Summer Storage for College Students in the DC Area
Dorm pickup in May. Climate-controlled storage all summer. Delivery back to your new room in August. Flat seasonal pricing — no truck rentals, no parent flying in.
Every May, thousands of students at George Mason, Georgetown, GW, American, Howard, Catholic, Marymount, and UMD face the same problem: move out by the dorm closing date, but you’re coming back in three months. Renting a truck twice doesn’t make sense. Hauling everything home to Florida — or Singapore — makes even less sense. Call The Movers built our student summer storage program for exactly this. We come to your dorm, pack and load whatever you need stored, secure it in our climate-controlled facility for the summer, and deliver it back to your new room in August. One flat seasonal price, quoted upfront, no surprise fees in October.
How Our Student Summer Storage Works
Four steps. The whole thing takes about an hour at pickup and another hour in August.
- Reserve your spot — book by April 15 for guaranteed pickup window. We confirm your dorm address, move-out date, target return date, and rough item list (boxes, fridge, futon, bike, etc.).
- Dorm pickup in May — our crew arrives in the time window you booked. We bring boxes, tape, mattress bag, bike box, and a furniture wrap. Pack what isn’t already packed, load the truck, you sign the inventory list, done.
- Climate-controlled storage all summer — your stuff goes to our secure facility, climate-controlled (60–75°F, humidity controlled), alarmed, monitored. Full digital inventory on file. You can check status anytime.
- August delivery — we deliver to your new room (same campus or new building), on the date you choose during fall move-in week. Unwrap, place furniture, unload boxes. You sign off, we leave.
No truck rental, no friends bribed with pizza, no parent flying in to help. The total time you spend on this is the hour at pickup plus the hour at delivery.
Dorm Pickup — No Truck, No Parent Flying In, No Stress
DC area dorms have specific move-out windows, narrow service elevators, strict loading zones, and short parking limits. We’ve worked all of them. Here’s what we handle:
- Service elevator coordination — we know the elevator queue at GW Thurston, Georgetown Village A/B, Mason Global Center, AU Anderson and Letts. We book and time around it.
- Loading zone permits — required at some dorms (especially GW and Georgetown). We bring our own permits where applicable.
- Time-window booking — pick a 2-hour window that works around your finals or move-out inspection.
- Pack & load combined — you don’t need to pre-pack. Our crew brings materials and packs on-site if needed.
- Bike, mini-fridge, microwave, futon, TV — all standard. We bring the right boxes and wraps for each.
- Inventory at pickup — labeled list of everything loaded, signed by you, copy in your email by end of day.
Parents living out of state or abroad: you don’t need to fly in. We handle the entire pickup with the student. You can be on a video call during the pickup if you want eyes on it — we’ll set it up.
Universities & Schools We Serve
We serve students at every major DMV university and many area boarding schools. If your school isn’t listed below, we almost certainly cover it — just call.
Washington, DC
- Georgetown University — all on-campus residences (Village A/B/C, Henle, Copley, Darnall, Harbin, Kennedy, LXR, Nevils, McCarthy, Reynolds, Village A)
- George Washington University — Foggy Bottom & Mount Vernon campuses (Thurston, Mitchell, Madison, Shenkman, District House, Munson, Strong, JBKO, West, South)
- American University — Anderson, Letts, McDowell, Centennial, Hughes, Cassell, Roper
- Howard University — Drew, Cook, Bethune, College Hall, East/West Towers, Plaza Towers
- Catholic University — Centennial Village, Conaty, Flather, Gibbons, Curley, Reagan
- Trinity Washington University, Gallaudet University, UDC
Northern Virginia
- George Mason University — Fairfax campus (Whitetop, Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore, Liberty Square, Northern Neck, Piedmont/Tidewater, Potomac Heights, Sandbridge, Skyline, Mason Global Center, Rappahannock, Rogers)
- Marymount University — Arlington campus
- Virginia Tech Innovation Campus (Alexandria — graduate students)
- Northern Virginia Community College — Annandale, Alexandria, Loudoun, Manassas, Woodbridge campuses
Maryland
- University of Maryland, College Park — North Hill, South Hill, North Campus (Cumberland, Centreville, Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton, Easton, Elkton, Hagerstown, Oakland, Bel Air), South Campus Commons, Courtyards
- Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore campus — by request for DC-bound students)
- Montgomery College (Rockville, Takoma Park, Germantown)
DMV Boarding & International Schools
- Madeira School (McLean, VA), The Potomac School (McLean, VA), Foxcroft School (Middleburg, VA)
- Andrew’s Episcopal (Potomac, MD), Sandy Spring Friends School (Sandy Spring, MD)
- Sidwell Friends, Georgetown Day, Maret, National Cathedral School — for boarding or full-time international families relocating for summer
What We Store (and What We Won’t)
What we store — basically everything in your dorm
- Boxes — books, clothes, dishes, bedding, decor, electronics
- Furniture — futons, lounge chairs, side tables, bookshelves, mirrors
- Mini-fridges — drained and unplugged 24 hours before pickup (we’ll remind you)
- Microwaves, fans, lamps, rugs, posters
- Bicycles — packed in proper bike boxes; tag $35 add-on for box and disassembly
- TVs — in their original box if you have it, or we’ll wrap and crate-pad it
- Mattress toppers, bedding, pillows — mattress bagged and labeled
- Sports gear, musical instruments, gaming consoles, monitors
What we cannot store
- Food, including unopened
- Liquids of any kind
- Hazardous materials
- Plants (live or potted)
- Firearms, ammunition, or weapons of any kind
- Items of extraordinary value (over $5,000 per item) without prior declared-value coverage and insurance review
If you’re unsure about an item, ask during booking. We’d rather flag it before pickup day than refuse it in front of your roommate.
Frequently Asked Questions — Student Summer Storage
How much does summer storage cost for a college student in the DMV?
Total cost depends on volume, pickup and delivery zip codes, and any add-ons (bike box, extra month, secondary pickup). Call us at 703-577-9227 or request an online estimate — we’ll quote the all-in seasonal price up front and lock it at booking. No surprise October invoice.
When do I need to book?
Book by April 15 for guaranteed pickup window in May. May–June is our peak season and our pickup slots fill quickly. Last-minute bookings (within 2 weeks of move-out) are usually possible but limited to remaining time windows.
Do I have to be at the dorm during pickup?
Yes — someone needs to sign the inventory list. That can be you, a roommate with your written authorization, or a parent.
What if my finals get moved and I need to change my pickup date?
Tell us as soon as you know. Schedule changes are usually free.
What if I’m transferring to a different school in the fall?
We deliver to your new address — different campus, different city in the DMV, or even a different state for a reasonable distance fee. Tell us the new address as soon as you have it.
What about during the summer — can I get something out if I need it?
Yes — mid-summer retrieval is available as a separate service, with 48 hours notice and a handling fee quoted at booking. Most students don’t need this; if you anticipate needing access (textbook, instrument, summer-clothing rotation), tell us at booking so we pack accordingly. If you anticipate needing frequent access during the summer, self-storage will be faster and cheaper for you
Is my stuff insured?
Yes. Standard valuation coverage is included — it covers items by weight while in our care. For high-value items (gaming setup, instruments, laptops over $2,000), declared-value coverage is available as an add-on. We’ll walk you through it at booking.
Can I store a mini-fridge?
Yes — drained, defrosted, and unplugged at least 24 hours before pickup. We’ll send a reminder a week out.
What if my new fall room is in a different building or has different access requirements?
Tell us during August scheduling. We re-route to the new address at no extra charge for DMV-area moves. New service-elevator coordination is part of the delivery.
Do you serve students at George Mason, Georgetown, GW, American, and UMD?
Yes — all of them, plus Howard, Catholic, Marymount, UDC, Gallaudet, Trinity, NOVA Community College, and the Maryland Montgomery campuses. Full list of universities and dorms above. If your school isn’t listed, call us — we almost certainly serve you.
What if I’m an international student and my flight gets delayed in August?
Tell us as soon as you know. We hold delivery for up to a week at no charge. Beyond a week, a small extension fee applies — much less than re-renting a storage unit.
Reserve Your Summer Storage Spot
Spots fill quickly — book early for guaranteed pickup window:
- By April 15 — guaranteed pickup window in May
- April 16 – May 1 — pickup windows assigned by availability
- After May 1 — best-effort scheduling
