Storage units provide a solution for those in need of temporary or long-term storage before, during and after a move. However, monthly rents for self-storage space in many states have risen to record highs over the past three years. Most investors have rushed to meet the storage unit demand and since the units rent on a month-to-month lease, the rent can be raised by any amount on 30 days’ notice. In most states, rates have almost doubled since the Pandemic, as more people were cleaning out their homes and more families were moving to other locations with more favorable weather, such as Florida.
For those who can’t keep up with the skyrocketing rental costs, a decision must be made as to what to do with the stored items. You may have to make difficult decisions about your possessions. If you are lucky to have a spare room, a garage, or a shed, you may be able to store some of the items by creating an organizing system and getting rid of the storage unit. If you do not have the extra room, then it may be time to let go of your stored items. Perhaps you can have a “one day storage sale,” or decide what you can donate. The decision comes down to whether you can afford to pay an extra rent for items not used frequently or not at all. If you still need these items, perhaps you can share the space with someone else or compare the cost for building a shed or adding shelving to another room or a garage to fit your stored possessions. If you have bedroom, living room or dining furniture, consider asking a loved one or a friend if they will hold onto it in their garage or a spare room. They may be able to use it temporarily.
If you have no option but to keep the storage unit, then you may want to downsize it or at least organize it, so that your items are protected, and you can find what you need right away. To do this, you may have to empty out and re-arrange your items so that you can re-organize your unit for the most effective use. The following are some tips for storage organization.
- Create an Inventory List of your items.
Add each item your list and include quantities ex: (2) boxes of books, (2) bureaus, etc. Take photos of stored items (such as artwork and furniture) and save all photos and inventory descriptions in one place. It’s also a good idea to create some sort of map indicating where your belongings are located inside the unit.
- Consider storing items inside clear bins instead of cardboard boxes.
Plastic bins make it much easier to keep track of what’s inside your storage unit and depending on whether your unit is climate controlled or not, it will help to prevent against mold and will keep critters out. This will make it easier and faster to locate what you need when you need it.
- Disassemble furniture and store items upright.
To maximize space and organize more efficiently, disassemble large furniture items. This includes taking apart headboards, bed frames and mattresses as well as disassembling table legs. By storing furniture, such as headboards, upright and on the side, you’ll open more floor space for other items (except for mattresses, which should be stored lying flat). Tip: if certain furniture doesn’t come apart, try using it as extra shelving inside the storage unit for stacked containers. Store large, heavy items on the bottom towards the back.
- Place items you need more frequently towards the front.
This will save you time if you use your storage for seasonal items, or for items you will use the most on a monthly basis.
- Label all boxes/containers.
If you use cardboard boxes, it’s especially important to label these. If they’ve been sitting in storage for a long period of time, you will not remember what’s inside and will spend extra time looking inside all boxes. If you have the clear containers, you can save some time, but labeling these too, will help you identify items not seen through the plastic.
As you are evaluating the need for your storage unit, identify how it’s benefiting you. If it has become a way to store items you are not sure what do with or a way to procrastinate making decisions about how to deal with family mementos, you may not be making effective use of your money. There are ways to memorialize family mementos and bringing these into your home and giving them the importance, they deserve. Ask a friend, a family member or an organizer to help you go through your items, as they’ll have an objectivity that will help with difficult decisions. Don’t let the monthly storage bill be the reminder of unfinished business. It’s time to revisit your reasons for that expensive storage unit and to decide if it’s serving you or taking away your power.
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