The end-of-year problem for away-from-home students
Every year, between June and July, thousands of away-from-home students in Milan face the same problem: the rental contract ends, exams are (nearly) over, and the room has to be vacated. But taking everything home — especially if you live in Sicily, Calabria or anywhere far away — isn't always possible or practical.
The problem also comes up during Christmas or Easter holidays for those with short-term contracts or university residences that close over the holidays. In all these cases you need a practical solution to store your boxes in Milan without spending a fortune.
Option 1: leave your things in your room
Some landlords allow you to leave your belongings in the room during holidays in exchange for reduced rent. It's the simplest solution if your landlord is flexible, but it's not always an option: many owners prefer to reclaim the apartment to renovate or re-rent.
University residences run by public bodies (like EDiSU or INPS employees) often require the rooms to be emptied during summer. In that case you have no choice: you need an alternative.
Option 2: take everything home
Taking your boxes home by train or plane is possible, but has obvious limits: extra baggage, additional costs, and the opposite problem in September — how to bring everything back to Milan. It works well only if you have few items and live a reasonable distance away.
If you've accumulated books, sports equipment, appliances and clothes for all seasons, transport quickly becomes a logistical challenge. Not to mention many students don't want to take everything home to their parents every summer.
Option 3: traditional self-storage
Self-storage centres in Milan offer rentable boxes from a few square meters. The advantage is flexible access; the downside is the price (often €80–150 per month even for the smallest boxes) and the fact that you have to transport everything yourself, often with a rented van.
For those without a car or the ability to organise transport, traditional self-storage adds a logistics step that complicates everything. It works best for those with a lot to store and a means of transport available.
Option 4: Smoves — doorstep pickup
Smoves is the service designed to solve exactly this problem: we pick up your boxes directly from your home in Milan, store them in a secure facility all summer, and deliver them to your new address in September — or earlier if you need them.
You don't have to organise any transport: you book online in 3 minutes, we take care of the pickup. The price depends only on the number and size of the boxes, with no hidden costs. It's the most popular option for away-from-home students in Milan who want to leave light and come back stress-free.
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