Your Best Storage Solution

What’s your best storage solution? The one that allows you to reduce clutter, remove unnecessary items, or prepare for a move with ease. How does one determine what the ideal solution is?

1. Determine what the primary reason for storage is. Are you preparing for a move? Storing items for children to use for their children years down the road? Packing up a college freshman for school, or a college senior from school? Are you downsizing your house? Or simply making room to stage a home for resale? Whatever the reason, this is the first clue to determining the appropriate storage solution.
2. If moving, who will be expected to pack and move the items from the home? Will all of the items be going into storage, or will some of the items be moving to a new location? Many storage facilities also offer packing and moving services to their customers for an additional fee.
3. Will items require short, or long-term storage? Is it possible items will be stored for a year, or more? Deals may be made with storage companies for discounts on short-term storage, especially during their off-season. While long-term storage deals may also be available to those willing to sign contracts for storage terms of six months or more.
4. Will 24/7 access to stored items be required? Just because premises are secured, this does not insure that you will have access to your stored items at any time of the day or night. Some facilities are closed evenings and Sundays. However, others provide gated security, while allowing renters access with keys or security swipe cards.
5. Is climate control necessary for the space? What will be stored in the space? Can the items be affected due to changes in temperature and humidity? Some facilities are not climate controlled; thus, not every storage facility is appropriate for items like furniture, delicate china/crystal, furs, etc.
6. Is it easier to have a pod delivered to your yard and fill it at your convenience, or would you prefer to box up all of the items and move them to your storage facility of choice? Pods are ultra convenient, but how does the cost for a pod compare to a self storage facility, or one that can move the items and load them into the facility themselves?

There are a great many things to consider when determining the best storage facility for your possessions. Not only must the purpose of the storage be considered, but the duration of storage time, the contents, and of course, the costs must all be factored in.