How Much Storage Space Will You Need?

Determining how much storage space you'll need when changing homes is often more complicated than it first appears. Simply taking the square footage of your home makes little sense, particularly if you plan to stack your possessions floor-to-ceiling in the storage space. Although moving and storage companies can help give you a ballpark for how much space you need, it's useful to look around your home and take an inventory with an eye toward volume.

The key to any moving and storage project such as this is staying organized, and picking the square footage of space is no exception. Start with large objects like beds and bureaus before getting down into the miscellaneous items, though you also want to pay particular attention to valuables that can only be stored with a certain buffer zone or in one position. Moving and storage companies will generally list their own spaces by the living size they correlate with — one bedroom, two bedroom and so on — but the simple fact is that no two people own the same things.

It's also worth considering whether any of the things you're planning to store need to be maintained in a specific way. Many moving and storage companies now offer climate control as a standard part of their services, though even choices such as these aren't all created equal. A growing number of homeowners prefer to look for easy access and live, 24-hour security for additional piece of mind from their moving and storage company.

One piece of advice nearly all the experts offer is to throw things out rather than become a pack rat. Although there is without question some value in maintaining keepsakes and other important memorabilia, you may not necessarily need those college textbooks anymore. Often shaving away unnecessary items can save you hundreds of dollars in a moving and storage project.

If you're in the market for a storage estimate, don't be afraid to ask about dimensions, length of contract, specific materials rules and anything else you can think of. With few exceptions, the nation's top moving and storage companies can help address all your concerns in a matter of minutes.