Why Full Service Is The Better Service...

Providing consumers a breakdown of the value they can expect  for full service moving, shipping and storage with Dorm Room Movers. 

Choosing a good summer storage service can get tricky... From the do it yourself mom-and-pop facility down the road or the on campus (reservation only) option. Either way, you're stuck with having to pack, lift, load, unload and risk the additional hidden fees that a majority of the nearby or on campus places offer. In addition to that, none of those options offer you an insurance policy guaranteeing that your options are safe, secure and will be replaced if any of the items are broken or damaged in the process. 

Summer Storage 101...

We here at Dorm Room Movers like to be as transparent as possible. To give you folks an idea of how we do what we do below is a breakdown of what you all can expect as from our 5 star Summer Storage Service.   

Starting at $39.99 for registration, Dorm Room Movers provides 5 (18x18x22 sized) boxes and tape. This registration fee not only gets a student a supply kit of boxes and tape it also secures their spot on a truck with a certified and professional moving company. Once a student has registered and scheduled their pick up date, the movers will come to the student’s dorm and haul your stuff off to a storage unit. The student’s items will then be stored in a secure and climate controlled environment.  Leaving the student and parents with peace of mind over the summer. 

As an additional option, Dorm Room Movers allows the client to shop and ship any new items they may purchase over the summer (for the students dorm room in the fall) to be stored with their stuff. When the student heads back to college all of the items can be delivered to the student at one time.

On average, Dorm Room Movers summer storage service option cost is between $220.00 - $259.00 for the entire summer (broken down that's $55 each month). Compared to a local or on campus self-storage option cost can vary between $300.00-$395.00 for the summer (a monthly fee of $98).  When factoring in boxes, tape, locks, insurance and manual labor the pricing structure makes the full service option a preferred choice for parents, guardians and the students. 

To keep it simple... We've created a visual for you just to help put it into perspective. 

Take a look...

Your Friends,

The Dorm Room Movers Team

Avoid Scholarship Scams...

IMAGE CREDIT

Before You Start Filling 

Out Applications, Spot Check Your Funds...

There are a lot of ways for college students to get help financially when college becomes a cost factor versus an extended education or occupational necessity. With the economy changing from day-to-day, both future students and parents or guardians have sought out alternative options for financial relief with the heavy commitment.

Let's face it, any help is great - but their are scholarship scams out there. A good way to avoid getting enamored with scammers is to do your research prior to filling out any paper work or filling out a website form to review what your options are. Your best option is to google the company and see what types of reviews are listed on the 'big ole' internet. It may sound silly, but if there is any kid of feedback listed whether it is positive or negative it will pop up.

That being said, below are a few tips to alert you on what to look out for.

#1: The Give Money to Get Money Scam... 
No legitimate scholarship is going to request a student or parent to provide them with money in order for them to help you with college. Processing fee's or acceptance fees are generally a red flag in these cases.

Here's what we think -  if the company was warranted in helping you, they wouldn't need you to pay them for it. That's their job not yours. Not what we would call legit... 

#2: We'll Pay You Big Bucks & All You Have To Do Is Send Back What's Left Over Scam...  
A more popular scam that a lot of college bound students get bombarded with is the "we'll send you a check and when you're done send the rest back" offer. In reported cases, a student or parent will cash the check and allocate the funds where they deem necessary. Once they've gone through the process and send the rest of the cash back, their bank notifies them that the check was not legitimate and they have to pay it back.

Want to know how this can even happen? Well dear Watson, due to the 90-day grace period of check transactions, you could go through the whole process and not even realize you were scammed until your headed to school. What a shock that would be, huh?  Tip - stay away from these, this is also a popular one on craigslist.  Meanwhile around the world some goofball is happily drinking a brew on your dime. Not cool... 

#3: The Click Around Mystery Scam... 
A lot of websites and organizations make money from the links they have listed on their sites. If you're unfamiliar with affiliate marketing, the goal is to get you to click the links on their site. And for every click you press on, they make money off of you from that third party resource who asked to be listed on that site.

Tip - Be wary of what you're clicking on and if it's anything but informative do not provide your information. Applications are one thing, but keep in mind that the only time you should be providing your information on a website is when you are paying for a service or purchasing an item. 

Despite what reviews are out there we recommend asking the school you or your future college student is set to go to. Generally the college or university will provide a list of recommended financial alternatives. Whether it's financial aid, scholarship opportunities, etc. they work closely with the professional and more legitimate funders out there. When in doubt rely on your school for this type of feedback.

To help you get started we've gone the extra mile and provided you with a few legitimate options. The good news is we're providing these to you just to be helpful and we DON'T get paid to do it... We want you to succeed and if that means getting help, then get help from the right places and click one of the links below.

Legit Scholarship Programs:

>> U.S. Presidential Scholars Program 
>> Federal TEACH Grant
>> Federal Pell Grant


Good luck with your search,



The Dorm Room Movers Team

Top 10 Summer Destinations For College Students

After enduring months of shuffling from class to class in mild to cold weather, studying, listening to your teachers and professors drone on about stuff and being stuck in a 15x15 room for the past 9 months - you'll be happy to know that the wait is almost over... 

We're here to help keep you motivated. So depending on the size of your pocketbook and the numerous tasks or people you promised to reconnect with over the next 3-4 months, below is a list of destinations that will give you a Summer Break to remember!

After a bit of review we've concluded from various sources that the top 10 destination spots both inside the US boarder as well as out of it for summer vacations are:

#1: Cancun, Mexico - It's affordable, it's easy to get to and you're bound to soak up the summer rays while sticking your feet into the warm beach sand.

#2: Puerto Rico - If you have a passport on hand and spending money so you're able to splurge Puerto Rico is a great destination. Sitting a little farther south of our US boarders Puerto Rico offers hiking, zip lining with monkeys, beach time and various other activities to get your travel bug a taste and leave it well sated. 

#3: Cape Cod, Massachusetts  - For you east coast students, Cape Cod is one of the top destinations to visit in between semesters or during the Summer. It's known for it's hot beaches, cool water and whale watching spectacles off of Race Point Beach. 

#4: Portland, Oregon - Also known as the city of Roses is a place where you can indulge in the arts and enjoy scenic options. The city is known for it's fine food, beautiful landscapes and down to earth atmosphere that leave most travelers feeling refreshed and reconnected. 

#5: Daytona, Florida - Another east coast summer destination favorite is a great place to check out especially if your all about the cars. Capital of the NASCAR scene Daytona makes an excellent and bargain-friendly retreat. 

#6: Thailand - It's not your first time around the race track if you're making your way to East Asia. Thailand is by far one of the more popular destinations with it's rich resources, friendly natives and inexpensive accommodations. Making the 10+ hour flight (depending on where you're flying from) well worth it.

#7: Toronto, Canada - Known around the world for it's 120+ specialty vendors at St. Lawrence food market, Toronto is a city worth navigating. Depending on where you are located at in the States, Toronto is a quick flight and the local accommodations are fairly affordable if you're on a limited budget. 

#8: Santa Cruz, California - Get ready for parks, fishing, biking and living outside for your entire destination if you travel out this way. Santa Cruz is an American West Coast favorite and has all kinds of good local restaurants and attractions to keep you entertained. 

#9: Ohau, Hawaii - From private beaches to Hanauma Bay, Oahu offers a plethora of outside activities that will keep you cool in the warm summer heat. If snorkeling among coral reefs and sea turtles or hiking through rain forests is your thing book your trip here. 

#10: Gold Coast, Queensland Australia - Although our American summer is Australia's winter, the Gold Coast stays fairly warm throughout the year. It can also be a plus, considering the beaches will be pretty bare due to the alternative vacationing seasons. Traveling on a budget down under? The good news is, their hostels are extremely clean and the food is great! Nothing like shrimp on the BBQ with great people and an amazing view. 

All in all, we here at Dorm Room Movers wish you a very eventful yet restful summer break. All that hard work pays off so enjoy your summer while you can and don't forget we're here to help you ship your stuff back to school should you buy any dorm essentials this summer.



Your Friends,


The Dorm Room Movers Team


(c) All rights reserved to Dorm Room Movers 

Why You Should Start a Blog in College

These days it seems like everyone is blogging about anything and everything. Entertainment blogs, sports blogs, college blogs and even mommy blogging. But what are the benefits of starting a blog? More specifically, what are the benefits for a college student?

Our questions today come from Eric Roberts. Eric is a senior at Arizona State University.

Questions answered by Liz Billman, Dormify.com’s Community Manager.

What are the benefits for starting a blog while in school?

 

Having a blog helps you really develop your voice as a writer. The hardest part about starting a blog is trying to find a focus. It's easy to write about everything you love, but your audience won't keep coming back for just a random post every day. You've got to find a certain topic to really focus on and then become an expert in that area. It's a challenge to write about the same topic again and again, so you have to get creative. This is where you develop the writing skills you'll probably use throughout your career, especially if you are going into journalism. 

Can having a blog help me land a job?

Yes! I often ask if people have written their own blog during interviews. I want to see how creative they are. If you can't write well about something you're passionate about then you probably won't be able to write about things you might not be as passionate about in the job (let's face it--you might not be put on the best assignments when you first start out). Not only can writing your own blog help you land a job, it can help you get internships and into brand ambassador programs with companies. 

Will I see any immediate monetary benefits from starting a blog.

You will probably not see immediate monetary benefits from starting a blog. You first need to build an audience and increase the visits to your site. Brands looking to advertise or pay for product reviews want to make sure they are getting a high return on investment so they will not way to pay you until they know that you have a large reach and that you directly influence your audience to engage with the brands that you advertise - whether that is driving traffic to their site or buying their product. 

How do I decide what to write about?

It's easiest to write about things you're passionate about, so I would probably start there. Make a list of things you love and then try to find a common theme between all of them!

To Toss Or To Keep?

                                                                                                IMAGE CREDIT

                                                              

That truly is the question isn't it?

I mean never mind that you have a week full of finals and last minute projects to complete, but you're also up to your elbows in laundry and have been working on about 3 hours of sleep if that... So, whats a college student like yourself to do?

Our suggestion, START pre-sorting your stuff prior to exam week.

Even if that means creating a "toss it or keep it pile" it's a start and will give you one last thing to have to think about when your move out day arrives.

Below are 5 simple move out tips to get you in gear when you're ready...

1. Be Prepared - Give yourself at least 2 weeks prior to your move out date to make sure your ducks or in this case boxes are in order. This means the stuff on your walls and scattered throughout your dorm can be compiled into piles.  As mentioned above, we suggest placing your items into 3 piles. In short called TST, the piles can be compiled into toss it, store it and take it home batches. 
2. Make A To Do List.  Scope out what you have to get done before you head home. Generally you have stuff you have to return, like your keys or particular school items. You will also need to plan on scheduling storage space for any items that are to large or inconvenient to take home with you. Set time aside to clean up the place before you catch your flight or make your long drive.
3. Sell Your Books. Books are updated every year so keeping them will not only give you another item that will take up space and collect dust, but the possibility that you're going to need a book from a previous semester is pretty slim. Most information can be found via the internet and you're more likely to google something on your handy phone versus run to a library or your shelf of books to look it up nowadays. 
4. Pack Your Stuff Into Similar Groups.  Clothing, towels and sheets, and any school supplies can all be organized within their own groups. Wrapping them up in trash bags or sealable containers will help prevent them from getting muggy and smelly while stored. Also labeling your boxes will make it a lot easier for you to identify when you get them returned to you.
5. Clean Up Your Dorm. Depending on your house or hall rules, tidying up your dorm before you drop your key off is the last project you have to complete prior to heading back home for the summer. Sweeping or vacuuming and dusting the permanent features in the room should suffice. However, some colleges are more strict so check the guidelines with your reslife rep before your jump into the tidying frenzy. If your house or dorm hall requires more put in the effort. The last thing you want to have to do pay a fee from a mess you left behind for someone else to have to pick up. 

Good luck and happy sorting, packing and cleaning!


Your Friends,


The Dorm Room Movers Team



(c) All rights reserved to Dorm Room Movers 

Shout Out To Brand Ambassadors!

Who is mercilessly promoting, marketing and representing on campuses all over the nation? Who knows the Dorm Room Movers brand inside and out and shares it with everyone they know? None other than the number one Dorm Room Movers advocates in the world. Our brand ambassadors! 

Dorm Room Movers would like to give a big shout out to our 2013 brand ambassadors. Our brand ambassador program has been huge for us since year one. The program gives these students the opportunity to gain experience in marketing, promotions, event planning and networking.

Want to become an ambassador on your campus?

http://www.dormroommovers.com/campus-brand-ambassadors/

Thanks again guys!

The Dorm Room Movers Team! 

A few of our 2013 ambassadors




(c) All rights reserved to Dorm Room Movers