Storage Units for College Students

College students live in a state of flux, often moving in and out of dorms with the passage of each school year. To help facilitate a speedier, more efficient moving process, the use of a self storage unit can be invaluable. For out-of-state students, in particular, a good storage unit can be highly useful, and well worth the small investment. On this page, we’ll offer some storage tips for students who plan on moving and need a smart way to stash their stuff.

Storage for College Students Who Live Out of State

Students who go to college out of state are especially liable to find self storage units useful. That’s because most college and university campuses don’t offer residents anywhere to keep their belongings when they head home for the summer. Rather than moving an entire dorm or apartment’s worth of belongings across state lines every few months, students can use storage units to keep their stuff safe and secure until they need it next.

There are two big factors to think about as you consider college storage solutions:

1. Cost. While it’s not free to rent storage facilities, the cost may end up being fairly manageable compared to the price of renting a moving truck every few months, using it to haul stuff to and from a dorm room.
2. Convenience. The other big issue, of course, is convenience. Simply put, it’s a pain for students to move stuff from home to their dorm room every semester or school year. College storage units can eliminate this pain and hassle.

Keep both of these issues in mind as you contemplate your own storage needs.

Other Reasons to Seek Student Storage Solutions

In addition to summer storage, there are some other common reasons why students seek self storage facilities. A few of the most common reasons for student storage facilities include:

• Studying abroad. The experience of seeing another country and studying overseas can be an invaluable part of the college experience. However, for students who are out of the country for a semester or more, there may be a need to find a place to store their belongings until they return. Student storage units are a natural option here.
• Saving money while studying in a large city. Not every university is located in a quaint college town! Some students wind up going to schools that are in large, metropolitan areas, where apartments and even dorm room options can be pricier. Rather than pay an arm and a leg for a big space, you can get a smaller living area and then rent a student storage unit for your additional belongings.
• In-between leases. One more reason for student storage? If you’re living off campus and are in between leases, you may want a place to keep your belongings until you’re able to get settled in a new place. Again, a storage rental is a good solution to consider.

No matter your specific situation, renting a storage space can be a judicious way to keep your stuff safe and sound.

What Size Self Storage Unit is Needed?

When seeking a summer storage solution, college students will naturally want to think about the size requirements. Self storage units come in a number of sizes, and students won’t want to overspend on too much space, nor risk getting a storage facility that’s not big enough for their stuff.

To find storage solutions in just the right size, here are a couple of options that tend to work pretty well.

• A 5×5 storage unit. Most college students don’t need a ton of space, as they really don’t have too many possessions. A 5×5 storage unit is basically the size of a big closet, which may sound a little too small, but you can store more stuff in it than you might think. It’s a great option for students who are single and don’t have much in the way of large furniture.
• A 5×10 storage unit. If you worry that the 5×5 is a little too small, here’s the next option up. If you have a long sofa, an overstuffed chair, or some other large furniture pieces, you may want to get a storage unit in this size.

If you think you need additional space to store your things while you’re at school, you can always inquire about other sizes. For the vast majority of students, though, the two size options given here will prove sufficient for any storage needs.

Ensuring an Affordable Self Storage Unit

A common question: How much can you expect to spend on storage for college students? It depends on a few factors, including both the size of the unit you get and whether or not you need a climate-controlled place to store your belongings. The options at Smith Valley Storage start as low as $40 per month.

There are also some steps you can take to make your college storage option a little bit more affordable. Some options include:

• Offer to split your storage space (and thus, the rent for your storage space) with a friend from your school.
• Be judicious about the amenities you opt for. Depending on what you’re storing and where your school is located, you may not need a climate-controlled storage option.
• Shop around. It may be slightly convenient to find storage units close to campus, but it’s not strictly necessary… and often, these storage facilities will be pricier. You can potentially save a few bucks by looking for storage elsewhere.

These are just a few of the steps you can take to make your storage unit as affordable as possible

Find Storage Near You

The bottom line is that access to storage areas can make life exponentially easier for students. If you’re moving to school soon and are looking for a storage unit near your campus, we invite you to contact us today. We are pleased to offer storage options for students in New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Get moving on affordable storage solutions. Reach out to us to find the best unit near you!