Virginia Beach is a beautiful seaside city with plenty to do as well as great universities. The focus of the biggest Virginia Beach schools of higher education is getting students into great careers. Perhaps because of the local Navy base, Naval Air Station Oceana, all these schools are especially helpful to students in and leaving the military.
When you move off to college, your dorm room or apartment room may not be large enough for all you want to bring. That’s where self-storage comes in, and this article will help you get the most out of it.
What To Bring
The two main universities in Virginia Beach are
ECPI University with 10,000 students and
Regent University with 6,500, for about 16,500 students. Whether you live on campus or not, figure out if you will need self-storage or not.
To do this, write down a list of everything you plan to take with you. Figure out what you will need and want at home, and put that on one list. Put the rest on another list. Go over the lists a few times and think about if you really need to bring certain items. Once the lists are complete, the second list is what you should put in self-storage. Use it to figure out the size your unit will need to be. Most students will probably be fine with the smallest size, a 5’x5’, but you may need a 5’x10’ or larger.
Finding a Facility
In addition to about 16,500 college students, Naval Air Station Oceana, the city’s military base, has 10,000 military members, 11,000 family members, and 1,700 civilian employees, many of whom also need self-storage, especially when they first move to the base.
The total population of the city is about 450,000, and it has a whopping 430 self-storage facilities with 236,500 individual units of varying sizes from 5’x5’s to units for RVs and boats. In short, this is a renter’s market. While it’s a good idea to start comparing prices before you move to Virginia Beach, chances are, you won’t have much trouble finding a unit.
Where to Rent
Deciding where to rent a unit can be tricky. Many people assume they will go to their storage unit on a daily basis but end up going maybe once every two or three months. Be honest with yourself.
A low-priced unit close to home is idea, but if you have a car and know you won’t go to your unit very often, then one across town that costs less will probably save you money.
Get a Unit with Climate Control
Chances are, you’ll want a unit with climate control. Virginia Beach has mild winters, but it also has humid summers, and humidity does serious damage to almost everything you might choose to store, from books to
musical instruments to old VHS tapes. Your items will probably be fine if you only store them in the winter, but fall and spring have enough humidity that you’re going to want a climate controlled unit. This costs a little more, but protects your belongings.
Storage When Studying Abroad
Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience and if you have the chance to do it, you should really consider it. When you go to another country for a semester or more, you will have to get your self-storage situation sorted out.
Most self-storage companies will allow you to pay your bill online from anywhere in the world, set up recurring payments, or pay in advance. You must keep your payments current, or you risk your possessions going on auction.
You may want to keep your items in your dorm or apartment when you leave. However, most college students have roommates, and they may have guests over or throw parties. You can never be sure that someone won’t go into your room, so self-storage is generally safer.
If you don’t have enough room in your current unit, it’s generally easy to switch to a larger one at the same facility, then to switch back when you return. Check out your self-storage company’s website or talk to someone in the office.
Another idea to consider is subletting your room for the duration of your experience abroad. Make sure though that this is allowed in your contract, and that the person you sublet to will move out when you move back, or you may find yourself couchsurfing and desperately looking for a new place to live.
Graduation Approaches
As you go through your university years, you’re bound to acquire more things. Many will be items you didn’t need when living with your parents, like dishes and kitchenware. Others will be school books (unless all your books are digital, in which case, congratulations!), new clothes, sports equipment, finished art pieces, and various mementos. So, chances are, you will need more storage space.
Even if you don’t need self-storage when you move to college, keep what you’ve read here in mind for when you do.
