Going to university is a great chance to study, socialise and find your independence. Moving out of your parent’s house and living in another part of the country is what makes the experience so rewarding! However, there can be a lot to think about when making this move. It is important to make proper preparations, so you can enjoy your time at university. One of the most common problems students find is: where do I put all my stuff? Parents don’t tend to be too keen on having old clothes and furniture fill up their house even after you have left. But it is important not to bring everything you own and clutter up your new space. University storage also tends to have limited space in dorm rooms and student flats.
The ideal solution then is student self-storage. Having your own self-storage unit will keep the parents of your back but also make sure your new living space stays clear. If you are looking for university self-storage, chances are it is the first time looking into self-storage units. At Store & Secure we have great rates and spaces for students looking for university storage in Bournemouth and Basingstoke. Read on to discover our top tips for students looking for university self-storage.
Prioritise items
It is important to consider what items you are going to need when you are at university. It helps to break things down into categories. What things can stay at your parent’s house for when you come back? What essential items do you need to bring with you? And then most importantly, what needs to go into your student self-storage unit? When choosing items to store it helps to think about how regularly you use them. Seasonal items and belongings you don’t use often are ideal to store in a university self-storage unit.
Another important thing to consider is how to maximise your student self-storage unit. Once you prioritise your items you can start to think about how much space you will need. When storing items, it is important to organise them in a way that gives you easy access to everything. Try keeping items that you will need less regularly at the back of the unit. Anything you might need to access easily should go at the front of your university storage unit so it can be easily rotated.
How to pack valuables and furniture
Bringing valuables and nice furniture to university is not always the best idea. Items can get damaged, misplaced or stolen in communal living spaces. Using a university self-storage solution helps protect your valuable items from any potential problems. If you are storing anything valuable in a student self-storage unit it should have proper packing materials and containers. Wrap any fragile items in bubble wrap or blankets to make sure they aren’t damaged when you move them in.
Using high quality packing materials like sturdy cardboard boxes and plastic containers will help keep your valuable items safe. Once these items are in your university storage unit make sure you pack sturdy items at the bottom and have nothing fragile with anything leaning against it. Store lighter items on furniture but do not leave any items on upholstered furniture as this can damage the material over time.
Create an inventory
A great way to keep your student self-storage unit organised and easy to access is by creating an inventory. Knowing what you have stored is important when it comes to moving items in and out. If you fill your university self-storage unit with boxes packed with random items, getting what you need will be time consuming and frustrating. Therefore, it is important to categorise items in a way that makes sense to you. Whether you label them by importance or category, try and have a system and stick to it to avoid confusion later down the line. Once you have your system, pack your items, and label your boxes. Even if you organise your items, having 10 unmarked boxes means rummaging through each one to find what you are looking for. Having an inventory for your student self-storage unit might seem unnecessary now, but it will save you time at a later date.
Shared storage
Sharing a storage unit with a classmate or roommate can be a great way to cut down costs if you’re on a student budget. Student self-storage units come with their own key so a few people can easily access the same storage unit. Teaming up with someone you trust to rent a larger university storage unit can be a great way to store everything you need at a more affordable price. Having someone else to help you store your items in can also be really useful on move-in day!
If you are looking for amazing rates on university self-storage units get in contact with us at Store & Secure today. Our student storage in Bournemouth and Basingstoke is affordable and available on a flexible basis, meaning no long-term commitment! All our student self-storage units come with their own key and are open 7 days a week. Get an Instant Price for storage from as low as £5 a week.