Avoid These Common College Storage Mistakes
At the end of a semester, prior to heading home for your summer, you will most likely be tasked with finding self-storage for the contents of your dorm room or apartment. Students often live hours away, and as such, it is important that they feel comfortable in their storage choice. Look to Available Self Storage for your choice in affordable college storage units in the greater Mobile area. Read more below to learn of some helpful ways to avoid common college storage mistakes!
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Tips to Avoid the Top College Student Storage Mistakes That We See
Avoid Unnecessary Clutter – Create a Spreadsheet to Keep Track of Inventory
Consider using excel to create an inventory list of all items packed into your unit. Additionally, some renters find it helpful to create an area overview of their storage unit’s layout. Be sure to label all boxes and storage bins you are stowing. Seasonal clothing items or textbooks can be stowed toward your unit’s entrance for easier accessibility. Additionally, be sure to utilize your storage unit’s “vertical space.” Larger boxes should be placed at the base of your unit, whereas smaller and lighter boxes can be stacked up. This might seem like unnecessary work at the time, but you will be thanking yourself when you’re unpacking next semester. Visit Available Self Storage today for all of your packing and moving supplies!
Avoid Downsizing – Choose the Right Storage Size for Your Needs
You might be tempted to pick a smaller storage unit and save some money over your rental period. Still, there is nothing more frustrating than running out of storage space mid-move. Consider sizing up for extra convenience. Moving.com helps detail the amount of space typically needed in a recent article highlighting summer storage tips for college students. As they note, a 5×5 storage unit is typically suitable for a small dorm room or one-bedroom apartment, whereas a 5×10 unit should suffice for a two or three-bedroom apartment. Storage Depot of Farmville also provides a free moving calculator for use – simply input any items you will store, and the calculator provides an estimate of what size storage unit you will need. Choose the right storage size the first time and avoid headaches down the road!
Avoid Overpacking – Donate or Sell Unnecessary Items
As we’ve previously discussed, your storage area is limited. As such, you should only look to store items you definitively know will be needed next semester. Look to sell unnecessary items to free up storage space. That dusty and cumbersome tv you were hardly able to enjoy? Consider posting it for sale on your college’s message board, or you can consider listing it on a local marketplace. The goal is to free up storage space – any money you make is an extra bonus. You can also choose to donate any unneeded items to an area thrift store, or perhaps you have some friends remaining on campus for break that might be able to find use out of your sofa or older tv set. Regardless, the goal is to get rid of any items you don’t need for the year. This ultimately allows for a more efficiently packed storage unit.
Find Affordable Student Storage with Available Self Storage
Are you a student at one of Mobile’s popular universities, like the University of Mobile or the University of South Alabama? Contact our office today to see how Available Self Storage can support you through all the different transition periods that come with college life. You can also check out all our available storage units in Mobile online. Find more space with self storage!
Katie Mest
About the Author: Katie Mest is an SEO Specialist at Storage Asset Management in York, PA. She specializes in writing about the self storage industry, including storage tips and helpful resources. Outside of work, Katie enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with her newly adopted Greyhound rescue, Titan.
