day. These can be clearly written out on a dry erase board and posted on the refrigerator (or any convenient place) for everyone to read and easily follow.
“Piled up trash or laundry can get atrocious for you and the apartment. These would really disappoint visitors, let alone parents if they just happen to pop-in. If there is something that needs to be taken care of in your apartment, do not wait for later, but take care of it right away. “ – Aaron Stiles (UF Freshman, Gainesville)
2. Bins and Chests are a must – If your parents have a home-office, you remember how everything is so neatly organized. The same rule applies to your apartment. Bins, chests, armoires will help keep your apartment organized. Local stores like Target or Pottery Barn have a lot of designs to match every taste. I have visited the local stores in Gainesville, and they really do a great job in catering to UF students. You can always go to IKEA in your town or shop online.
“Managing things like Christmas décor, Halloween props, snacks, etc. in an organized manner will just help you find these items when you need them and provide easy access at all times without getting in your way. “ – Tina Becker (UF Sophomore, Gainesville)
3. Store it properly – If you are not going to wear that piece of clothing or the next or the next… put it away. Not only will it avoid the apartment from looking messy, but it will also wrinkle clothes and make them look dirty. This only doubles your laundry load.
Same goes for food in the refrigerator. Store food properly in containers so you don’t have to throw away expensive food which can be consumed later if stored in containers.
“Store items where they belong, for e.g.,. Paper towels, can be stored in the pantry, silverware in the kitchen drawers, cups in the cupboard, etc.” – Lindsey Mehlhorn (UF Sophmore, Gainesville)
4. Cleaning days require planning – Yes, your parents have a clean house because they planned out the cleaning days. You should also schedule cleaning days to build self-discipline and stick to an agenda.
If you live by yourself, there should be less of a mess to clean. If you live with roommates, it is easier if each roommate is assigned a task or different areas to clean. These should be done on a weekly basis, the longer you wait, the longer it will take to clean up.
“The tasks can be dedicated to certain days and not just the weekends. Doing the laundry midweek, kitchen on Thursdays and bathroom on Saturdays will actually help you relax in your clean apartment over the weekend. “ – Cody Andersen (UF Senior, Gainesville)
If you are looking at moving soon, here are 5 Things Students Should Keep In Mind On Moving Day.
How do you keep your apartments organized?
