Self Storage Units And Your College Student
In the fall of 2018, an estimated 19.9 million students attended American colleges and universities, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. If your child is one of the millions, when they come home, they'll need somewhere to store their stuff. Whether your student is home for an extended break or home for good, take a look at what you need to know about self storage units.
Choosing a Location
Should you store your college student's belongings near their campus or near your home? There are advantages and disadvantages for both options.
Storing your child's excess clothing, books, furniture, and other items near campus is ideal if they are on a holiday/summer break, they plan on returning to college soon, or they won't use their boxed belongings until school starts again.
If your child is taking an extended break (such as a full semester sabbatical), isn't sure if they'll go back to school, or has items they'll need to use often, a storage facility near home is your best bet.
Choosing a Size
What size self storage rental do you need? The answer to that question depends on how much stuff they have. Most college students don't have an entire houseful of furniture or more than one room's worth of boxes. This means a smaller-sized unit is acceptable.
Make sure that the unit of your choice has enough space to accommodate all your child's items without having to constrict or crush anything. Even though you should avoid a too-small selection, opting for an extra-large unit may mean that you're paying for space your child will never use. Estimate the total area of the boxes/furniture your child wants to store before discussing size options with the storage facility.
Choosing the Costs
How much are you willing to spend on storage? Talk to your student about costs and budgeting before choosing a rental option. Decide on whether you'll pay the entire cost, your child will pay for the unit, or you'll both contribute to the storage fees.
If your student is looking to save money, consider sharing the rental with someone else. Either you can stash some of your extra stuff in the unit (and contribute to the storage costs) or your child can ask their college roommates to go in on a group rental.
Before your child leaves school for the semester, come up with a storage game plan. Instead of filling your basement, attic, or garage with their furniture, look into the many possibilities that self storage has to offer. For more information, contact a storage unit company such as MaxSecure Storage.