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When you're a college student, planning your student storage and moving out for the summer can be just as stressful as your final exams. It doesn't help that these two events often coincide at the same time of year. Thankfully, companies like Storage Scholars specialize in college student storage and moving. But before you sign up, there are essential questions you need to ask, so you go into your new contract fully informed. I have compiled a list of the top 12 questions you should ask your college storage and moving company before signing that dotted line.  

1. What is the time commitment of your student storage contract?

Knowing the storage terms when you sign a contract with a new company is essential. Self-storage companies allow you to store month-to-month because they don't pick up or drop off your items. With college storage, all students are typically looking for the same thing: convenient storage from May to August for summer break. At Storage Scholars, we specialize in student storage, so we have a specific customer with a particular need. For that reason, we have a 4-month minimum storage contract. After the four months, customers can add on month-to-month storage for as long as is needed. Four months is the typical length of a semester and summer break and the amount of time our student storage customers usually require. 

2. What if I only want to store a few items?

While renting an entire storage unit for a couple of items doesn't always make sense, it does at Storage Scholars! With us, your items are stored with other students' belongings, and you'll only pay for what you store. Our pricing model for summer storage is per item. If you only want to store one item, you'll only pay to store one item. The same is true for storing 20 items. To see a list of items and related prices to get an idea of what it will cost to store your belongings, visit our pricing page. We have a fantastic calculator tool to estimate your total.

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3. Will my college grant you access to my dorm?

Many moving companies cannot access your dorm room for security reasons. One of the biggest perks of Storage Scholars is our unique partnership with our college campuses. Simply put, they know us, they trust us, and you can too. At some of our schools, we go a step further and have key access, which means we can enter your dorm to pick up or drop off your items even if you aren't there. As a bonus, we'll have your items delivered before you move back to campus, so they're waiting for you when you arrive.  

4. Do you offer insurance?

Even the best storage companies can't guarantee that something won't happen to your items. They have no control over fires and floods, and there's always the chance of human error when transporting items. At Storage Scholars, every item comes with complimentary insurance up to $100, with the option to add additional insurance for your higher-priced items. You can feel confident that we'll do our best to take care of your things but compensate you when other factors get in the way. 

5. Is your facility secure and climate controlled?

When your belongings are in the care of someone else, you want to know that they are safe. It's an important question! Rest assured, when you store your items with us, they are in a secure and private location. We do not disclose the location of our storage warehouses with our customers for privacy. We can promise that the facilities are within a short distance of your campus, so your items won't travel far. Our licensed and bonded local teams maintain climate-protected facilities with 24/7 security monitoring. 

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6. What if I return to campus for summer school and need my belongings?

College students are busy, and many return to school over the summer for additional courses. Storage Scholars has a convenient summer session program for this purpose. It allows you access to your belongings for the few weeks you will be back at school. After you provide us with the dates you'll be back, we make sure your items are dropped off to you when you arrive and picked up again when you leave. It's simple, convenient, and customized for the dates you need. We have an additional fee for this service. However, it's minimal and only covers the costs of renting a moving truck or van and hiring our student movers.  

7. How is your customer service?

In today's world, most companies are automated and computerized. But some questions require talking to a real person. At Storage Scholars, we have a full-time Customer Success Team ready and waiting to help you. If you can't find the answer that you're looking for on our FAQs page, you can always reach out to our hardworking team! You can reach them through the live chat on our website or by emailing them. While they are usually quick to respond, our peak seasons have them assisting customers all day and night, so your wait time could be a little longer during those times.  

8. Are there any hidden fees?

Nothing is worse than a company with hidden fees that you only learn about after you get your bill. It's poor business practice and frustrating for a customer. At Storage Scholars, we pride ourselves on being extremely transparent about our pricing and fees. We don't want there to be any surprises at all when it comes to your final bill. We put all our prices and fees on our website, and there are no hidden fees. We're upfront about our costs, and if you need clarification, our Customer Success Team will gladly walk you through it before you sign up.  

9. What kinds of items do you allow to be stored? Are odd-shaped items allowed? How about furniture and bikes?

Knowing what can and can't be stored before you sign up is helpful. While most storage companies will hold almost anything, there are always exceptions. Food, liquids, and wet or damp items can lead to mold quickly and should never be stored. Cash and expensive or irreplaceable items should also not be stored, including jewelry. When it comes to electronics and fragile items, take extra time to wrap them properly (original packaging recommended). Mirrors and TVs will require extra bubble wrap to store. 

Other than that, we'll store it! Bikes and furniture are no problem. If you don't see your item listed on our pricing page, it's an "out of box" item and will require some measuring first. Our price for out-of-box items is $5 per cubic foot (maximum $75).

10. What happens if I transfer to a new school? How will I get my belongings?

This is a common worry for many students. Fortunately, we offer a shipping solution for students who decide not to return to campus. Just let us know where you would like us to send your belongings, and we can provide you with an estimate. We will label your boxes and ship them using FedEx Ground. 

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11. Where is the best place to purchase boxes and packing supplies?

‍Most storage and moving companies sell boxes and packing supplies that you can purchase on-site. At Storage Scholars, we provide all the complimentary boxes and packing supplies you could need. We have set distribution days at every campus, so there's no need to make an extra trip to the store; we've got you covered. Our custom boxes are more durable than typical storage boxes and can easily be shipped if your plans change. Plus, you will have access to all the packing tape and bubble wrap you need at no charge. You are always welcome to use your own plastic containers, boxes, bins, duffle bags, suitcases, etc., to store your items but please make sure the items are secured with tops or lids. We firmly recommend not using trash bags to store your items.  ‍

12. What are your best storage tips?

• Label all of your boxes. Our custom Storage Scholars boxes have built-in labels for you to add your information.  
• Pack TVs, electronics, mirrors, and fragile items liberally with bubble wrap to avoid damage. 
• Prep your mini-fridge two days before pick-up by unplugging, defrosting, drying, securing, and taping it shut. These steps ensure mildew and mold are not a factor while in storage.  
• Spread out heavy items into different boxes. This helps prevent the box from breaking and our movers from injury. Books, for example, should not be placed in the same box.  
  

There you have it. All the essential questions to ask while preparing your summer storage plans. Now that you've got your student storage plans ready for summer, time to focus on studying for those final exams!  

To reserve your student storage spot at Storage Scholars, sign up at www.storagescholars.com.

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