I’ve done a lot of moving since I started at Indiana University Bloomington almost four years ago. I’ve moved in and out of dorm rooms, into my first apartment and, this year, into a standard, run-down college house. With each move, there’s always something new to buy or fix. But I’ve found the process for moving out usually stays the same.
This May, I will (hopefully) graduate from IU and move away from Bloomington for likely the final time. Here are the tips I’ll be using:
Use those maintenance requests
Throughout the year, things are bound to break or get worn down. In every place I’ve lived so far, appliances and window shades have broken by the end of the year. Don’t just leave these for the next tenants. If you live in an apartment or dorm, often you’ll need to put down a security deposit. If you leave things broken or scuffed up, it could risk losing your deposit.
About a month out from your intended move out date, go around your house or apartment and make a list of anything that needs fixed. Then, start placing maintenance requests. If all goes to plan, these broken appliances will be fixed by the time you move out, so you won’t have to worry about losing your deposit or paying extra fees. Just to be safe, take pictures and videos of fixed appliances so you can show your rental company evidence if they try to charge you.
Figure out if you’ll need extra storage
Each move out cycle comes with a new set of questions. Are you moving from one house in Bloomington to another location in the same city? Are you leaving for just a few months or is the departure longer? One major question I’ve come across: where am I going to keep my stuff in the meantime?
Luckily, most times I’ve moved, I’ve been able to fit all my stuff in one carload. If I’m moving my stuff in and out in one day, I don’t have to worry about where to store it. However, this past summer I had two months between my move out and move in dates, so I had to find some other solutions.
I asked friends in Bloomington if I could store my belongings at their apartments until I returned in the fall. I also donated and gave away some larger furniture items that I couldn’t take with me.
Some of my friends have also rented storage units in Bloomington to keep their stuff in over the summer.
Settle up
Once you finish moving your belongings, be sure to clean the apartment or house the best you can. Your rental company might still charge an additional cleaning fee, but it’s better to get ahead of it. Before you turn in your keys, take a video and photos of you walking around the apartment, showing it in clean condition (just for safe keeping). Make sure to empty your mailbox and that your apartment has your forwarding address.
After you move out, make sure to reach out to your rental company for a move out statement. This should reflect your current balance and outstanding charges. Go through this statement to make sure everything looks correct and that you’re not being mis-charged for anything.
Once I turn everything in, I’m usually overcome by a mix of emotions. Sadness at leaving a space filled with great memories; happiness that the exhausting move-out process is over.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student’s spring 2026 Housing and Living Guide.
