Two reasons to rent a storage unit before you downsize to a smaller property
If are planning to move to a property that is significantly smaller than your current home, you might want to rent one of the storage units at your local self-storage facility before the moving process begins. Read on to find out why.
It can spare you the hassle of repurchasing items in the future
If your new house is a lot more compact than the one you are currently living in, you will probably not be able to take all of your possessions with you, as there won't be enough space for them.
As a result of this, you might be thinking about donating or selling the things that you cannot bring with you. However, if these things are valuable or rare, and you will only be downsizing temporarily, then it might not be a good idea to get rid of them.
In this situation, it may be wiser to place these goods into a storage unit until the time comes to move to a bigger property once again. This will spare you the hassle of trying to replace these items in the future (a task which could prove very challenging, if any of these goods are rare or unique).
Provided the items in question are of a relatively high value, the expense of keeping them in a storage facility will probably be far less than the amount you would otherwise spend on replacement items.
It can enable you to keep useful but bulky goods
If your new home lacks the storage space you need for bulky items that you have to use on a regular basis, then it might be a good idea to put these goods into a storage unit for safekeeping.
For example, if the new property has a lawn that will need to be periodically mowed, but does not have a shed or a garage in which to stow away the lawnmower, putting this piece of gardening equipment into a storage facility will ensure that you can keep your garden in good condition (without having to arrange for a professional gardener to mow the lawn on your behalf).
A storage unit could also be a useful place to keep larger items that you need to use during a specific season (such as barbecue equipment during the summer months or Christmas tree decorations in the winter).
If the bulky items that you intend to put into a storage unit need to be used on a weekly basis, make sure that the facility you choose is nearby. Ideally, it should be no more than a 20-minute drive from your home. If it is too far away, you may end up postponing your trips because you don't have enough free time to go and collect the item you need.
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