Do you actually need a self storage unit? Spring cleaning, even summer clean-ups, could be difficult if there’s not enough space to store stuff not needed for the season. While it’s okay to throw away excesses, there are still a lot of things you can use after a year – for example: your favorite cowboy boots, your favorite leather jacket and that comfort blanket you had for years. And while your cellar may be a good option, the temperature, humidity and whatnots can cause rust, mildew and other unwanted damage on stored items. Building a shed is also a good way to store items but if you are a family that often moves, there’s one brilliant solution…self storage unit. And it has proved to be a good solution to many.
Self storage businesses offers rented space – could be lockers, rooms, containers and other spaces where tenants can temporarily store their belongings (big and small) on a monthly basis. That could be household and business items. Storage units tend to differ in sizes, the smallest being 10×5 (10 feet wide by 5 feet). The services offered by such companies vary – short-term or long-term storage, a choice between a just storage pods or moving pods, outdoor or indoor options are some that customers can choose from.
So how do you get to choose the right storage unit for you? Read on.
Table of Contents
1. Plan
Is it going to be a long-term or a short-term lease? If it’s a long-term one, choose a bigger storage where you can add some more stuff the following year. That way, you don’t pay double the space and you can add items to store, any time!
2. Inventory
Make a list of all the items you will store.
3. Weigh and Measure
Knowing how much space the items will take should help you determine which size of storage to rent.
4. Stack ’em up
Try stacking them up, or piling them on top of each other and see how much space they would eat. Consider putting spaces for ventilation – and perhaps an aisle, so you can easily walk up and find things when you suddenly need them. (You’ll never know when.)
5. Scout
Visit a facility nearest you, it is usually easy to find out if Colorado Springs has storage units or if San Francisco offers cheap storage rentals with a simple online search. Seeing the actual unit will help you in deciding the size of the unit you’d rent. Also, the staff would be sure to help you out.
Space is indeed a valuable asset. And because we are a society of hoarders (admit it!) and sentimental fools, there were always be too much stuff we will hold on to and keep. It is also quite a taxing thing to throw away or decide which things should be in the bin. So for now, while you still want to hold on to the memories, a storage unit would prove beneficial, be it spring, summer, even winter or fall.
These are really useful tips 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
We decided to use this and get a storage for all of the furniture we are buying for the new house. As we bought something, we store it to keep it new and save space. Great article.
Conditioned storage is always better its easier to control the surrounding of your things and can help keeps bugs away.
When we were looking for storage unit, location was a big factor for us as we wanted it close to us.
What a clever solution! Though I an not a hoarder, we have amassed quite a lot of stuff over the years and we are seriously in need of more storage space for our 1208 sq ft condo. When we first moved in, there were only hubby and me and now 17 years later, there are 4 of us!
I had a storage unit where we kept our extra ‘stuff’ and I decided to have a garage sale and get rid of the storage unit. Saved a few bucks each month and made $300 on the garage sale so it was a win for me.
I always have a problem with this when I go to get a unit. I always end up with less space than I originally planned. thanks for the tips, I am really unorganized sometimes. moving is not my favorite pastime!
I wish we have something like this in the Philippines. Since we don’t have space to put in our stuff, we just have garage sale every year, but not everything is being sold so we just throw them away.