We heard you’re looking for somewhere to store some of your belongings, be it for several months to years at a time (or indefinitely). Maybe you’re storing a wedding dress, business inventory, or even a collection of classic cars. Or maybe you want to try your hand at full-time RVing and need a place to store the furniture and knick-knacks you can’t fit in a teardrop trailer.
While you could always spend the next couple of years conducting once-monthly to twice-monthly check-ins on your storage unit, that may not be an option for everyone (like those traveling abroad or those with generally busy schedules). In that case, you’ll want to choose a long-term storage solution you can trust to keep your items in great condition for years to come.
Today, we want to let you in on a few tips and tricks for making the most of long-term storage, no matter what you’re storing.
Step #1: Find the Right Storage Unit
Before you can store anything for a long period of time, you have to find somewhere to put your items first. In other words, you need to find the right storage unit!
But how in the world are you supposed to know where to look — especially if this is your first time renting a storage unit? We suggest looking at peer-to-peer marketplaces that make it possible to find a storage space in your neighborhood.
Not only are storage spaces like these local and accessible, but they also cost far less than a traditional storage facility (this is especially true when you rent from hosts on Neighbor). Better yet, the storage spaces are 14 times safer, too.
You’ll find that a 10’ x 10’ storage unit is the most commonly rented space in terms of sizing. However, there are a lot of other size options to choose from, like the following:
The best way to determine which storage space to rent is to figure out what you plan to store. As a general rule of thumb, units with dimensions 5′ x 5′ are spacious enough for small pieces of furniture or approximately seven moving boxes—they are comparable in size to a walk-in closet.
On the other hand, a 20′ x 20′ storage unit can house a small car or the contents of a two-bedroom home — far bigger than a closet, that’s for sure! For more insight into what typically fits inside storage units of different dimensions, check out our Ultimate Storage Unit Size Guide.
Another detail to consider when choosing a storage unit is your budget. How much can you afford to spend per month on storage? When mentally answering this question, don’t forget to think about the fact that you’ll be renting the storage unit for a few months at a minimum, so it should be a price that you can commit to on a consistent monthly basis.
To give you an idea of how much units cost, here’s what you can expect to pay per month for traditional units:
- 5’ × 5’ = $45
- 10’ × 10’ = $96
- 5’ × 10’ = $63
- 10’ × 20’ = $137
- 10’ × 15’ = $123
- 20’ × 20’ = $150
And here’s what those units generally cost when you rent through Neighbor:
- 5’ x 5’: $20
- 10’ x 10’: $42
- 5’ x 10’: $26
- 10’ x 20’: $62
- 10’ x 15’: $44
- 20’ x 20’: $105
Tip #2: Avoid Storing Certain Items Long-Term
If you were to ask moving company Allied Van Lines, you should avoid storing certain items in long-term units. In addition to never storing perishable items — especially non-shelf-stable foods and beverages — Allied recommends that you keep these items out of long-term units:
- Houseplants
- Money
- Jewelry
- Heirlooms
- Weaponry
- Scented products
- Candles
- Perfumes
- Lotions
- Air freshener
- Important documents
- Passports
- Birth certificates
- Marriage licenses
- Medical records
- Bank statements
- Flammable items
- Batteries
- Rubbing alcohol
- Drain cleaners
- Toxic fumes
Also, this goes without saying, but just to be sure — never store illegal substances or unlawful items in long-term units. Not only will this put your ability to rent units at risk, but it also creates an unsafe environment for everyone else. Respect for fellow renters or those you’re renting from is important.
Tip #3: Make Sure You Preserve Valuable Items
Now that you know what not to store, it’s important to mention that you should properly preserve any valuables you’re putting away in long-term storage. According to professional organizer Carrie of Clutter Keeper, there are certain measures you should take when storing valuable items for long periods of time.
For example, if you’re a die-hard reader storing books you’ve collected over countless years, you’ll want to place them in boxes that won’t be kept on the ground. Instead of cardboard boxes or containers, opt for plastic totes, and make sure you use airtight seals to prevent the books from deteriorating. As a final precaution, never place books on their spines. Put them flat on their backs instead, and while you’re at it, make sure you stack your books from heaviest to lightest.
Likewise, with photography, you’ll want to use acid-free packing materials and make sure you’re renting a climate-controlled storage space. Keep photographs flat rather than upright. It doesn’t hurt to back up your physical images with digital versions, too.
Tip #4: Implement Good Practices For Maintainance
According to the moving company, the Hansen Bros, you shouldn’t treat long-term units like a leave-it-and-forget-it situation. Instead, plan to occasionally stop by the storage container and check on your belongings. Make sure nothing has spilled, and look for pests in case you need to set traps to catch them.
Ensure that none of your belongings are missing, and double-check your security measures for reassurance. Also, glance around for any moisture that might have accumulated, and disinfect any surfaces that have become dusty or worn down over time.
Tip #5: Look For Units with Climate Control and Humidity Management
When storing items long-term, climate-controlled spaces are key. As we’ve defined in the past, climate-controlled units are storage spaces with an HVAC system. In other words, these storage spaces are heated, ventilated, and air-conditioned.
These HVAC-equipped storage spaces eliminate fluctuations in temperature and humidity by maintaining a temperature range between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. That way, you can trust that your items will not be destroyed as a result of inconsistent temperatures, irregular moisture levels, or mold growth.
Tip #6: Properly Label and Manage Inventory
Last but not least, properly labeling all your storage boxes is essential when packing them away in long-term storage. There are many ways to go about this, and Home Depot is the best one-stop-shop for all your packing material needs:
- Packing tape
- Moving boxes
- Bubble cushion
- Packing paper
- Moving boxes
- Moving labels
- Permanent markers
Alternatively, you could take a more creative approach and color-code your inventory. Pick a color for each category, like pink for appliances and orange for artwork. Amazon has countless colored shipping boxes, but another option is to color-code your boxes with colored packing tape. Just make sure you make a note somewhere regarding which color applies to each inventory category!
Pros and Cons of Temporary (Month-to-Month) Storage vs Long Term Storage
Before we can discuss the pros and cons of long-term storage, it’s important to define it. In the words of Red Stag Fulfillment, a long-term storage unit allows you to keep inventory on storage shelves for extended periods of time.
More specifically, Premier Storage of Idaho states that long-term units are useful for items that must be stored for three months or longer.
The Pros of Temporary Storage
The most obvious perk of temporary storage solutions is flexibility. You get to rent the storage unit for as long as you need without needing to sign a long-term contract. The lack of a long-term commitment makes month-to-month storage ideal for short-term situations like moving, remodeling, and extended vacations.
Month-to-month storage spaces are also available on short-term notice. In addition to this ease of accessibility, you’ll only need to pay for the time you need, making this option more cost-effective in the short term.
The Cons of Temporary Storage
Did you know temporary storage rates are often higher than the rental costs associated with long-term storage space? Prices can fluctuate from one month to the next, making it harder to budget over time. Similarly, you might miss out on discounts that are only available for long-term leases.
The Pros of Long-Term Storage
The longevity of long-term storage is clearly a plus, but what are the other benefits of long-term storage?
The amount of money you’ll save is certainly a bonus. Not only are long-term leases less expensive, but the prices are also stable. When you sign a long-term lease, you are agreeing to pay a set amount of money every month, and the price cannot be raised at any point throughout the duration of your lease, so the cost is predictable month after month.
This type of storage container offers stability not only in terms of price points but also in regard to accessibility. You can trust that you’ll have access to the same storage unit for an extended period. That way, you won’t need to worry about frequently renewing leases or having to relocate your belongings into a new storage container every month, which also points to the convenience factor of long-term storage.
The Cons of Long-Term Storage
Long-term storage offers far less flexibility than month-to-month storage options. In that same vein, you have to commit upfront and promise to uphold the terms of your lease even if you no longer need the storage container for as long as you originally planned.
All in all, temporary — or month-to-month — storage units are better for people who have short-term storage needs. This is because temporary storage is all about maximizing flexibility without locking you into a long-term commitment.
On the other hand, stability—both in terms of pricing and availability—is at the forefront of long-term storage options. This makes long-term storage units a far more cost-effective and reliable option for those needing storage space for lengthy periods of time.
In Summary
Now that you’ve read about everything there is to know about long-term storage, you can start exploring your storage unit options. Now, before you overwhelm yourself choosing from the countless storage spaces out there, allow us to introduce you to none other than Neighbor — a peer-to-peer storage marketplace!
Marketplaces like Neighbor can connect people like you with property owners in your neighborhood who have storage space for rent. Instead of renting from big-name storage companies that charge 50% more than Neighbor, why not save money while renting from your neighbors?
It’s a local, cost-effective, and reliable storage option that promises 14 times the safety of a traditional storage facility. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that Neighbor vets every host in advance.
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