As a student you always have to consider what your next move will be. Whether you’re moving from halls into shared housing or traveling back home between breaks, chances are you’ll need storage at some point.
The problem is there are many storage types to choose from, but don’t get overwhelmed. In this blog we will compare and contrast two of the most common types of storage – student storage and self storage. So we can help you decide where to store your items as life awaits you with its new beginnings.
This blog compares the two types of storage on convenience, flexibility, affordability, ease of use, security and size of units. So let’s dive in…
Convenience & Location
Student Storage:
- This type of storage is built directly to suit the needs of students. Often located close to student areas to provide greater accessibility.
- With convenient pick-up and drop-off services, you can arrange deliveries directly to your accommodation or house. So forget worrying about transportation or heavy lifting.
Self Storage:
- Self storage units tend to be located in more industrial areas and are better reached by having your own transportation.
- They can provide forklifts to aid with heavylift inside the facility. However, you will either need to drive, hire a cab or get an uber to take your stuff to the warehouse.
Ultimately, storage for students deems a better suited option if you don’t own a car and need help with transportations. This is because its services are specifically designed for maximum convenience.
Flexible Storage Duration
Student Storage:
- Flexible plans allow you to store in between breaks and house moves. They effortlessly work around your student schedule to facilitate your storage needs.
- You’ll only pay for the storage you need and use, which is more cost-effective than hiring out a large space with a fixed cost.
Self Storage:
- Storage units tend to have fixed dimensions, which may lead to renting storage space you won’t fully use up.
- Additionally, long-term fixed contracts offer less flexibility if you are only looking to store for a short period, such as between semesters.
Conclusively student storage is better suited for academic schedules and dimensions, whereas self storage requires bigger and more long-term commitments.
Affordability and Student Discounts
Student Storage:
- Specially priced to fit student budgets, Spaceways for example stars from as little as £8 per month. Additionally, most companies do student discounts or referral discounts.
- You pay per box or item which means you’ll only need to pay for the space you use which is especially more affordable, if you don’t have a lot to store.
Self Storage:
- Prices vary majorly between self storage units. This is due to many factors such as unit size or location. More popular locations tend to be more expensive.
- Self storage companies may offer discounts for certain individuals such as Armed Forces or NHS, as well as referral discounts. However, they don’t necessarily offer student tailored discounts.
Arguably, while both types of storage can offer discounts, one takes students’ budgets into account whilst the other may not.
Ease of Use
Student Storage:
- Many companies provide students with packing supplies such as boxes or tape, so you don’t have to worry about getting your own.
- They may also offer mobile services where your items can be picked up from your preferred location and redelivered, this is the case at Spaceways.
Self Storage:
- Typically with this type of storage the emphasis is on the self, meaning you’ll need to find your own packaging materials, organise and transport them to and from the storage unit.
- However some self storage companies do provide mobile services, such as Kelly’s Storage, where you can have your items picked up and re-delivered to your desired locations.
Conclusively, both types of storage are relatively easy to use though student storage may provide you with more support and accommodating services, whereas self storage will require you to do everything yourself.
Security
Student Storage:
- Security is designed to balance high turnover with flexibility, meaning your item will be easily accessible whilst also secure.
- Much like any regular storage facility security levels will be proportionate, with all time surveillance, alarms and key or code access.
Self Storage:
- Self storage facilities provide a range of security measures, much like student storage there is all time surveillance and alarms, but also additional features such as temperature controlled vaults to prevent weather damage.
- Additionally, insurance for items is also provided as some people choose to store valuable items.
Ultimately, both types of storage are well secure and suit different types of needs. Whichever you choose, both will have well monitored, secured and trusted facilities ensuring your belongings are kept safe.
Storage Unit Size
Student Storage:
- Allows you to store smaller quantities, many services include either by the box or items, which is greatly suited to students who may not have lots to store but need additional space.
- At spaceways, there are many different sizes of boxes and suitcase sized spaces to choose from. Meeting a range of your needs.
Self Storage:
- Unit sizes tend to be bigger and suited for storing a higher volume of items. This means you may have to rent a minimum space which is overly large for just a few items.
- Larger units are greatly suited for many possessions and large items such as furniture or outdoor equipment.
Conclusively, student storage caters to smaller storage needs whereas self storage is better if you need larger spaces to store bigger bulkier items.
How Spaceways is Perfectly Tailored for Students
Spaceways is a store by the box storage company suited for students by making storing easy, stress-free and affordable.
Best features:
- Online booking: You book online through your phone or laptop, so you don’t have to stress about making that phone call.
- Affordable: You can easily pick everything you need from the comfort of your own home, and book with really affordable rates. We have partnered up with student beans to ensure you get that student discount.
- Accessible: We’ll deliver the empty boxes to your doorstep for free so you can get packing!
- Convenient: Once you are ready and all packed up we will swing by and pick your boxes up.
- Secure: We store them safely in our monitored secure warehouse for you.
- Quick: You can book your redelivery online to your desired location and we will promptly deliver them for you.
Final Thoughts:
When deciding between student or self storage, the decision will ultimately lie in what your needs are.
Student storage is designed and tailored for the many adversities of student lives and may deem more beneficial for a student across dimensions such as convenience, ease of use and flexibility, not to forget cost!
However don’t shy away from delving into the world of self storage if you feel it suits your needs better. While student storage is made for students, self store is still beneficial in many ways and a secure way to store your many items.
2 Responses
I’m impressed by the clarity and detail in your writing—well done!
Thank you 🙂