Moving and storage options for students

The storage and moving of belongings are probably most prevalent in the minds of IU students around the end of the spring semester. But if you and the roommate from you-know-where just can’t get along, or you have to run an obstacle course just to get out the door, you might need to consider moving out or storing some of your belongings now.

The following options are helpful for these situations, especially for move-out:

U-Haul
U-Haul is an option for students traveling within driving distance of IU. According to uhaul.com, six different companies rent U-Haul trucks and trailers in Bloomington.

There are two types of rentals: local, meaning the renter picks up and returns the equipment at the same store, and one-way, meaning the renter picks up the equipment at one store and returns it to a different store.

Local rental prices are determined by mileage traveled and time of the week. One-way rental prices are determined by the destination.

To use the equipment, potential customers must be 18 years of age and hold a valid driver’s license. Filling out an online reservation form through U-Haul’s Web site is also required. 

After receiving the reservation, the individual company contacts the customer. Ben Dailey, U-Haul representative at the Quik-Lube Corporation of Bloomington, said a company representative calls the customer a few days before the move to determine the time and location of vehicle pickup.

Though there are multiple stores in Bloomington from which students can rent equipment, Dailey said students renting for move-out “need to be thinking about it right away. It’s one of the craziest two weekends.”

Guys and Dollies
Guys and Dollies is a Bloomington-owned and -operated storage business that caters to IU students.

The company not only stores belongings, but also collects and transports the items to the storage facility, which in the past has changed from year to year.

Interested students can register for the service through the company’s Web site, guysanddollies.com. Students are asked to create an account and choose a date and a time for item pickup.

Guys and Dollies supplies free boxes and tape for customers. However, the company charges a fee for any unused, unreturned boxes.

The company also stores larger items, such as refrigerators, televisions and futons. Prices depend on item size and include pickup at move-out as well as storage and delivery at move-in.

CEO Bradley Robins said the move-out process follows a specific schedule because most students move out sometime during finals week.

As the summer ends, the company will e-mail customers to tell them they can sign up for a date and time for move-in.

Robins said move-in is significantly more flexible than move-out because there are several different waves of move-in, depending on where students are living.

Self-storage
Self-storage is another option, though the prices and space available vary depending on the company. There are several different self-storage locations throughout Bloomington.

At All American Storage North, renters have to be at least 18 years of age. However, property manager Josh Fish said parents can sign the lease and let the students use the unit.

Though Fish said All American Storage provides renters with a padlock, preventative nightly patrols and video security of property, not all self-storage companies are created equal.

Many of the storage locations offer student-pricing specials. Fish said that last year, in addition to a summer special, he offered a $30 referral bonus to students who referred friends to the property.

Regardless of the company, students looking for summer storage should think about it soon.

Fish said late March or early April is the best time for students to reserve a unit.

With that in mind: ready, set ... choose.

And remember to pack.