Packing, Shipping & Storage Guidelines for Residence Halls

Moving into or out of a residence hall may require you to pack, ship or store some of your belongings. You should check with your own provider of these services about their requirements and procedures. However, you will find some generally accepted guidelines for packing and shipping in this brochure. In addition, you will find important information about University Housing policies regarding the storage of personal and University property.

General Guidelines

• Use a rigid carton with flaps intact.
• Wrap items separately.
• Use adequate cushioning material.
• Use strong tape designed for shipping.
• Use a single address label that has clear, complete delivery and return addresses.
• Place a duplicate address label inside the carton.

Keep a record of the contents of each box, and their value. Insure the package if coverage is not included in the service.

Note: Some shipping services will sell you packing materials, and/or pack your items for you. Inquire about charges.

Step-By-Step Guidelines

Use a corrugated box
For best results, use a new box large enough to allow room for adequate cushioning material on all sides of the contents. If reusing an old box, remove any labels or other shipment markings from the box. Never exceed the maximum gross weight for the box, which is usually printed on the bottom flap.

Provide internal protection
To properly cushion the contents of your package, wrap each item separately. To prevent damage, fragile articles need to be protected from each other and separated from the corners and sides of the box.

Various materials can be used for cushioning and protection, including:

• Air-encapsulated plastic (bubble pack)
• Expanded polystyrene “peanuts”*
• Foam-in-place (a foam sprayed into the boxes to form a protective mold around contents)
• Corrugated dividers
• Crumpled kraft paper*

Use enough cushioning material to ensure that the contents won’t move easily when the box is shaken.

*not acceptable for packages weighing more than 70 pounds

Close the box securely
For best results, use one of these tapes:

• Pressure-sensitive plastic or nylon-reinforced tape (three strips top and bottom)
• Water-activated paper tape (three strips top and bottom)
• Water-activated reinforced tape (two center seam strips)

Do not use masking tape, cellophane tape, string or paper over-wrap.

Use proper labeling
For fast and efficient delivery, keep the following points in mind when labeling your package.

• Remove or cross out old labels or markings on a used box.
• For domestic shipments, always include the receiver’s ZIP Code with a complete street address.
• For international shipments, include any postal code. Your shipping service may require additional information, such as a contact person and/or a contact phone number.
• Include the apartment or unit number, if applicable.
• Always include your complete return address, including full street address and ZIP Code/postal code.
• Place a duplicate label or other form of identification inside the package.
• Place the shipping label on the top of the box. To avoid confusion, place only one address label on the box. If using a packing slip, place it on the same surface of the box as the address label.
• Do not place the label over a seam or closure or on top of sealing tape.
• Verify that your shipping service will accept APO (Army Post Office) and FPO (Fleet Post Office) addresses, if needed.
• Verify that your shipping service will accept P.O. Box addresses, if needed. They may not, or may have special procedures or fees for P.O. Boxes.

Note on Receiving Packages
Packages received at the front desk for a student living in a residence hall are kept in a secure location and a package slip is placed in the student’s mailbox. Students can retrieve their packages by presenting the package slip and photo identification to the hall’s front desk or mailroom during the posted hours of operation.

University Housing Storage Policies for Residence Halls

There is no storage space in the residence halls for residents' personal property or University property residents may wish to remove from their room. The only exception is that in some buildings University Housing will store a bed frame that has been removed in order to build a loft in a room where a custom loft is allowed. Space for such storage is limited and is available on a first-come-first-served basis. The residents must return the bed frame to the room before moving out. See Building a Custom Lofts in the Residence Halls for more information.

Residents may remove University furniture, except modular furniture, to store off-site at their own expense, but they are responsible for its return in original condition before they leave the residence hall. (Otherwise, the residents will be billed for any resulting replacement and moving fees.)

University Housing provides no storage over spring/summer for personal property of returning or non-returning students. In addition, resident-contracted lofts may not be left standing during this time, even if the resident is coming back. These lofts must be disassembled and removed, and the original bed must be returned to the room.

University Housing has a contract with John’s Pack and Ship (734-665-2664 or 800- 665-2664 or www.moveum.com) in Ann Arbor for packing, shipping and storage, on a fee basis. Use of this service is optional; all transactions are strictly between the vendor and the purchaser of the services. Students may choose their own provider, should they need one. Students using a delivery service other than United Parcel Service, Federal Express, the United States Postal Service or John’ s Pack and Ship should verify that the company is registered with University Housing.

Questions regarding packing, shipping or storage should be directed to the Coordinator of Resident Education or Building Facilities Manager for your hall.

See Community Living at Michigan for more about storage in the residence halls.

Revised 7/07