8 Ideas to Make Offsite Storage Units Work for You
Offsite storage units are used for a variety of reasons during all stages of the moving process.
- If you’re in the process of selling your home, you may want to pack away any extra clutter so your place shows better.
- Perhaps you’ve downsized to a smaller pad, and now you have too much furniture for your new home.
- Or maybe you just want to put some of your stuff into storage after your move is over and unpack at your own pace.
Find storage units
No matter the reason, it’s easy to find storage units in your area. It only takes a few minutes to find out the size of available units and their cost. Determining which unit is best for you depends on the amount of stuff you’re storing away and how much you’re willing to spend.
Details to check on when you’re shopping for a storage unit include the size, rental cost, access hours, safety from water and heat damage, risk of insect infestation, security, parking availability, and how far your unit is from the entrance/exits.
Storage unit tips
Once you’ve decided on a unit, it’s important to plan how to store your items. Follow these suggestions to make your storage experience hassle-free.
Moving boxes
- Create aisles with box labels facing out. This will make accessing your belongings a lot easier when the time comes to dive into the storage space for something you really need.
- Don’t stack boxes too high. You don’t want your stuff to topple over.This becomes a problem especially when the heavier boxes aren’t on the bottom. Organize and plan!
- If you’re using a professional mover to drop some items off at your storage unit, make sure boxes are clearly marked to avoid any confusion.
Storage facility
- Get a contact name at the storage facility. The storage manager may also give you instructions on how to unload your belongings.
- Read your agreement so you know the rules around termination and late payments. This is important come termination time; you don’t want to make extra payments after you’ve removed your belongings from the storage space.
- Inquire about any access charges.
- If you decide to use a professional storage facility where your items are packed in a crate and loaded into a warehouse, keep in mind that weight may be an issue and these facilities often have an access charge.
- Make sure the lock on your storage unit is sturdy. Make sure it’s not a cheap combo lock. Use a heavy-duty lock requiring a key.
Updated from an earlier version by Rick Hazeltine.