How A Storage Unit Can Be Your New Best Friend At College

College students are one of the four major target markets of an industry you’ve probably never given much thought to: Self storage.

With almost 50,000 facilities in the U.S., chances are there is one close to your campus. Instead of asking friends who live off campus to store your valuables or your parents to turn their new workout room into a storage space, consider using the cheap alternative of self storage. 

When should you rent a storage unit?

1. Summers at home. You’ll have to move out of your dorm room when you go home for the summer, but instead of stuffing all your books and winter clothes into your car, try renting a storage unit. Plus, many facilities have truck rental options so you won’t have to put unnecessary strain on your car.

2. Internships in another state.

Chances are you’ll be renting temporary housing in a distant or foreign city and will want to take only what you really need. Instead of packing everything up, driving it all the way to your parents’ house, unpacking then leaving for your internship, let a storage unit help. 

3. Study abroad. You’ve learned a new language, bought your plane ticket and now you have to figure out what to do with all your belongings. Self storage might not be the first thing that comes to mind but it will make the leap across the pond much easier.  

Another use for your unit

Once you move to college and your idea of dorm rooms through media portrayal is shattered, you realize how small the space you’re sharing with another human is. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, think of renting a storage unit and turning it into a craft room or art studio. That should ease the tension between you and your roommate and give you time for yourself. 

Take advantage of discounts

The best thing about self storage? It’s perfect for a college student budget. Since you’re one of their target markets, facilities will offer all sorts of discounts to students. Check your college’s resource page or call local facilities to find the best price.

Learn About the Amenities

When you start hunting for the perfect storage unit, make sure you’re asking about amenities. These four are probably the most important amenities to consider and ask about:

1. Climate control. This is perfect for your belongings that are affected by extreme temperatures. 

2. Access hours. Figure out when you’d be most likely to come by the unit and find a facility with matching access hours. 

3. Affordability. Sometimes facilities are inexpensive because the quality of their units is low. Check the quality before you choose. 

4. Moving truck. If you don’t own a truck, you may want to consider a facility that has rental trucks available.

When you’re exploring the many self storage options in your area, don’t forget that a perfect match starts with high quality customer service! 

-  Andrea Hewitt

   StorageFront.com

Andrea Hewitt works for the premier self storage search engine, StorageFront. She enjoys using the written word to connect readers to the self storage industry. Andrea majored in Communications at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.