Take a moment and try to picture what college life in Las Vegas looks like. You’re probably imagining all of the standard wild house parties, dorm room beer pong tournaments and pre-tailgating Kegs and Eggs breakfasts, only times a thousand. Fortunately or unfortunately (depending, of course, on how much you value theme parties and Keystone Light), the life of a university student in Sin City isn’t really that wild. Sure, there are parties, but no school in the city has ever been mentioned on one of those pivotal lists that rank the craziest party schools in the nation. And yes, Las Vegas is a place where you can stay at a nightclub until 4 am and then hit up an after party that’s open until long after the 9 to 5 world has begun work, but you can also get something else: an education. Las Vegas universities come in all shapes and sizes, and fortunately for you as a student storage renter, so do storage units. Whether you’re studying at a major university or a community college, here’s what you need to know about self storage for university students in Vegas:
Nobody Really Lives in the Dorms, But Storage Still Matters
The
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is home to 28,600 students, but it’s only really home to 7% of them. Other colleges, like
College of Southern Nevada and
Nevada State College don’t even offer housing. Let’s think about what that means for you if you’re a student looking for a storage unit. Even at the the University of Nevada, there are still about 2,000 students living in small dorms, many of whom are from out of state and therefore don’t have families to store stuff with. Because the cost of living in Vegas is just above the national average, a student’s budget might still make living with multiple roommates a necessity as well as an opportunity for a fun, social environment. Whether you’re in the dorms or in an apartment, consider how much extra space you have and determine your storage needs according to that. Figure out
what belongs in your closet and what belongs in your storage unit. For example, when you arrive for the start of your fall semester, the weather will still be very hot. If you’ve never worn a skimpy Halloween costume and not been freezing, get ready. Store winter stuff in the fall and once temperatures dip in November, take them out and replace them with the aforementioned skimpy Halloween costume and other skimpy clothing items (leave a few out of course; it’s still Vegas). Winters are surprisingly cold in Las Vegas, so using your storage unit as a closet to compensate for the small one in your dorm or apartment is a great idea.
Student Safety in Las Vegas
How safe is Vegas really? You can always check
crime statistics, but every local knows that safety in Vegas depends entirely on which neighborhood you live in and of course, total randomness. If you’re attending Nevada State College in Henderson, you’ll be living in
one of the safest places in the country. If you’re attending the University of Nevada and you’ve chosen to live close to the college itself, your neighborhood will be a little rougher around the edges. This is why it’s important to remember the importance of safety and security at a storage facility. Ask your facility manager about about security measures that are in place. These include things like gated access, security cameras, fences and actual on-site management. If your facility manager provides you with a lock,
make sure it’s a good one. Sure, buying a better one is a minor annoyance, but it’s better than having a cheap lock get cut and losing some of your belongings. Besides considering the security of what’s inside your unit, consider your own safety when accessing your unit. If your schedule only allows you to visit your storage unit after dark (which actually happens pretty early in Las Vegas), look for a facility that’s well lit. You should also consider a facility with drive up access so that you’re close to your car if a sketchy situation warrants the need to make a getaway. If you don’t mind driving, consider renting a storage unit in a safer part of the city like the Spring Valley, which is still pretty centrally located.
Hot Town, Summer in the City
Las Vegas isn’t the hottest place on earth, but it’s pretty darn close. If summer break means leaving town whether it’s to go home to another state, backpack through Europe or just get as far away from the blistering heat as possible, don’t let the items in your storage unit get scorched. Some of the main factors that can cause damage to the contents inside of a storage unit include drastic temperatures, dust and humidity. While you won’t have to worry about that last one, you should pay special attention to the first two. The super hot temperatures can be hard on musical instruments, leather, wood or delicate pieces of clothing like anything made of lace. If you’re an art student storing paintings or photographs, you’ll also want to take extra steps to protect your items. Anyone storing electronics should as well. Consider
climate control for these special items, or just take them with you and leave stuff like books, non-antique furniture and all of those boxes of t-shirts behind.
