College represents a time of opportunity for many students. Opportunities to develop new hobbies, acquire new tastes, indulge in old ones, satisfy curiosities – and to collect a bunch of new possessions, related to all of the above.

This, of course, is in addition to all the gear that students need to buy or bring from home to cater for their college career and to set up some kind of home base in the place where they’re studying.

From semester to semester, it’s typical for students to have more belongings stashed in their dorms or off-campus apartments than they initially left home with. And when it comes time to vacate those rooms – briefly, over scheduled breaks and holidays, or for longer periods (like when a lease expires, or at graduation) – renting a self-storage unit is be a safe, economical, and convenient solution.

Here are some of the various ways that college students can use self-storage to their advantage.

College Storage Tip #1 – Keeping Private Collections Private

Those collections of beer labels, bottle caps, laboratory slides, or other items which might give parents nightmares can be safely tucked away in a storage unit over the long vacation – or even during the academic year, as a hedge against those surprise visits from Mom or Dad.

College Storage Tip #2 – Keeping Vehicles Safe

Cars, bicycles, or motorcycles may be safely kept in self-storage, in those storage facilities that offer these options. This can be a source of real headache relief if theft or vandalism is a problem in unprotected school parking lots.

College Storage Tip #3 – Sharing the Load With Roommates

If leaving stuff for extended periods in the care of a roommate isn’t an option, renting a self-storage unit together with the roommates is another possibility. That way, everyone gets a chance to declutter their digs, and the costs are shared.

Note that this kind of arrangement is typically a shared lease (like the off-campus apartment), but with only one name on the rental contract. This should be the most financially responsible (read: “least broke, and least flaky”) member of the group.

College Storage Tip #4 – Storing Belongings Over the Break

Self-storage units give college students a secure, and (if needed) climate-controlled space to keep their belongings during break periods.

Most college students head home during summer break. Some travel to another city or country to explore a job opportunity or internship. In any case, they usually have to choose a new dorm or off-campus living option for the following year and they need a place to hold their belongings.

Self-storage is often the perfect solution. Moving a load of stuff back to their parents’ house might overload their place, so this can be a welcome arrangement for both students and their families, alike.

College Storage Tip #5 – Safe Storage While Traveling Abroad

Should a student decide to take a semester studying or working abroad – or have a year out scheduled as part of their formal curriculum – self-storage provides space and peace of mind, for the duration of their travels.

College Storage Tip #6 – As a Way Station for Employment Afterwards

If after graduation a student gets a job in a distant location, space restrictions or other factors in their new town might make it impossible to shift all of the belongings gathered in the college years.

Here again, self-storage provides an opportunity to hang onto those treasured items, and still make that essential career move.

College Storage Tip #7 – As a Way to Save Money

Many storage facilities offer special rates for student rentals. This can be a money-saver in itself – besides giving students the opportunity to shop around for cheaper accommodation for themselves, especially in congested urban areas where space is at a premium.

When choosing a facility, students should bear in mind that:

• The cheapest deal isn’t necessarily the best. It’s better to pay a little extra for added security or climate control.
• It’s best to book early, as the demand for storage space may be high.
• It’s important to choose the right size unit. Doing a dry run by stacking up those boxes in a room and taking measurements is a good idea.
• Items held in self-storage should be protected by taking out a comprehensive insurance program, from a reputable independent provider.

Attention College Students! Make Sure you Insure Your Belongings in Storage with SnapNsure™

If you use a storage unit for your belongings while in college, you need to be sure that your stuff is safe from pests or rodents, theft, and damage due to environmental factors such as fire, flooding, storms, and lightning.

When it comes to pricing, coverage, convenience, and reliability, the SnapNsure™ Contents Program is the best choice as a student to address all of these concerns. Coverage plans range from a minimum of $2,000 up to a maximum of $25,000 of coverage per unit.

It is simply the best self-storage insurance on the market (see our blog on self-storage insurance explained).

SnapNsure™ is the only company in the U.S. offering all of these coverages together – and the only company offering Named Storm coverage for self-storage at all.

SnapNsure™ is a “direct-to-consumer” product with no middleman, SO YOU WILL SAVE MONEY over the insurance offered by self-storage companies! Our premiums are typically 100% to 200% lower for the same coverage limits offered at the storage facility (storage facilities typically mark up their premiums, with a sizable profit going straight to the storage company).

And every SnapNsure™ policy has a standard $100 deductible.

Coverage renews every month upon payment of your SnapNsure™ premium. It starts as soon as your completed application is received electronically by the SnapNsure™ website – so you can even purchase coverage on your cell phone as you’re signing the storage facility’s rental contract. And you can cancel at any time. Simple right!

SnapNsure™ is underwritten by The Hanover Insurance Group – the holding company for one of the largest admitted insurance carriers in the United States.

It simply makes sense to get the coverage you need from SnapNsure™. Get Insured now!