Back to School Moving & Storage Tips

Campus residence or apartment move-in day is just around the corner. And the average university residence houses approximately 3,700 students.

In other words, you (and thousands of other students) will be busy putting your belongings away in self-storage or using moving supplies to bring them with you.

To help make moving day a little easier (if not less crowded), here are some helpful back-to-school moving and storage tips from Ten Mini Storage.

Moving tip: Label every single box you use

Nothing is more frustrating than looking for that super-important item you just can’t find.

So before you pack or stick anything inside a storage unit, make sure you have sticky labels and a marker handy.

Once each box is filled, place a label on it and write what’s inside.

You don’t need to be ultra-detailed, either. Using generic labels will work:

Clothes
Bedding
Books

Either way, you’ll save a ton of time and hassle when every box has a proper label on it.

Storage tip: Get the right-sized storage unit

Obviously, bigger storage rentals cost more money than smaller ones.

That said, don’t try to cram all your extra stuff inside a 5 x 8 storage space (that’s about the size of a bedroom closet you have at home).

Instead, you’ll want to get a storage unit that can hold all your things AND give you enough room to manoeuver and walk-around.

If you aren’t quite sure what size you need, use the following list (featuring storage unit sizes available at #10 Mini Storage) as an easy-to-follow guide:

5×8: Bedroom closet
5×10: Walk-in closet
10×10: Half-a-standard one car garage
10×15: Small standard one car garage
8×20: Large bedroom
10×20: Standard one car garage
10×25: Large one car garage
10×30: Standard 1.5 car garage

Lastly, where you’ll be living will depend on how much self-storage you need.

For example, if you’ll be calling campus residence home during the semester, you may not have much room available. So a slightly larger unit rental could be your best bet.

Conversely, if you’re renting a fully furnished home with other students, you may not need excessive self-storage space.

Storage tip: Place items in the order you’ll access them

Let’s say, for example, you’re studying architecture. In a month, you’ll need to use some large-scale surveying tools and equipment.

Placing them at the very back of your storage unit doesn’t make any sense.

You’ll have to pull out every box that’s in there in order to reach the things you need. And when you put things back, it may not be in a very helpful order either.

If possible, keep any items which will be used regularly or frequently at the front of your storage unit.

That way, you just open the door, grab what you need, close the door and get out.

Moving tip: Look up the move-in schedule for your dorm

Different colleges and universities have their own unique move-in times and requirements.

For example:

McMaster University: No early move-ins are permitted
York University: Move-in day takes place on a Saturday
Durham College: Winter move-in day just happens to fall on New Year’s Day (January 1)
University of Guelph: Many streets are closed or limited during move-in day

Taking some time in advance can save you the shock of learning that some streets aren’t accessible or that you need to book a parking space for your truck rental.

Moving tip: Save your receipts

Depending on whether or not you meet certain criteria, you can claim eligible moving expenses (and get that money back) come tax time.

And it’s always nice to get a little bit of extra money in your pocket.

In short, you need to:

Be a full-time student in a recognized post-secondary institution
Have moved at least 40 kms to attend school
You took 60% of the standard course load for the program

Even better is that it’s possible to deduct moving expenses from your taxes multiple times.

For example, if you’re in a co-op program and spent a semester in field placement, you may be able to claim those moving expenses too.

The bottom line: Make sure to keep all your moving and self-storage receipts.

Storage tip: Don’t forget a tool kit

You may not have room in your dorm or apartment for a large tool box, but there’s a good chance you’ll need it during your semester in residence.

At some point during the year, you’ll be putting together furniture, tightening up door handles or hanging up pictures.

Having handy access to tools in your storage unit ensures that you’ll have everything you need, when you need it.

Plus, keeping your tools in storage eliminates the chance of you accidentally misplacing things like screwdrivers, hammers and nails.

Getting ready for school? Let us help

Whether you need clean, reliable self-storage or professional grade moving supplies, the team at Ten Storage has you covered.

To start, you can:

CONTACT US and learn more about our storage units
ASK FOR A FREE QUOTE on any of our rentals