How to Store your Belongings in a Student Storage Unit
When exams finally finish, moving all of your stuff home can be a struggle before you can enjoy your time off. Students who live in dorms or off-campus properties naturally accumulate many things over the year – from textbooks, mugs, cutlery, plates and kitchen utensils. If you don’t want to move all your belongings home for the holidays, then you may want to consider a student storage unit. Continue reading to find out the best way to store your belongings in a student storage unit.
Sort through your stuff
Before you choose a student storage unit, you will need to sort through your stuff – discard or donate anything you don’t use anymore. Dangerous contents such as paint and gasoline shouldn’t be stored in the unit. Also, to prevent any vermin found in your belongings, ensure that you don’t have food and plants in the storage unit. By filtering your possessions, you can lower the cost of getting a storage unit, as you don’t need to pay for the extra things you won’t need or can’t store.
Pack your belongings sensibly
It is important to use high-quality boxes that are of a similar size. Here are some sensible tips you should consider when you’re packing:
Clean all your items
Ensure that all cutlery, plates, mugs, and utensils are clean before packing them into the box – you don’t want to see mould growing on your items! If this happens, you may need to buy a new set of kitchenware and cutlery, which will cost you extra money and can be very time-consuming. Also, make sure all winter clothes and beddings are washed before being placed in the boxes.
Place heavy items at the bottom
If you’re packing heavy items like textbooks, ensure you put them at the bottom. Avoid filling the entire box with books as it can get too heavy to carry, so separate them into multiple boxes to even out the weight.
Bubble wrap fragile items
If you have fragile contents, you can line your box and securely wrap items with bubble wrap. Place the delicate items in the centre of the box and the softest or sturdiest items around the edges to give the fragile items extra protection – don’t forget to label the box as fragile!
Fill all empty spaces
Don’t leave empty spaces or attempt to force too many things into one box. Leave a couple of inches of space at the top, and fill the rest with bubble wrap to prevent the box from getting squashed. It is important to label each box as you don’t want to spend half the day searching for the stuff you need more urgently when you unpack.
Choose the right storage provider
Once you get a rough idea of what you want to store, you can start looking for the right storage provider and size of the storage unit. Choose a storage company that’s close to your college or university as it is more convenient for travelling. Check if the company has achieved any professional accreditations such as the ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 – this is proof that their service is at a high quality, secure and reliable. Make sure you read online reviews from previous customers and get an idea of whether their services are worth investing. It is also ideal to pay a visit to the facility before deciding to store your possessions as you can observe their security and maintenance levels. To save yourself some money, keep a close eye on any student storage deals that are on offer.
Organise your storage unit
Stack your boxes carefully if you’re going to the storage unit yourself. Make sure you have the heaviest boxes at the bottom and the lighter boxes at the top. If you need some items sooner, place those boxes closer to the front of the unit, so you don’t need to rearrange the entire storage unit.