Why Use Self Storage While Moving?

Moving to a new house is simultaneously one of the most exciting and stressful times in anybody’s life. You’re heading off to pastures new to start a new chapter in your life, but the logistics of getting everything organised, packed and transported safely to a that deadline is far from easy. That’s why so many people have turned to self storage as a way of managing their move. And with houses getting smaller and many people unable to afford to live in bigger homes, the industry is booming, with more than 1,000 facilities are available around the country. But how can using a self storage facility help you during a busy house move?

What Is Self Storage?

Self storage is a fairly new concept that helps individuals and business owners store their belongings, either temporarily or long term. Many personal users take up a self storage unit as an alternative to an attic space – a place to store the things they don’t use very often, but don’t want to throw away. Most self storage spaces are large industrial units with a variety of different sized storage units available. Generally, sizes will range from a 1 metre cubed locker for smaller items, to a full double garage sized unit, which some people even run businesses from. You pick your unit, fill it as and when you please, and lock it up. It’s really that simple. Only you have the key to your unit, and you can usually come and go as you please within opening hours. You can pay for your storage units for a fixed term, or on a monthly or even weekly basis, so you’re not tied to a long-term contract you don’t really need. This makes it an ideal and affordable option for decluttering your home or, as we will explain, moving home.

What Can You Store?

Before we get into why self storage is the perfect option for home movers, we should talk a little bit about what you can use a self storage facility for. That bit is actually pretty short – almost anything. From furniture, clothing, boxes of treasured possessions and even motorbikes (provided they have been drained of fuel). You can use a self storage unit to store almost everything from your home while you are moving. This means it’s not only an easy way to declutter and keep things out of the way, or as a stop gap while you’re between houses, but you can move at your own pace, without any added stress.

However, there are a few things you can’t store in our (or any other) self storage units. For example, you can’t store anything illegal inside your unit. You also can’t store anything flammable, perishable or in any way alive – so no animals, no gas canisters, fuels or paints. You also can’t store firearms or any form of ammunition, and some centres will have restrictions on large tools such as lawnmowers as well. Depending on the facility you choose, you may also be unable to store high-value items like jewellery or gold in your unit – but this will largely depend on the policies of the company and individual branch you use. You are required by law to take out insurance on the contents of your storage unit, and to provide a unique lock for it (which only you hold the key for). Some facilities may be able to keep a copy for you in case you lose your own key, but most will advise that only you hold the key to your unit.

Why Self Storage For Moving?

Moving house is a process fraught with pitfalls, and with so much to do on moving day, it makes sense to try and prepare as much as you can in advance. Self storage is a fantastic tool for advance move preparation because it lets you store what you don’t need outside of your home. For example, we suggest that in order to make the move less stressful, you start sorting out your belongings, one room at a time around 1-2 months before the move date. Work out what items you won’t need access to in the short term, and pack them. You can then store these in a storage unit, giving you more room to move and giving you less to pack at the last minute. You can do this again a few weeks before the move to thin it down even further, so that in the days before the move you only have the essentials left to pack. No more scrabbling around the night before because you’ve forgotten things and no more tripping over boxes for weeks.

At Blue Box Storage, we love helping people during this vital transition stage. If there is any way we can ease the stress that is moving (which is, after all, one of the 4 most stressful experiences in life), we will do our best to help. Whether that’s providing packing materials like boxes and bubble wrap, or helping you choose the right size of storage unit for your short-term storage, our team of experts are always on hand for some friendly advice. For more information, get in touch today or pop into one of our regional branches.