Advice on Using Mini Storage While in College
Mini storage units can be a great place for college students to store their belongings at a reasonable price. College dorms and apartments are often small and limited on storage space. It can be much easier to keep your less-frequently used items off-site in a storage unit.
First, get rid of anything you really do not need. Going away to college is often the first time a young adult will move all of their belongings, especially if the family has stayed in the same home for a number of years. Now is the time to throw out all the extra items you may have accumulated over the years. Keep anything with significant sentimental value, but many childhood items such as toys, books, clothing, or stuffed animals can be donated or sold.
Next, make an inventory list of everything you intend to put into your mini storage. Think about how often you will need to use each item. Is it something you will need again next semester or term? Keep all items together based on how frequently they will be accessed. This will make it much easier when you are unloading the boxes at your storage facility and trying to decide where to put everything. Keep frequently-used items toward the front of the storage unit.
Once you have your inventory list, sorted by frequency of use, it can also be a helpful plan for how to pack your stuff for the move. You can usually start packing the less-frequently used items a few weeks before the move date. This allows you to get started on packing without having to worry about packing away something you may still need. Keep daily-use items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, or hairbrushes out for packing into a separate duffel bag, backpack, or toiletry case. Then you can just throw these items in the bag as you walk out the door for your move. This way you will be able to find your toothbrush the next day without having to dig through boxes of stuff.
When packing, you can't go wrong by using strong boxes, preferably waterproof if you will be storing your belongings for a long period of time. You may be able to get away with using regular cardboard boxes if you will only be keeping your items in the storage unit over summer vacation or at another time when rain is unlikely to fall. Pack heavy items such as textbooks in smaller boxes. If you must use large boxes for your books, be sure to only fill part of each box with books, then fill in the rest with clothing or other light items. Ideally, you want each box to be easy to lift and approximately the same weight, rather than having a few heavy boxes and a lot of lighter ones. Boxes that are all the same size will be much easier to stack in your mini storage unit. Be sure to fill every box to the top so they do not get crushed when more boxes are stacked on top.
In the days leading up to your move, start preparing for the actual move day. Be sure to charge all cellphones and laptop since the chargers may be packed in boxes on the day of the move. Purchase bottles of water, sports drinks, fruit, or protein bars to keep you and your friends hydrated and fueled through the entire moving process. Time is often limited on the actual moving date because you will be rushing around to get everything out of your dorm or apartment and over to the storage unit before the truck is due back to the rental company. If you are using your own (or a friend's) truck, you may be able to move at a more leisurely pace, but it is always convenient to have drinks and snacks on hand for when you don't feel like making a food run.
Of course, before leaving your apartment or dorm room, do one last walkthrough to make sure you haven't left anything behind. Check the bathroom for any toiletries you may have used on the move day. Be sure the place is cleaned to the landlord's specifications so you can get your security deposit refunded. When you are done cleaning, pack all of your cleaning supplies in the same box or boxes so you can easily drop them off at your storage and retrieve them when it's time to move again at the end of the next semester. Visit http://selfstorage.simplyss.com
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