By Karli Wilkerson / Staff Writer

As the end of the school year approaches, Missouri Valley College students are preparing to move out of their dorms. While the process may seem simple, housing staff says there are several important steps for students to follow in order to avoid stress and extra fees. 

According to Jo-Elle Natividad, Interim Housing Director, preparation is key to an easy move-out. This year, the process has been updated to make things easier for students.

“The most important step for students is being prepared ahead of time and having everything packed before their check-out,” Natividad said. “Instead of students coming to us, Residential Life staff will come to them.”

Students will receive an email on April 20 with instructions, including scheduling a check-out appointment during finals week and completing the required End of Semester Procedure form. Staff emphasize that carefully reading the form is important, as it outlines expectations for cleaning, room condition, and the full move-out process. 

Natividad said one of the biggest concerns during move-out is avoiding additional charges. The most common reasons students are charged include leaving trash or personal belongings behind, not cleaning the room properly, or causing damage. Failing to complete the check-out process correctly or not returning the keys can also result in fees.

Resident assistants, who work closely with students, say many of these problems come from poor planning. 

“Start doing everything too late, planning things too late,” MacDonald Hall RA Maria Bertholdo said. “It can work sometimes, but not always, and it can be a risk. The most common is leaving their personal belongings in the room, which leads to them being charged for it.”

RAs also highly stress that the cleaning expectations vary depending on the type of dorm.

“The main difference is that suite style has a shared bathroom, and the residents have to make sure that it is clean and intact,” Bertholdo said. “You get charged if something is broken or even if you forget to take the trash out.”

Resident Halls, such as Redman, Conway, Viking, or Valley Apartments, also differ. Your entire apartment space must be clean in order to avoid being charged. 

“Rooms that have a private bathroom also have to make sure that their bathroom is clean as well,” Conway RA Smangaliso Ntuli said. “Including if they have a shared common room. Anything left behind will count as the whole apartment being fined.”

Another common issue is students forgetting items when they leave.

“Residents usually forget to take things out of their fridges,” Ntuli said. “Also, small things like trash or sometimes appliances. All counts towards being fined.”

To avoid these problems, RAs recommend starting early and staying organized throughout the process.

“Honestly, start preparing at least a week before finals,” Ntuli said. “The smallest things matter, so you might as well be safe than sorry.” 

They also stress the importance of documenting room conditions and following proper procedures.

“Make sure to take pictures of everything in your room so you do not get charged for something you did not do,” Bertholdo said. “Do not leave the room messy. You will be charged.” 

Students should take care of smaller details, such as defrosting refrigerators, returning keys, and making maintenance requests if something is broken. 

“Do it ahead of time, avoid procrastinating,” Bertholdo said. “Most of the time, it is way more work than you think it is.”

During the official check-out, Residential Life staff will meet students in their room, inspect the space, and compare it to the Room Condition report from the beginning of the year. Once the room is fully cleaned and empty, students will return their keys to complete the process. 

Natividad said that with the proper preparation, move-out can be quick and stress-free.

“Honestly, don’t wait until the last minute,” she said. “Start packing early, clean as you go, and get your check-out appointment scheduled as soon as you can so you’re not scrambling during finals week.”