“Moving is so much fun,” said no one EVER! But, it can be a bit less stressful with planning, organization, and self storage. This article is the first in our “Make Moving Bearable” series. We are going to cover everything from tips and tricks to maybe getting your kids excited about the move.

One solution to many of your problems can be renting a storage unit during a move. It may not be the answer for everyone, but it can be a big benefit to others. Most facilities have month-to-month leases, so you won’t be forced to make a long-term commitment. The time savings is another plus.

Benefits of Renting a Storage Unit

Time Savings

When you’re moving, it seems as though there is never enough time and there probably isn’t. If you rent a storage unit and gradually move things in prior to moving day, you will definitely relieve the time crunch. Look around and think about what you don’t use on a regular basis. You probably won’t be using your Christmas decor any time soon, and the punch bowl that serves 200 will also qualify for early storage. This not only saves time on moving day, but you can retrieve these items when you need them or once you’ve settled into your new home. You may eventually find that you don’t even want some of these items, and you can donate or dispose of them when the moving chaos subsides.

Smooth Transition

In many cases, when sellers have to be out of their home by a certain date, they will either have to rent a hotel room or stay with family. This, in itself, is anxiety producing. If this does occur, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to store all your furniture in your parent’s garage. You’ll need a convenient, secure place to store your belongings and give yourself some flexibility. You can rent any size unit, depending on the amount of furniture and other items that you need to store.

Selling Your Home

When your home is on the market, it’s a great idea to “unclutter.” Leave a minimal amount of clothing and kitchen items in your closets and cupboards. You can pack up the items you don’t need or use regularly and store them. With your closets almost empty, buyers can have the pleasure of imagining their own clutter in them. Another consideration is staging. To make your home more appealing to potential buyers, most realtors will recommend hiring a stager to make your space look like a set on HGTV (not that it doesn’t already look that fashionable). What do you do with the extra furnishings and decor? Store them. With short-term leasing, you can relax and let the buyers think they’re on the set of House Hunters.

Downsizing vs. Upsizing

If you’re retiring and moving into a smaller home, be assured that a lifetime of accumulated stuff will probably not fit into your new space. Instead of discarding things that you may need later, lease a storage unit. This will give you extra time to let your children fight over your belongings.

If you’re moving from an apartment to a larger home, you may need some storage for the extra furnishings your purchasing for the new place. This way, you won’t have to pass up a bargain on that glass-topped table with the concrete elephant pedestal.

Vehicle Storage

People who relocate across the country frequently encounter the problem of how to get a car, truck, or motorcycle to their new home if they’re also driving a moving truck. There may be only one licensed driver available, no one wants to make the long trip alone, or perhaps you have to move two vehicles.

If you use vehicle storage, you have a couple of options. You can drive your car to the new location, leave it in a secure storage facility, fly back, and drive the truck to the new location. You can also leave your vehicle in storage, drive the moving truck to the new location, fly back, and drive the car to your new home. Sound complicated? It does, but it’s really not. Keep in mind that there are different types of vehicle storage: indoor, outdoor, and covered. Whatever you decide on, you won’t have to worry, because vehicle storage is convenient, secure, and affordable.

Whether it’s across town or across the country, moving can be time-consuming, stressful, and frustrating. We hope this first installment of the “Making Moving Bearable” series  was helpful, or at least provided you with some interesting reading material. Be on the lookout for Part 2 of our series. We’ll give you some great prep tips for an easy moving experience (if there is such a thing).  

Ready to rent a self storage unit? Looking for the perfect location? Find your neighborhood my storage plus location by visiting our locations page.