Repair or Replace? Student Housing Furniture During Turn Season

After the cyclical stress of final exams and the bustle of students moving out after a busy semester or term, every student housing professional anticipates a different cycle of intensity ramping up: turn season. 

Even if the campus itself might be quieter, this gap between move-out and move-in is filled with many decisions, logistics, and tasks that need to be completed before another wave of students returns. It’s during this time that you likely find yourself viewing housing units and furniture pieces with an evaluative eye: what needs removing, replacing, repairing, or repainting? 

As you navigate the particular busyness that is turn season, here’s how to know whether furniture can be salvaged, or if replacement is the smarter move: 

Signs You Can Repair Student Housing Furniture

After 30 years of manufacturing furniture for the student housing industry, we’ve learned a lot about what serves students well — and how to build furniture that lasts! 

Here are some indicators that repair makes sense, rather than replacement: 

• Right now, the furniture and case goods only show minor wear
• Issues can be resolved with simple hardware fixes
• Concerns can be addressed with replaceable parts  

Even upholstered items showing significant wear may not be quite at the end of their lifecycles, depending on the manufacturer and design. Some upholstered furniture, such as select custom and prefabricated Smarter Furnishings products, have removable and replaceable upholstery (what we like to call “R&R” for your furniture). This can be a cost-effective, eco-friendly way to give your student housing a makeover without sending many bulky items to the landfill. 

Signs You Should Replace Student Housing Furniture

While repairing furniture seems like a win in many cases, eventually replacement may be the better choice. Here are some warning signs that it’s probably time for new furniture: 

• When you see structural damage that cannot be repaired or would be too costly or complicated to repair
• When a piece has required repeated repairs, especially the same or similar repairs
• When the condition of the furniture would negatively affect the student experience
• When you’re no longer confident in the safety of a piece of furniture

Use Proactive Assessment to Balance Cost & Long-Term Planning Considerations

In spite of the sometimes-high pressure of turn season, it’s a key time to proactively evaluate student housing conditions, including the furniture. With thoughtful long-term planning — thinking beyond just the immediate semester — you’ll be able to determine the right time for repair or replacement of the furniture pieces within your purview. 

Here are a few questions to help as you balance cost and long-term planning considerations: 

• If we deal with minor repairs right now, can we extend the useful life of the furniture?
• Are the furniture repairs too extensive to justify the time and cost in light of where the pieces are in their lifecycle? 
• Which better supports resident satisfaction in each case: repair or replacement?

Evaluating the condition of your student housing furniture with both short- and long-term goals in mind can help maximize your investment in each residence hall or off-campus housing unit.

How the Smarter Furnishings Team Can Help You During Turn Season

When you find yourself replacing and repairing student housing furniture during turn season, the right furniture provider can make all the difference in saving you time, money, and stress throughout the process.

Smarter Furnishings is proud to help you get fully ready for the next wave of students with services like: 

• Quick-ship furniture pieces in stock and ready to go when you need rapid replacement
• Dedicated furniture install teams who manage every detail of your installation so your new pieces are student-ready in plenty of time
• A designated project team coordinating schedules, site access, and logistics with transparency so you can rest easy and stay informed

If you’d like to discuss your next project and see what the Smarter Furnishings team can do for you, reach out to us online. We’re here to help you get your furniture student-ready again!