@417WHB Mercersburg actually has very nice dorms. I’ve already warned my son to lower his expectations when he goes to college in 2022! He lives in a triple, which is big to begin with. Then you loft all 3 beds, and suddenly you have all this floor space for a couch, table, rugs and etc! His room is often a central meeting place for friends. Although that has not always been a positive thing :neutral:
He and his roommates bought the couch last year from a graduating senior. It’s pretty rough and has certainly been handed down over the years. If that couch could talk it would probably have a few good stories to tell!
Furniture? Rugs? Fridge? Nice. CK had a few books, small fan, desk lamp, and some clothes. One large bedding box and three medium boxes each in the $30-$40/per range did it for him. The box price was all inclusive (tape, labels, packing material, removal, storage, return). I checked the bill for junior summer: $162 including tax, but I can’t find a link to All Campus Storage (started by a Choate student but used by many BS), so I’m wondering if they no longer exist.
Besides the rug, the couch, and the ottoman, did I also mention a makeup vanity, a turn table, two guitars, an ukulele, a keyboard, 6 decorative pillows, wall tapestry, and a full-service tea set? Sorry if a “frugal” girls makes y’all’s boys look like cavemen…
DS is pretty minimalist but I can picture him taking the mini pool table to school if there were room. And I like the idea of shipping it all directly to college! It’s not like I’m replacing all those blue and grey sheets and towels.
@busymommyof4@dramakid2 I need to research this a bit more… I’m wondering about timing… many of the “sales” from seniors to underclassmen don’t happen until the very end of school. If she suddenly comes into a couch in May, is there still time to hire them to store it? I will tell you, though, you haven’t LIVED until you’ve had to schlep boxes and a futon up to the 4th floor of KEIL in August, with a broken ankle, and an elevator out of service. It felt like the tallest building on the east coast that day. Also, dk2, my child has enjoyed getting to know your child in chem this year!
@ChoatieMom Thanks for the laughs. I remember that thread! D is in a large single so no one is bothered, but she did have a small double where the roommate came with 20 boxes, a bookcase, a couch, and a bunch of decorative stuff.
Is this a good place to ask about headboards??? I’m amazed at how many times I see social media posts of dorm rooms with headboards…please tell me that is NOT the norm…
M’burg Parents…maybe I read the email wrong, but it seems like the largest volume would be around $100 for the summer. Did my cursory glance not read this correctly or are there other fees not noted? While I can pack our SUV with the stuff, it’s annoying to have it around in our sqft limited apartment so it looks appealing. Also, the dorm movers are now relentlessly spamming me, which is annoying. They even called and left a voice mail!
My daughter has something called a “headboard pillow” we got at target and I had her monogram embroidered on it. She opted for it vs. a “husband” pillow for when she studies in bed.
@parentofanicekid My very practical engineer husband has deemed the service worthwhile, so I’m going for it! There is a 20% off code on their website - so be sure to use that if you sign up. Someone else schlepping their stuff is a huge plus to me! The only additional fee I’m aware of is the sign up fee which was $39.99 per kid, but included packing boxes, tape and labels.
@busymommyof4 thank you! I think we will just do it then. One thing I’m worried about is that my son will put in items that really should be washed before storage…whatever, that’s his problem I guess.
@parentofanicekid - I think I’m going to try to wash the infrequently washed items like blankets over Easter weekend and assume the towels, sheets etc can be easily washed when they return to school in the fall. I’m also ordering some ziploc compression bags to make storing the bedding easier/less expensive. My understanding after taking to DRM is that they will pickup after kids have moved out, so we can help with the packing on move-out day. Hope that helps!
Last year we saw the quality lacking in the school suggested/advertised summer storage company. We checked it out. The boxes and tape did arrive the last couple days of school. The students/parents packed up items in boxes and the company staff (looked like college kids) loaded them onto trucks for the storage facility. What we learned was that the cardboard boxes were flimsy. The storage facility was an outdoor type of facility that was not climate controlled. Yuck. Not saying all summer storage companies are like this. But, in the fall people were disappointed. So, I would check with uppers or at least current sophomores to see how their possessions/clothes weathered the summer.
FWIW - we shared the cost of a nearby storage facility 6x10 unit with another family. It was Very affordable. My CC friends on here know what I am going to say next: Hey - the storage unit was actually larger and nicer than kiddo’s Freshman dorm room!!
I flew in, rented a SUV. Had pre-ordered (Online) the plastic (reusable) bins from Target that were ready for pick-up. The storage facility was affordable, indoors, clean, climate controlled, and secure. Everything was clean and ready-to-go upon pick up in September. Advice to you: Check out this option.
