Whether you have chosen to downsize to help your children on to the property ladder or because you prefer a cheaper, easier to manage property, self-storage can help you in many ways.
Think of your storage unit as a cheaper spare room or garage
It’s common nowadays to use our spare rooms and garages for storage, rather than for their intended purpose. When you downsize, you may be losing a room or two. And if you are moving to a flat or studio apartment, you may have nowhere to hide items away that you don’t use frequently. Rented storage gives you that room. It’s perfect for things you only use once a year, like Christmas decorations. And it’s ideal for seasonal clothes too.
Self-storage can make your move cheaper and easier
You can use self-storage to move by stages to reduce the stress a little. This will also help you to declutter, which will reduce your moving costs. If you need more support, consumer guide Which? has some advice on moving into a smaller property.
Self-storage gives you breathing space
Downsizing may mean making some tough decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. Putting furniture that you don’t have room for into a storage unit gives you a bit of breathing space to make decisions about items with sentimental value. You may find that after six months you don’t miss it at all and you are quite happy to let it go, either to an antiques dealer or to a charity that takes furniture. Or you may find that you still enjoy owning it, and that’s fine, too.
Your possessions may be safer in storage than at home
We all like to think of our homes as our castles – but they may not be the safest place for some possessions. Domestic settings can experience rapid changes in temperature and humidity and some items, particularly those made from natural materials, are vulnerable to those. If you opt for climate-controlled self-storage, then you know your possessions are actually safer than they would be at home.
And, of course, storage units have plenty of security features, too. Most companies protect their units with CCTV and intruder alarms.
What services do you need?
Some storage facilities will pick up your items and drop them back when you want them. Others have staff on hand to help you get your possessions in and out of storage. This makes self-storage very easy and convenient to use. Compare that to lumping boxes up and down the attic ladder!
How much does storage cost?
If you’re on a fixed income, storage costs may be a worry for you. But don’t worry, there’s a storage solution to fit every budget, and there are ways to reduce your storage costs each month. We’ve shared some tips for saving storage costs in a recent post. Our best piece of advice is to read the small print and make sure there are no hidden costs.
Do self-storage units have insurance?
One thing you should not skimp on, however, is self-storage insurance. The best way to save money is to get several quotes, as different providers have different offerings. Get a quote from Store and Insure today.
