Has anyone used this company at your child’s school? Our school recently announced that they would be using them for summer storage. We live far enough away that it would make sense for us to store items that don’t need to come home for the summer. The idea of not dragging everything out of the car and up the stairs next year is also very appealing since my husband won’t be able to join me for move-in day. I’d love to hear tips from anyone that has used the service. Thanks!
Another cheaper option - if your kid had befriended a day student, their garage is often an option. 
We used All Campus Storage every year ChoatieKid attended. It was magic. They delivered the boxes, tape, and labels right to his floor. He packed everything up and got on a plane with just his backpack and roller bag. ACS came and scanned each box and whisked it away. At next move-in day, every box (never any damage) was right there in his new room ready for unpacking. Voila! They also had an option for college delivery after BS graduation, but we didn’t require that.
I would assume Dorm Room Movers operates on the same principle. Go for it.
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Thanks @ChoatieMom - did he store bedding also? I’m wondering if I should tell the kids to wash all the blankets etc before storing or wait until they get it back in the fall. Also - did you use compression bags for bedding before boxing?
I stored bedding without compression bags, and I have no recollection of a single student packing using compression bags - even if they had them from September. 
Unlike most males at BS, I washed my bedding regularly, but I did not specifically wash before packing, but I did upon unpacking.
I’m going to take a guess and say that ChoatieKid didn’t use compression bags when he packed up 
I’ve been eyeing that Dorm Movers service too, @busymommyof4 . My son has a sizeable couch in his room this year that will surely not fit in the car in May. Last year they were able to store it in the basement of the dorm, but that’s no longer allowed. I can only imagine what your car looks like when you pack up 2 kids to go to school!
What are compression bags?
He came home with only some clothes and his laptop. Everything else, including most of his clothing, was stored. We were never there at move out, so I have no clue how he packed.
Based on the state of his bedding on graduation day, I’m not sure it was ever laundered. ?♀️
Haha, I’m fairly certain that my son’s bed is only changed when I visit! I think I may wash some blankets and duvet covers over Easter weekend and buy some of the ziploc compression bags To store the blankets and towels so they will fill fewer boxes.
I will be moving them out alone (driving home) and moving them back in alone after an international flight to US, so I’m trying to simplify packing as much as possible!
@dramakid2 - when I was there I had a hand-me-down couch that we stored in the basement of tippetts. It never came home! Our suburban with a roof box was packed to the gills for move-in day, if we add kid #3 next year we will need a trailer or a second vehicle!
Yikes, glad my kids went to school within reasonable driving distance. Couldn’t imagine having to pack up entire dorm/apartment and have company come pick it up for storage. The added expense and headaches etc… Good Luck to those that have to go that route.
Out school uses Able Moving and Storage. Yes, works great, but oh so expensive! Last summer we opted out. Instead, I flew in, rented a van and a storage unit, and D and I moved all her stuff ourselves, including a small couch. In the fall, we had to repeat for move-in, but we still saved, even with the extra air travel. Bonus 1: I got to wash everything, including bedding, at move-in. Stuff smells awful after sitting in a storage facility for 3 months, and kids just don’t have the time to wash it all when they move in, especially fall athletes. Bonus 2: Even the smallest storage unit can accommodate the stuff of several kids, so we stored some large items for long-distance/international friends and everyone got to save this way.
@GoatMama weve rented a storage unit each summer, too. Much, much cheaper and we’re able to get all of DSs stuff over in one trip and have plenty of leftover room in the smallest available space.
PEA offers 2 ridiculously large bins that students can store in the basement of their dorm at no cost. Even though we lived close, our kids stored their bedding, printers, school supplies and often dress clothes in their bins over the summer. It made for a much simpler move out/in.
Hmm… You DO realize that generally these dorm rooms are Lilliputian, right? Not sure how much you’re planning to bring, but anything beyond a couple of suitcases or one car trunk’s worth might need to be re-thought. Bigger stuff like bedding can be shipped ahead (the schools have holding areas for pre-move-in shipments) or purchased from the local Target/Walmart/BBB/school store during move-in days. And, of course, Amazon is your friend, too. Really, pack like your kid is going to grandma’s for a couple of weeks. They don’t need more than that. (Girls, I’m looking at you.) Especially to start. The weather in NE is pretty warm for the first few weeks, so you might not want to bring/send warmer clothing until Parents Weekend at which time you can take back all the excess/summer stuff.
As for storage cost, our son had a single every year, and we still didn’t spend more than $150/summer for those few boxes.
(@BmacNJ: These are high school years, no apartments, just tiny dorm rooms, and the storage companies do all the heavy lifting. Zero headache and no involvement from parents—that’s the point.)
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@ChoatieMom i think prices have gone up a bit…when we priced, one box was $150. Plus, for DS, we had hockey gear. Now, he has a small refrigerator to add to that mix, so it really is more economical to join a few kids that are from far away or use space in a garage or basement from a local (his BF’s parents just announced they’re moving to FL).
But you are right…the rooms are small and there’s not much reason to pack a ton. DS switches out seasonal clothing each holiday he is home-and uses a carry on to travel.
And parents of boys—-don’t even bother packing long pants. The pairs I bought DS before moving him up to the “bitter cold” still have the tags on them and the insulated hiking boots are still untouched in a box under his bed. Sigh
I’m planning to leave a set of plastic drawers per kid (they keep them under their beds) and stuff it full of school supplies, alarm clocks, desk lamps, etc and then a box or two of bedding - just the stuff that takes up the most room in the car and won’t he needed at home over the summer. I’ll start switching clothes out at Easter weekend and bring home any unused/unnecessary items.
The idea of someone else carrying it up the stairs to their room next year makes the extra expense feel worthwhile!
I suspect there is a range of prices between services, but our service charges $60 ea for couch/loveseat, $50 ea for chair, table, ottoman, small fridge, bookcase; $40 ea for lamp, fan, bike, hockey stick, suitcase, duffle bag; $35 ea for med/large box, rug, plastic tote; $30 ea for small box, poster tube; and $75 redelivery fee. Minimum storage fee is $175.
My kid is fairly frugal, but when you price out storage for bedding, rug, coach, ottoman, fan, lamp, and a few boxes of school supplies, clothes, and other household stuff, plus the redelivery fee, it easily gets into the $700-$800 range, and much much higher for some. I have seen kids with 20 boxes each, plus all the unboxed stuff. In contrast, the storage unit I rented was $50/month with all taxes and fees included. It would have easily fit the stuff of 4-5 kids.
I am glad my kid is not reading on here, kids actually have real furniture of their own at BS? Couch and ottoman? Rug? Dream on, there is zero space for anything like that in his dorm. I hope we can get and keep all cold weather stuff and winter sport gear at home after spring break, which should make final move out fairly painless. Now college kid a another story and storage will be a key there.
This service looks fairly reasonable - it’s $39 to sign up, which includes 5 boxes and about $65 per large box to pickup/store/return. more expensive than other options, but the convenience factor could be the magic! Just hoping it works as well as it sounds…
If your kid can pack most stuff being stored in a box or two and just has one or two big items, or a plastic bin or two of the awkward things like lamps, etc., check with local friends — we have kept stuff over the summer for DS’s prior roommate from CA. And no, DS has no “real” furniture/furnishings if his own — he was very excited about the small rug I bought him this year, and his fans are the other bulky things. Fridge is rented at school for the year. I have bought super cheap comforters that somehow get torn or lost and so far haven’t made it home.
I think it’s all to each his own and what seems to work best. There are plenty of options. We’re talking about taking all of DSs stuff next year from his dorm to a storage center near the college where he’ll be. I can’t imagine cluttering my house with it again. ? of course, i y’all depends on what part of the country he ends up in, too.