How to Use Short-Term Storage to Your Advantage

Did you know self-storage can be either long term or short term? Short-term storage is a solution to a temporary situation. Short-term storage might be as brief as a month, but could last for a season or two. 

You might think of short-term self-storage as just another bill, not to mention a significant packing and hauling project. Yet, a few months of self storage can save not only money but time, energy and valuable items in the long run. 

This article goes over a few situations that can really benefit from short-term self storage. 

Moving or Relocating

When you move into a new home or business space, there may be a gap between when you leave the old location and take over the new one. Or maybe you want to take your time moving in, sorting through boxes and figuring out exactly what will work in the new space. 

Relieve the stress of moving too quickly with short-term self-storage. This will let you clear your head and your rooms, clean the nooks and crannies, and only unpack what you’re ready for.  

Home Renovations

Say you are having all of the floors redone in your home. It might be nearly impossible to clear the rooms without risking putting furniture outdoors or stacking things dangerously in a random corner.

A short-term self-storage unit lets you empty out the rooms and leave plenty of space for the drywall, paint or flooring supplies you need. 

Student Opportunities or Military Deployment

When work and opportunity takes you away from home for a few months, you don’t want to be paying rent on an apartment you can’t use. You also might not want to leave your belongings in the hands of your roommates. 

Securing short-term self-storage means you can hang on to everything you’ll need when you get home and not have to worry about it in the meantime. Whether this means storing the contents of one small room or an entire house, short-term storage is a great option.  

Staging a Home for Sale

Preparing a home for sale means making it look welcoming but not too full. Prospective buyers want to imagine their own things in the space, and too much personal style on display can make that difficult.

If you’re still living in the house you’re selling, you can keep the things you absolutely need as well as some basic decor and put the rest in storage. It’s a great way to declutter before the move and make it easy to say “yes” to a really good, fast-paced offer. 

Long-Term Traveling

A typical vacation might be a week or two, but every now and then you get the chance to travel for longer. You don’t have to sell everything you own to make this dream work, and you don’t have to rely on family and friends to store your belongings. 

Short-term self-storage keeps your items safe and secure, even if you’re an ocean away. It’s often easy to set up an automatic payment plan so that you don’t have to worry about sending money long distance.  

Seasonal Storage

Lots of people live in a climate that experiences significant seasonal changes. You can’t use your snowblower in July and that beach umbrella is in the way in January. From holiday decor to sporting equipment, seasonal items are perfect for short-term self-storage. Some people even store classic cars this way.
 
While camping can happen in any type of weather, your gear might be specific to a season. This goes for your vehicle as well. Storage facilities are often a great place to keep your RV (see our RV storage guide for more).  

Throwing a Big Party

Parties are fabulous. They’re also full of excited, sometimes rowdy people. The last thing you want is for valuable items to get damaged.  

Take this opportunity to declutter a bit and store away the things that are most important to you. It will also make more space for people to move around and set down their drinks and food. 

Sentimental Items

We all have those things we aren’t ready to get rid of but don’t use with any regularity. From wedding dresses to family heirlooms to old fashioned cookbooks, some of this stuff is too good to part with.

Fortunately, storage facilities offer excellent options for just a few things. Lockers and small units are perfect when you want to store a box of CDs or your grandmother’s handbags.

New Business or Hobby Supplies

When you have a new business, you might not yet have a commercial space for all of your supplies and inventory. Or, active hobbies like sewing and sculpting might take up a ton of space in your home. 

Separate work from living space and hobbies from work by renting a short-term self-storage. Then, when you have a permanent space, everything will be ready for you to move again. Find out more about how self-storage can help small businesses.

Summer Storage for College Students

College is a busy time, and you can take a lot off your plate by storing your dorm or apartment items near campus during summers at home. 

This is especially great for students who live across the country from school, or even overseas. Not only is it simpler for you, it’s better for the environment to not ship things back and forth.

Divorce or Grief

When a relationship ends or someone dies, there is usually some amount of furniture, decor and kitchen supplies that get left behind and need to be sorted. Whether you’re preparing for an estate sale or deciding what belongs to whom, it’s nice to have a neutral place to store things in the meantime. 

Short-term self-storage gives you the time to physically sort these items. It also gives you physical space to mentally prepare for the process of letting some of these belongings go. 

Loss of Home

Sometimes people lose a house or apartment because of a natural disaster or other unforeseen event. Typically, there are some things left over that need a place to go but also need to be out of the way. 

Short-term self-storage is the perfect solution. It’s more affordable than renting an apartment and offers a level of security you might not find elsewhere. 

Things to Consider When Renting Short Term Self Storage

As you think about renting a short term self storage unit, consider the following factors:

• Your timeline: Do you know how long you’ll need storage? If not, a month-to-month rental option is ideal.
• Size of storage needed: Carefully measure how much space you’ll need for storage. Too much space will cost more and too little could leave you in a quandary. (See our storage unit size guide for more.)
• Do you need climate control? Sensitive items that contain wood, paint, leather, fur or electronics will fare far better when protected from extreme temperatures and humidity. (Here are reasons you might need a climate-controlled storage unit.)
• The contract: Don’t commit to more rental time than you need. A month-to-month option is best if you don’t know your timeline. Also be clear on the payment requirements and options. 
• Packing: Even short-term storage demands good packing habits. Use good boxes, appropriate cushioning, labeling and strategic placement of everything. 
• Security: A storage unit is more secure than a pod outside your home. Still, make sure the facility you use has quality security in the form of cameras, fences and coded entry. (Learn more about how to safely use a self-storage unit.) 

Remember, no matter how long you’re renting your storage unit, living and working on site is not allowed. For more information on our locations and availability near you, check out our locations or call 888-370-0088