With more than 250,000 college students in the city, walking around Boston can sometimes feel like walking around one big campus. The compact, walkable city is home to large, legendary universities and small but mighty schools that you’ve probably never heard of. It’s a place where law students mingle with musicians in the park and future teachers attend Red Sox games with their pre-med buddies. There are 43 storage facilities in Boston, but if you’re unfamiliar with the city, you should be aware that when most people refer to Boston, they’re actually referring to the city and surrounding suburbs like Allston and Brighton. Also, some schools like Boston College, which has its main campus in Newton, are often located in these areas rather than the city’s urban core. Plan accordingly when choosing your facility and your Boston student storage needs will be a breeze. Here are a few other things to keep in mind:
You Don’t Need a Car in Boston
Some people might even argue that you shouldn’t have a car in Boston. The city’s layout doesn’t make much sense, streets are narrow and parking is the most expensive nightmare you’ll ever have. Because so many of Boston’s college students come from all over the world and student parking is basically a legend that only exists in fairy tales, if you don’t have a car, don’t count on friends to give you rides to and from your storage unit. Luckily, this is where Boston’s reputation as a highly walkable city is on your side, that is, if you’re not opposed to slightly longer walks. Storage facilities in Boston tend to be located outside of the more congested parts of the city. If you’re attending
Boston University, you can rent a unit just two miles away at
Castle Self Storage. It’s not a bad walk (especially if you’re looking to stave off the Freshman 15), but if you’re not into journeys on foot, you can take advantage of Boston’s awesome subway system,
The T. Obviously this won’t work if you’re transporting large or heavy items to and from your storage unit. If you know this is going to be the case for you, look for storage facilities that offer
truck rental, consider
portable storage or just become best friends with the one person on campus who owns a car.
Boston Weather Can Prevent Storage Access
Winter in Boston is a force to be reckoned with. If you’re up for the challenge, make sure your storage facility is too. Expect below freezing temperatures to occur as early as November and as late as March. The same goes for snowfall. You can expect streets to be totally iced over in January which will definitely impede plans to get to and from your storage unit. As for the facility itself, make sure to ask management about plans for snow removal. If you’ve opted for a drive up unit, you want to be able to actually drive up to it. If you can, avoid a move or a big trip to your storage unit during winter months. If that’s not possible, remember the unofficial
rules for spot saving in the winter. If you move the chair someone is using to save a space, your windows will get smashed. Have an energy drink, listen to “Eye of the Tiger,” and prepare for battle. You were warned.
Storing Musical Instruments
We know, we know, everyone thinks about Hahhvahhhd when they think about Boston schools. If you’re into the performing arts, you know that schools like
Berklee College of Music,
Boston Conservatory and
Emerson College are serious destinations for future artists, especially musicians. If you’re a music student at one of these schools, you’re going to want to pay special attention to the conditions of your storage unit. You already know that Boston is cold during the winter, but you should also keep in mind that it’s humid in the summer, especially if you’re planning on leaving an instrument in storage during this time. The major factors that can totally ruin instruments are drastic temperatures, humidity and dust. In the summer, moisture on something made of metal (like a flute, trumpet, saxophone or drumkit) can turn into some seriously destructive rust. This is especially dangerous for older instruments. We’re not asking you to fly home for the summer with a huge piano on tow. We’re just suggesting that you consider
climate control so that your road to becoming a rock star isn’t sidetracked by the purchase of an expensive new violin.
Security Considerations
Student musicians aren’t the only ones with valuable items in storage. We know that whether you’re storing antique furniture or priceless memories in the form of photo albums, your stuff has value. Always remember
what you shouldn't put in storage and look for a secure facility when it comes to choosing your unit. A safe facility should be well-lit, gated and only accessible to employees and renters. Ask your facility manager what additional measures are in place, as some facilities offer security guards or at least security cameras that are monitored on a regular basis. Remember, if you’re planning on accessing your unit late at night, security is especially important as you’re accounting for your own safety as well as the safety of your belongings.
