The 2025 Uncle Marty's Guide to Cornell Move-Out
- Clark Young
- Apr 8
- 10 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
As we approach finals and graduation, moving out is always the last thing anyone wants to think about. Most students find it stressful, exhausting, and all-around miserable. This post will discuss some ways that can make move-out easier, faster, and potentially less expensive. Uncle Marty's Shipping Office is Ithaca's #1 rated itemized storage and shipping company on Google and has been helping Cornell students pack, store, and ship their things for 14 years, so this guide is built on the foundation of that experience.
For those of you reading this between finals, I've laid out the most important details here so you can be informed and get back to studying.
$15-$20/item/month is about the rate you should expect for storing a 24"x18"x18" (4.5 cu.ft.) box weighing <50lbs. Be careful of those that say they charge less, because there are almost always hidden fees that make up the difference.
Speaking of hidden fees. Read the Terms & Conditions of the company you are using. They should all have them posted on their websites. The Terms & Conditions is usually where companies hide fees and other information that may be inconvenient and expensive for you. If they do not have them posted on their website, DO NOT USE their service.
"Free" is not always so free. Most companies have inconveniently short periods of time in which boxes are free but charge for boxes at all other times. Also be aware of "peak" fees applied to their "free" pickups during normal move out times.
You SHOULD NOT PAY more than $10 for a large (24"x18"x18") box. The Uncle Marty's price is $8.99 and doesn't change just because it's move-out. If a business tries to charge you more or has a "no refund" policy, walk right out the door.
Do not buy "moving" boxes if you are shipping or storing. They are thin, cheap, and will tear when you put anything heavy in them. You want 200lb test boxes, avoid 32 edge crush test. The type of box that it is should be marked on the bottom.
All itemized storage companies stack as many boxes on top of each other as possible to maximize their useable space. If you don't pack properly your boxes will be crushed and your things will get damaged. Uncle Marty's is the only company that publicly states it's max height is 6ft to protect boxes on the bottom.
Be careful of pay up front storage, you often pay for more than you need. If you want to save money, try to find a company that offers month-by-month payment.
The standard coverage for a storage item is $100. If a company does not state this in their Terms and Conditions, you are putting yourself at risk. One lost item that isn't covered by the company can cost you hundreds of dollars and cause a huge headache. Balance cost versus reliability, because saving $5/month on storage is not worth broken or lost things.
Make sure the storage company you use is easy to contact. Sometimes even phone numbers aren't enough. I would recommend picking a storage company that you can walk into and speak with someone during posted hours. It isn't uncommon for emails and calls to go unanswered for months at a time in some locations.
Move out early or late in the day. The majority or traffic around the dorms and in Collegetown starts around 11AM and goes until around 5PM. If you are moving yourself you can be strategic with your timing so you can minimize the amount of time spent waiting in long car lines or fighting for a parking spot. Be the early bird or the night owl and use your afternoon to enjoy your time in Ithaca.
Now that we've covered the highlights, here is more in-depth information.
Know your storage providers: There are four main itemized storage companies serving Cornell University students. Uncle Marty's Shipping Office, Storage Squad, Storage Scholar, and Big Red Shipping and Storage. Each of these companies have either been offering itemized storage for more than 10 years in Ithaca or is a nation-wide itemized storage company. It's important to pick a company that specializes in storage because they will have terms and conditions that protect you and them.
Hidden fees: I cannot stress how important it is to read a company's terms and conditions before agreeing to store your things with them. A company's terms and conditions tells a lot about the company. Knowing them will inform and protect you and potentially save you money. If a company does not have a dedicated Terms and Conditions section on their website that is clear and easy to reference, DO NOT USE THEIR SERVICE. If they do have one, make sure to read through them because this is the most common place fees are hidden. Some companies have "peak" service fees for pickups, others have dimension restrictions, and the list could go on. Make sure you are clear about the fees that will apply to you, because what is advertised as a good price can become very expensive if you aren't careful. Uncle Marty's Shipping Office strives to have transparent and easy to understand pricing posted clearly on our website, with no hidden fees.
"Free" Boxes: The obvious catch to "free" boxes are that they are only free during very specific times. But the subtle key to these "free" boxes is how large they are. Often the free boxes are smaller than the maximum size you can store, forcing you to use more boxes overall. Be aware of what the company's container policies are. If a company allows it you can save money using your own duffle bags, suitcases, etc. rather than buying boxes. If a storage company charges for storage based on weight and allows you to use your own storage containers (like Uncle Marty's) you may be able to store more stuff for the same or less than using "free" boxes.
"Free" Pickups: It's important to look at where and when these pickups are "free". Is the free pickup at the curbside, the entryway, or inside your house? Making sure that the pickup location meets your needs is critical, especially if you have any physical restrictions or simply want the convenience of not having to move your things to the curb. Even more important than the pickup location is when the pickup can be scheduled. Some storage companies charge "peak fees" for pickups during the times that most people will be moving out. Additionally, make sure you know the company's cancellation, rescheduling, and missed appointment fees. A "free" or included pickup can become very expensive if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment after their allotted timeframe.
Be careful who you buy boxes from: If you do end up buying boxes, it's important to know what you are buying and how much you should spend. The Uncle Marty's box price list is posted every year so you have an easy reference to compare other retailer's prices against. Never pay more than $15 for a standard size box. There are a few stores that take advantage of the busyness to raise their prices to an exorbitant level and have a "no return" policy. I personally believe this is bad business, so Uncle Marty's has public box prices and a simple return policy: "With a receipt, an individual can return or exchange up to 25 boxes per month in undamaged or unused condition for a full refund." If a company says "no returns," just leave.
Pick your boxes wisely! Not all boxes are made alike. Cardboard boxes come in all shapes and sizes, some of which are better for packing and shipping. Often boxes labeled as "moving boxes" are rated at 32 edge crush. These boxes, often sold through general retailers, are thin cardboard. (Tip: Avoid anything with built in handles). It appears to be a great deal and cheaper than other boxes, but they will tear quickly under normal use no matter how much tape you use. Instead, look for a retailer than offers 200lb test boxes. The rating of the box should be available in the product description or on a stamp on the underside of the box. Our staff have even seen students use the same 200lb test boxes for multiple years throughout their college career. Don't be fooled by the prices of inferior boxes, you will pay the price in torn boxes and broken items.
For those who are interested, 32 crush test boxes are rated to hold 30lbs of items before bursting, while 200lb test boxes are rated to 40lbs. 200lb test boxes have a thicker corrugate so are able to withstand much more use before wearing out. All of the standard sizes of boxes that Uncle Marty's offers are 200lb test.
Insurance: The standard for included storage per-box coverage is $100/item, with some offer more available for purchase. If you decide not to use one of the main storage providers, make sure whoever you use has this standard in their terms and conditions; otherwise you are putting your stuff at risk. The amount you save is almost never comparable to the headache and cost of lost or damaged things. Every company has restrictions about what can and cannot be stored, so be careful when reading those terms and conditions because you could invalidate the coverage.
Stacking height: All itemized storage companies stack boxes in order to maximize the use of their storage space, but some do this more than others. Unless the person stacking the boxes is very careful, the boxes on the bottom quickly become crushed. If your boxes are packed appropriately and you don't have anything delicate in the box you can minimize the damage. Writing "do not stack" or "delicate" on your boxes makes little to no difference in most cases, so you need to pack with that in mind. Uncle Marty's is the only itemized storage company in Ithaca to guarantee stacking height maximums of 6 ft in order to protect both your items and our employees.
Ease of contact: When the flood of new and returning students starts you will want to make sure you can easily contact your itemized storage provider. Make sure they have a public phone number, are responsive via email, and, if possible, have hours that a person will be at their front desk that you can see in person. Not having your bedding when you move in does make starting the semester rather unenjoyable, so you want to make sure they respond quickly to any issue you may have.
How do you get your things back?: While all companies should offer delivery, there are only a few that allow you to pick your things up in-person. If you live near where they are located this can be a easy way to save money. Whether you are having your items delivered or picking them up in person, make sure to give the company either their stated lead time or at least 48 hours notice to make sure your items are available when you need them.
Move once, not twice: If you know to where you are moving but do not have a lease or have a break before moving, consider storing your items with a company that offers shipping services. Instead of moving or shipping all your items home then moving them again, store your things and then ship them to your new home when you are ready to receive them.
Busiest days for moving out: Peak move-out times are staggered between underclassmen and upperclassmen. But even with the staggering, the volume of people still overwhelms the available space for vehicles around the dorms and in Collegetown.
Underclassmen: The heaviest days for move-out are May 11th-May 19th (May 19th being when dorms close).
Upperclassmen: The heaviest days are from May 22nd-26th. The best moveout time is May 19th-21st or after May 29th. Before the 22nd the underclassmen have left and those graduating haven't started yet. After the 29th most graduating seniors have left already.
Move out early or late in the day. By timing when your packing properly you can avoid the frenzied fights for parking spaces in Collegetown or waiting in long lines to be allowed to load you things at the dorms. This can free you up to enjoy your afternoon in or around Ithaca.
Underclassmen: From our 14 years of experience moving students out of dorms, the Uncle Marty's staff has seen the busiest (and most traffic congested) times for moving are from 11AM-4PM. Avoid driving around the dorms during these times if at all possible! The best and most relaxing method of packing and moving is to have anyone who is helping you pack be dropped off at or nearby the dorm then having the driver go park in a close empty lot or on a side street. There is a lot map linked below along with our team's recommendations for parking locations. Now you are no longer being timed by parking enforcement and aren't waiting for 45 minutes to get a parking spot, so you can take however long you need packing your things up. Once you're done packing, just leave the things in your dorm room until traffic lightens up. Take the in-between time to enjoy Collegetown or get a meal somewhere in Ithaca. With the aid of a cart (available at most dorms) it should take no longer than 30 minutes to move a dorm's worth of things to a car, so you could be on the road home by 6 PM if all goes well.
Upperclassmen: If you don't know, heart-of-Collegetown street parking is impossible even during the semester, much less during move-out season. Tickets and getting towed put a damper on what is supposed to be an exciting time. The key is knowing your parking ahead of time. If you don't have a reserved spot, make use of the parking garage located on Dryden Road. Park there, then bring your boxes, totes, and packing materials a few blocks to your apartment. Even paying the parking fee is cheaper than a parking ticket or dented car. This will avoid the stress of double parking and reduce overall congestion. Once your items are packed up and ready to move, there are 15 and 30-minute loading zones located throughout Collegetown that will give you the time to get your things to your vehicle. Do not park in the truck loading zone on College Avenue! You will be ticketed and towed quickly, all while causing a headache to the local delivery drivers. Most apartment complexes have carts available for use and Uncle Marty's offers cart rental service, so if you have to walk a bit further to avoid double parking, you won't have to carry those heavy boxes all the way to your car. There is no perfect solution to the parking problem, but the best method is packing up early in the morning or late in the evening.
For both underclassmen and upperclassmen: If you want to avoid fighting traffic or struggling to find parking, schedule a pickup through Uncle Marty's. Our team will pick your things up from your dorm, apartment, or a nearby curbside, making your move-out easier. Uncle Marty's will store your items or ship them anywhere within the US or internationally. Uncle Marty's frees up the time to enjoy your families visit to Ithaca, and to celebrate the end of a hard semester.
North campus - North side (Robert Purcell Hall, Ganędagǫ Hall, etc.): Parking lot-A (4106), Deerborne Pl
North campus - South side (Balch Hall, Bauer Hall, etc.): Tang Welcome Center (4119)
West Campus (William Keeton house, Flora Rose House, etc.): Stewart Ave, Forest Home Ln, Mary Ann Wood Dr
East Campus is the least accessible of any of the dorms, parking is extremely limited and should be reserved for picking items up, not packing up.
Please reach out to Uncle Marty's Shipping Office if you have any questions or want more information about our services.
Email: hello@unclemartysoffice.com
Phone: (607) 275-3711
Address: 206A Dryden Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850