5 reasons to rent a storage unit when moving home

Moving home can be quite an experience, as many will attest to.

There’s just so much to do, which can only add to the stress as your moving day approaches.

Renting a storage unit can be overlooked during a move, but in retrospect, it could actually make the moving process much easier, which we’ll explore in detail below.

5 reasons to rent a storage unit when moving home

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1. Great for decluttering

We don’t realise how much stuff we actually have until the time comes to pack it all up. As your moving day grows near, you might find yourself struggling to clear out clutter and make space in your current home. Or if you’re moving into a smaller space, you may not have space for everything and nowhere else to go.

Consider sorting through your possessions and deciding what to keep, what to donate, and what to throw away. You may even want to consider using self storage for any items you want to keep, but don’t necessarily need in your new home right away.

2. Keep your items safe

During a move, your belongings can go through a lot of handling and transportation. All it takes is for a precariously placed box to fall, and suddenly some of your items could be broken or damaged. For sturdy items like appliances, this may not be too much of a concern, but for fragile items like glassware or gym equipment, scrapes and cracks can easily occur.

One way to keep your items safe is by renting a storage unit. This will give you a safe and secure space to store items you wish to protect when you move. After you’ve settled, you can simply move your items out of storage and into your new home. Most storage facilities have dedicated security systems in place to give you peace of mind that your belongings will be protected from theft as well as damage.

3. Allows you to store items temporarily

Seasonal items like Christmas decorations or winter clothes can take up a lot of space in your home, even more so when moving at different times of year. Instead of trying to cram everything into your new home, rent a storage unit to store these items temporarily until you need them again.

It’s also helpful for items that you don’t use on a regular basis but still want to keep, such as camping gear or garden furniture. You may also have items you don’t need straight away, and you don’t want to overcrowd your new home early on and want time to unpack at your own pace.

4. Could save money on moving costs

The money spent on moving services can add up quickly, especially if you have a lot of items to take with you. Renting a storage space could potentially save you money on moving costs by reducing the need to rent a moving van or moving services.

You may be able to move some of your items into storage before moving day, allowing you to relocate your belongings gradually rather than all at once.

As with most storage companies, the amount of time you need storage for will partially affect the rental cost. If you only wish to store for a short time, you may have to look at other ways of creating space in your home, like selling or donating items you don’t necessarily need.

5. Provides flexibility

With most storage providers, you can store for as long as you require, whether that may be for the long term or short term. There’s potential for hiccups in a move, especially if you’re renting, where there may be delays due to paperwork, repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances. In this case, you may need somewhere to store your belongings while you wait.

Storage units can come in many sizes, so before you rent a unit, you need to determine how much space you need. If you know exactly what you intend to store, you may already have an idea on the storage space you need. But if you wish to store for the foreseeable future, you may need to accommodate potential overflow.

Get storing

To find your local storage facility, you can start by doing a quick online search. Alternatively, if you have any friends or family that have recently moved, you could ask them for a recommendation. Once you have a few options in mind, make sure to visit the facilities in person to see if they meet your needs. You’ll also want to compare costs to get the best deal.