Look, we've been in the storage business in Seward for a while now, and we've pretty much seen it all. Whether you're a Concordia student trying to figure out what to do with your dorm stuff over summer, a family that's accumulated way too much holiday décor, or you're just tired of your garage being so packed you can't actually park in it - storage units can be a lifesaver.
Here's the thing about Seward: we're not a huge city, but we're growing. And with Concordia University bringing in students every year, plus all the families and businesses around here, storage needs come up more often than you'd think.
We see all kinds of situations. College students are probably our biggest group - every May, it's like a parade of minivans and pickup trucks as Concordia kids pack up for summer. Makes sense when you think about it. Why haul your mini-fridge and futon back to Lincoln or Omaha just to bring it all back in August?
Then there's the seasonal stuff. Nebraska winters aren't exactly gentle, so come October you've got lawn mowers, patio furniture, and grills that need to go somewhere. And the opposite happens in spring when snow blowers and winter gear take up half your garage.
We also get a lot of folks who are in-between - moving from one house to another, renovating, or downsizing. Sometimes it's temporary, sometimes people end up keeping a unit for years because, well, life happens.
Local businesses use us too. Extra inventory, old records they need to keep but don't want cluttering up the office, seasonal equipment - that kind of thing.
This is usually the first question people ask us, and honestly, most people underestimate how much space they need. Here's what we've learned from actually watching people move in:
A 5x10 unit is basically a walk-in closet. It sounds small, but you'd be surprised what fits. Most Concordia students go with this size - it'll hold everything from a typical dorm room plus some boxes. If you're just storing seasonal decorations or some sporting equipment, this works great. Think of it like half a one-car garage.
The 10x10 is our most popular size, and for good reason. This is where you can fit a whole bedroom's worth of stuff, or if you're strategic about it, most of a one-bedroom apartment. We see a lot of people who are between houses grab this size. You can get a couch, bed, boxes, and still have room to walk around in there.
Now if you've got a whole house worth of stuff, or you're storing something big like a boat, you're probably looking at a 10x20. That's essentially a one-car garage. We had a family last year store their entire three-bedroom house in one while they built a new place. It was packed, but everything fit.
Pro tip from experience: if you're on the fence between two sizes, go bigger. Trying to cram everything into a space that's too small is frustrating, and you'll end up playing Tetris every time you need something from the back.
Okay, so there are a bunch of storage facilities around, and they're not all the same. Here's what we think actually matters (and yeah, we're biased because we offer all this stuff, but it's also just common sense):
You want 24-hour access. Seriously. Your schedule doesn't always line up with business hours, and there's nothing worse than realizing you need something from storage on a Sunday night and you can't get to it. We learned this the hard way years ago when we had limited hours - people hated it.
Drive-up access is another big one. Have you ever tried to haul a couch down a hallway or into an elevator? Yeah, it's terrible. Being able to pull your truck right up to your unit saves your back and a lot of time.
Month-to-month rentals give you flexibility. Life changes - maybe you only need storage for two months, maybe you end up needing it for two years. You shouldn't have to sign some long contract when you're not even sure how long you'll need the space.
And obviously, security matters. We're a pretty safe town, but you still want to know your stuff is protected. Good lighting, security measures, that kind of thing.
The ability to pay online is just convenient. Nobody wants to remember to mail a check or drive over to pay in person every month.
Pricing varies between $50-85/month for individual units and we have a larger warehouse unit that is closer to $500/month. The bigger the unit, the more it costs - that part's pretty straightforward. The easiest way to check is to go to this page and check pricing and availability: https://www.nebraskaselfstorage.net/pages/Seward
You can rent and get access immediately for the unit you choose.
Your best bet is to just book online or call us at (402) 937-3910 or check the website. We can tell you what's available right now and what the current rates are. Sometimes we've got specials running, especially during slower times of year.
Since probably half our customers are from Concordia, here's what works:
Book early if you're storing stuff over summer. April and early May, everyone has the same idea at once, and units fill up fast. Don't wait until finals week.
If you and your roommate are both storing stuff, splitting a 10x10 usually makes more sense financially than each getting a 5x10. Just make sure you actually trust each other and have a plan for who gets what when you move back.
Use shelves or stack boxes carefully to make the most of your space. You're probably on a budget, so maximizing every square foot helps.
Label your boxes. I know it seems obvious, but every September we see students who have no idea which box has their winter clothes versus their textbooks. Trust me, future you will be grateful.
A few things we've learned from watching people pack and unpack over the years:
Put the stuff you might need first near the door. Sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many people pack their unit front to back and then realize they need something from the very back wall.
Same-sized boxes stack way better than random sizes. Those uniform moving boxes aren't just for looks - they actually make your life easier.
If you're storing furniture, throw a sheet or tarp over it to keep dust off. You don't need anything fancy.
Take apart big furniture if you can. Bed frames especially - they take up way less room when they're disassembled.
Leave yourself a little path down the middle if you've got a bigger unit. Otherwise you're unpacking half the unit every time you need something.
And honestly? Take a picture of what you stored and keep a rough inventory. Six months later you won't remember what's actually in there.
Insurance is something people always ask about. We offer tenant protection, but you might want to check if your renter's or homeowner's insurance already covers stuff in storage. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.
There are some things you can't store for legal and safety reasons - no food that'll go bad, no hazardous chemicals, nothing illegal (obviously), and no plants or animals. Pretty standard stuff.
Oh, and make sure you know when you can actually access your unit. We do 24/7, but not every place does, so it's worth checking.
Look, I'm obviously biased here since this is our website, but here's what we offer at 144 S 10th St:
You can access your unit anytime - literally 24 hours a day. Drive right up to your unit, which makes loading and unloading so much easier. We've got 5x10, 10x10, and 10x20 units available, and you can book and pay everything online if that's easier for you.
The facility has security features and good lighting, units are kept clean and maintained, and we don't lock you into some long contract - it's month-to-month so you can adjust as needed.
We're local, we've been doing this for a while, and whether you're a student at Concordia, a family in town, or running a business, we can probably help you out.
If you're tired of tripping over boxes or your garage is so full you can't even walk through it, give us a call. We make it pretty easy - you can book online at nebraskaselfstorage.net, call us at (402) 937-3910, or email info@nebraskaselfstorage.net if you've got questions.
We've usually got units available, and since it's month-to-month, you're not stuck if your situation changes.
Nebraska Self Storage 144 S 10th St Seward, Nebraska 68434 (402) 937-3910