Moving is a complex process that involves a lot of planning, strategizing, and decision-making. And the decision what to take and what to leave behind is one of the most important and most difficult choices you need to make when planning your relocation. The type and number of items you decide to take to your new home will define how your move will go – if it will be simple or complicated; if it will be cheap or expensive; if you’re going to need professional moving assistance or will be able to cope on your own; etc.
So, it makes sense to purge your belongings before the move and relocate only your most practical and most valuable possessions. Deciding what to get rid of, however, may not be easy – you may not be sure whether you’re going to need something or not, you may not want to part with some of your items even if they’re not particularly useful or valuable, etc.
In such cases, self-storage provides the perfect solution – it allows you to keep your belongings someplace safe until you decide what to do with them and helps reduce some of the stress involved in a house move.
Putting some or all of your items in storage can be useful (or even necessary) in several other relocation scenarios as well – your new home may not be ready yet (so you won’t be able to receive your shipment), you may need to move into temporary housing (so you won’t need to take all your belongings with you – or you may not want to relocate them twice), you may want to travel before getting settled into your next home (so you’ll need a place to put your items in during that time), you may have to move out on a short notice (and not have a space for your belongings until you find a new place), etc.
If you find yourself in any of these situations and need to put your items in storage when you move, the practical tips below will be of great help.
Decide what to put in storage
Your first step is to decide exactly what to put in a storage unit when you move – the things you’re not sure whether to keep or to get rid of, the things you don’t have enough space for, the things you don’t need at the moment, etc. For your reference, here are the most common items in storage units:
Seasonal items
Storing away the things that you won’t need until next season is a great way to make unpacking quicker and easier – you will have fewer items to deal with and will be able to set up your new home in a couple of days. This will give you some extra time to settle in and relax after the move.
So, when moving, it may be a good idea to put into storage seasonal items like:
- Out-of-season clothes and shoes – your heavy coats, fur-lined hats and boots, thick sweaters and other winter clothing and footwear if you’re moving in late spring or summer; or your flip-flops and sleeveless tops if you’re moving in mid-winter;
- Season-specific gear and equipment – your ski equipment and snow tires when moving in the summer or your beach accessories when moving in the cold season;
- Holiday decorations – Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving only come once a year, so you can keep your holiday decorations stored away the rest of the time.
See also: How to pack clothes for moving and storage; How to pack shoes for moving and storage; How to pack holiday decorations for moving and storage
Furniture
Moving into a new home is an opportunity to create the home of your dreams – surround yourself with things you love, arrange the place to your liking, and make it reflect your personality and aesthetic taste. If your current furniture, however, doesn’t match the new interior design (or doesn’t fit into the available space), you’ll need to buy new pieces – practical, beautiful, and well-fitting.
Related: Is it better to move furniture or buy new
Yet, you may not want to sell your old furniture – it may have some sentimental value or you may think that you (or someone else from your family) may need it again in the future, etc. If so, your best option is to put your old pieces in storage.
In fact, furniture is one of the most common things found in storage units – it tends to take up a lot of space, so unused pieces are usually stored away. Patio furniture is also often put in a storage unit for the winter.
Needless to say, if you’re not moving directly to your permanent new home (or if it’s not ready yet), you’ll also need to put your furniture in storage as you’ll be staying in hotels or other temporary accommodations and won’t have space (or need) for your furniture items.
See also: How to prepare furniture for storage
Good to know: Similarly to furniture, mattresses are also commonly found in storage units – when people buy new mattresses, they often put old ones that are still in good condition into storage to save them for rainy days (or with the intention of giving them to someone else).
Appliances
You may not need your stove, fridge, washer, or dryer when renting a furnished apartment, moving into temporary housing, or moving in with someone who already has these items, but you may need them in the future when you move into your own house. It is, therefore, a good idea to keep your appliances safely stored for later use.
Electronics
Electronics are quite expensive, so you’ll likely want to keep yours, even if you don’t currently have a permanent home (or if it’s not ready to be occupied). Putting your electronics into storage will ensure that they’re safe and ready for use when you need them.
Have in mind though that it’s not worth it to keep electronic devices in long-term storage as they get outdated very quickly and might become useless after a few years.
See also: How to pack electronics for moving and storage
Books and media
Books are valuable reservoirs of knowledge and great sources of entertainment and inspiration. They can be kept safe in a storage unit until your relocation is over and you have the time to sort your volumes and arrange them on the bookshelves in your new home.
DVDs, CDs, video tapes, magazines, newspapers, and other types of media can likewise be stored away until you have settled in.
See also: How to pack books for moving and storage
Files and papers
All kinds of documents and papers accumulate over time and need to be kept for various reasons. While you’re advised to keep your important documents with you all the time when moving house, you may need a safe place where to put archives and papers that are rarely needed. A storage unit will allow you to keep all these documents safe and organized, so that there’s no risk of them getting lost or damaged during the relocation process.
Related: How to organize documents when moving; How to prevent identity theft when moving
Collectibles, antiques, and art
Collectors’ items are another favorite in storage units. And that’s only logical as people on the move need a way to keep their valuables safe until they settle down. Storage units offer the perfect solution – they’re very convenient and extremely secure. With 24-hour surveillance, modern security systems, and locks on all units, a storage facility provides an excellent place to keep valuable collections, expensive artwork, and rare antiques. You may even want to consider long-term storage for antique furniture pieces that don’t fit the decor of your new home and collectibles you don’t have enough room for.
See also: How to pack valuables for moving and storage
Heirlooms and keepsakes
Family heirlooms, old photographs, and other mementos may have little practical or monetary worth, but their sentimental value is immeasurable. To make sure you won’t lose any of your treasured keepsakes during the move, you may want to put them in storage – they’ll stay safe and sound until you’re all settled and ready to take them to your new home.
Related useful information: What not to put in a storage unit
Once you’ve decided which of your things to put in storage when moving, you need to find the best storage solution for your items.
Find the right storage solution for you
If you need to store away some of your items when moving house, you’ll certainly want to get a safe and easily accessible storage space. So, make sure you:
- Look for a storage facility near your new place – This way, you’ll be able to easily bring your items to your new house when you’ve settled in. Besides, you’ll be able to retrieve your things a few at a time (so you can deal with them at your own pace) and to get anything you need whenever you need it;
- Find a good storage facility – Make sure your chosen storage facility is in good overall condition (well-kept, clean, and in good repair), has excellent security (advanced surveillance system, strong fence and lockable gate, live guards and locks on every storage unit, etc.) and great service (24/7 access, drive-up access, loading docks, knowledgeable and helpful staff, etc.). Check if climate-controlled storage options are available (especially if you intend to store items sensitive to temperature fluctuations and humidity). See also: What to look for when choosing a self-storage facility;
- Compare prices – Choose the right size storage unit for your needs, consider what extra features you really need, and research storage options outside your neighborhood to find an affordable storage solution (See also: How much does it cost to rent a storage unit);
- Call ahead – If you call ahead of time, you have a better chance to find a storage option that perfectly suits your needs and available budget. If you wait until the last moment, you may end up with a smaller unit than you need or a larger one than you want (or a more expensive storage option that you’d prefer). See also: How to get good deals on storage units
Related useful information: How to pack a storage unit
I like the idea of putting away seasonal things like clothes, gear, or decorations. My husband and I are getting to temporarily downsize for a big move to Europe. We want to hold onto some of our nicer stuff, so we’ll have to make sure we get a storage unit that can hold some of our less essential stuff.
You make a good point when you mention how you can store seasonal items since you won’t need them for a long time. My wife and I have too many things in our attic, and we want to figure out what kind of things could be put into a storage unit. I think it would be a good idea for us to pack up our Christmas decorations until we need them in December.
I love your tip about storing seasonal items and how it will allow for an easier move. My husband and I are moving to Boerne, TX and we need to get storage for things to go smoothly. We will keep these tips in mind when we search for a professional.
I am planning on moving out to South Caroline to help my sister out for the first several months after she gives birth to her first child this April. I will be moving out of my apartment and need to put a lot of things in storage while I am gone. So, I liked your suggestion about putting all of my out of season clothes and any midseason clothing that I won’t wear in storage. I have a big wardrobe so that is some really good advice for me to hear.
I like what you said about using a storage unit to store your documents in a safe place while moving. My sister has been telling me about how she wants to get a new house soon. I’ll share this information with her so that she can store her documents properly.