There are many reasons why people need self storage. They range from creating more space for living to temporarily having no home at all. The reasons also vary from country to country. Let’s examine some of the main reasons why people need and use self storage.
Selling a home:
Self storage can be of great use when selling your home. It is not a well kept secret that the less cluttered your home is the more spacious it appears. This appearance of extra living space in your home can translate into more interested buyers and a significantly higher sale price. This is why one of the first recommendations you will receive from your real estate agent prior to putting your home on the market is to “de clutter” your home.
This often involves packing away unnecessary ornamentals, old lounges and furniture that are really not needed in the home. Some home owners even go the extreme of storing everything they own and renting newer more modern furniture and plants just for the sale period. Some self storage facilities offer a free no obligation quote at your home to accurately assess the storage space you will need and can even provide a removal solution.
People who hoard:
The desire to “hold on to things” goes back many centuries and in extreme cases can be referred to as hoarding. Hoarding is about the fear of throwing something away that you might need someday or that if thrown away will cause a problem. More recently our grand parents and great grand parents who experienced the great depression of the 1930’s have passed down the need to protect and acquire possessions that they themselves once lost. There are many examples in the self storage industry of people renting a storage space so they can continue to collect items that they can no longer store in their home.
Hoarding can cause problems in the family home due to a reduction in the actual living space. Self storage offers these customers an opportunity to clear some space at home and still fulfill their need for retaining and gathering items. Because self storage can be rented on a month by month basis it is easy for customers to increase or decrease the amount of storage space they need. It is not uncommon for individuals to have 2 or more storage units which they often visit to look through their “stuff”. Extended hours access at most storage facilities gives customers the flexibility to visit their storage units when it is convenient for them.
Building a new home:
Most people who have built a new home have done it, yes move in with in laws for a period of time while the new home is being built. However, it is quite rare that our accommodating family will have the space needed to store all our prized possessions. People using secure self storage to store all of their belongings while they build a new home is very common.
Most customers who use self storage during this period like the flexibility of month to month renting due to the uncertainty of when their new home will be completed. Customers also like the fact that they can increase their storage space at any time allowing them extra room to purchase and store new furniture for their home. Some self storage facilities will even receive deliveries of new furniture directly into your storage space on your behalf.
Due to the nature of building a home, storage for this purpose is often at least 3 to 6 months or more. Some storage facilities offer prepayment discount solutions for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months payments in advance. Alternatively you can arrange to have your payment automatically deducted each month from your credit card.
Divorce:
It is unfortunate but marriage breakdowns and high divorce rates are becoming more prevalent in today’s society. It is often the case where one person is forced to leave the family home and needs to store the items that were solely theirs. This can often include a car and the contents of the garage. Most storage facilities deal with these situations regularly with discretion and privacy. Should you need to store a car you should check with the storage facility to see if this type of space is available. Most times cars are stored in a lock up garage space but alternatively there may be opportunities to store it in a secured outside space.
Most customers in this situation have a tough emotional time and the need for storage can be sudden. A good self storage company will have trained team members who will have an empathetic and caring approach and provide a complete storage solution including quote, move and store at very short notice.
Traveling:
People often choose to travel for either work or pleasure for up to twelve months or more. With their house often unoccupied during this period they feel more secure placing their treasured possessions into a secure self storage facility. If the move overseas is work related often the company pays the bills and will require quotes. A good self storage company will be able to visit your home, provide a free quote and submit it professionally to the company responsible for making the payments.
Because 12 months is a long time you need to ensure that you save money where possible while also storing at a safe and secure location. The best way to secure the right size and price is to have an experienced self storage consultant come to your home to provide a free no obligation quote. This ensures that you will only get the space you need and will not be paying for additional unused space. Your storage consultant will be able to advise you on the best way to store your belongings for the long term and how to box and wrap them for maximum protection. Click here for information on boxes and wrapping materials. Ask your storage consultant to bring along some samples of boxes, tapes and wrapping materials to show you.
Death in the family:
It is a sad fact of life that at some stage we will all experience the death of a loved one. Many a storage consultant have had the melancholy task of assisting family members store the belongings of a deceased relative when no other options were available. Often time is needed to sort through their affairs and belongings and so a month or two of storage can relieve additional pressures during this difficult time. Storage consultants can help make this difficult task as hassle free as possible by organising everything including removal and packing with just one call.
Moving back into the family home:
So the kids leave the nest and you have all this spare room to do with what ever you want. And you do by creating a study and an entertainment area, not to mention your own in house storage area. Then 12 months later you get the phone call “Mum it has not worked out and I need to come home”. You can rustle up a bed but where is your son or daughter going to put all of their recently acquired possessions?
Self storage is the perfect solution. Because siblings often move in and out of home a few times before settling down, self storage allows them the flexibility to store their belongings just for the period required and when needed they can get it all out and move again. Some storage facilities have a free move in trailer and driver service which is very popular among young people who can’t afford removalists and have not got too much furniture to move. Big Box Free Truck and Trailer Photo
Lifestyle and hobbies:
Some people decide to use storage to improve their way of life. This is particularly the case in Asian countries where living space is at a premium and having a storage unit is just like having a garden shed. It is merely an extension of their home. While this form of storage is not as prevalent in Australia it still exists in the more densely populated cities where apartments and living space in general are smaller and more expensive.
Self storage can
also provide those with elaborate hobbies the space to indulge in their favourite past times away from the mischievous hands of children or unsympathetic partners. This may include building trains and tracks, collecting and reading comics or simply storing your valuable coin or stamp collections. With extended access hours to visit your storage space, excellent security and a variety of different sized units to choose from at reasonable rates, self storage can provide that extra space you have always wanted.
So there you have it. These are some of the main reasons why people need to use self storage. The benefits of taking advantage of self storage are more than just peace of mind but often a sense of relief that your affairs are sorted and you are free to get on with living without your possessions tying you down.
For all your storage needs please contact Big Box Self Storage as we would love to help.
If you have a specific reason why you need personal storage that is different from those listed above we would like to hear about it or if you would like to provide feedback on the article then please don’t hesitate to contact us.