Self-Storage for Departing College Students

When new college students leave home, some will leave their old possessions in their old bedroom to be used when they're home for the summer. Others box up their items and send them off to self-storage. If you're one of the latter, you should understand what's involved in self-storage and what it takes to make the transition a smooth one. These tips can help.

Find the Right Facility

Not all self-storage facilities are the same. Different facilities will offer different amenities, have different prices, and have different unit sizes available. Find a facility that meets your needs. You have many factors to consider when trying to decide which facility is best for you.

Convenience

Do you want a facility that is close to your house? Close to your college campus? Somewhere in between? Decide in advance whether or not you need to be able to access your storage facility from your college campus, and then look for facilities in the area where you decide to rent.

Cost

Many storage facilities offer deals on storage units when they have high vacancy. Call around to different facilities to find out how much you'll pay for monthly storage. Some deals will expire. When calling about prices, ask about expiration dates and how much the unit will cost after that deal runs out.

Qualifications

Does the storage unit require a credit check, a security deposit, or a minimum age to sign a lease? Perhaps the storage facility requires proof of insurance? Although many storage facilities have relaxed requirements, you should still find out what those requirements are so you can eliminate any facilities that have requirements you can't (or don't want to) meet.

Amenities

Different facilities will offer different amenities like air conditioned units, drive-up accessibility, and 24-hour security. Familiarize yourself with the amenities of each facility you're considering so you can decide whether or not these amenities are important to you.

Pack Your Things Well

Once you've selected a facility, it's time to start packing! Packing well is an important part of putting your items in self-storage. If the unit you've picked is tall and narrow, you'll be stacking boxes on top of one another. Use extra strong boxes at the bottom of each stack to prevent the bottom boxes from being crushed under the weight of the other boxes.

Although you might be tempted to get free boxes from grocery stores, you're better off buying extra strong boxes and packing materials for your fragile items.

The facility you picked will likely have rules about what can and can't be put into storage. Find out in advance what these rules are. Often, food, aerosol cans, hazardous materials, and liquids are among the prohibited items.

Keep Storage Unit Boxes and College Boxes Separate

Maybe you're simultaneously packing for college as you pack for your storage unit. Make two separate piles of boxes, and label each box clearly to indicate its destination. To make things extra easy, use colored stickers to show where each box is heading.

Place Things in Storage in Order of Need

Are you planning to visit your storage unit for seasonal clothes or holiday decorations? Put those items into the storage unit last so they're close to the front of the unit when you open it next time.

Contact a Reputable Self-Storage Facility Today

If you're in need of a self-storage facility for your personal belongings, start calling storage facilities today! If you have questions about how to find a facility or need tips for packing, call Brownsburg Self Storage Locker Inc . We'll be more than happy to share our tips for finding a facility, moving, and packing!