Whether you dread the idea of bringing your belongings with you over the summer break or you don’t have enough room in your flat or dorm room, a self-storage unit may benefit you.
Living in a cluttered room only makes your life harder, and moving expensive electronics is both expensive and stressful.
If you are interested in finding out whether self-storage services are suitable for your needs, read on. This guide will help you choose a high-quality storage facility and understand what can be stored and what other benefits come with it.
Fortunately, many companies are aware of how many students are in need for self-storage services and they often offer discounts for students.
Before you decide what company is suitable for your needs, make sure you ask the following questions:
- Are they any additional costs such as deposit or sign-up fees?
- Are they any penalties if you don’t pay the fee on time?
- Is the fee negotiable if you plan to use it for more than 6 months?
- Is the self-storage facility open 24/7?
- What does the security system of the facility look like? Do they have security camera, or guards patrolling?
- Is the lock included in the price?
- What happens to the items stored in the facility if something happens with your credit card and the payment is declined?
- What are the items you can’t store in the facility?
While some students use their self-storage facility as a place where they study (you can set up an alternative office here as well), it’s not allowed to live in a unit.
That being said, you can store anything in a unit, including furniture, books, clothing, and electronics.
Labelling boxes is also important; otherwise, you will end up really frustrated while searching through everything in a small unit.
Make sure you keep an inventory of each item that you store as well.
If you choose a larger unit and you have furniture, electronics and other heavy items, make sure you keep a floor plan at home and one in the storage unit. This will help you find what you need faster as well.
The items you need less often should go at the bottom or in the back, while the items you will need frequently should be easier to reach. Shelves are also a good idea, especially if you have mugs, home decor, and other small items.
You can cover cabinets with a thin fabric to protect it from dust and use the drawers to store smaller items. This way, you will save space and keep everything neat and organized.
You can also store items in your fridge. Just make sure you defrost and clean it first; otherwise, it will develop mold.
Clothing and towels can be put to a good use as well, as fragile items can be padded by using fabrics.
For more tips on how to pack your belongings, feel free to check our packing guide.
