Are you looking for ways to trim your budget on your self-storage needs? Are you interested in consolidating space or moving more items out of your home? If so, then you should find ways of saving on your self-storage costs.
Doing so can help you eliminate the “junk” that you have and help you get the most return on your investment for your self-storage unit. All that takes is a little preparation beforehand.
See below for several ways to save on storage and make sure that every dollar you spend on it is justified. Be sure to use all of these methods to your benefit.
1. Donate, Throw Away, or Sell
First things first, if you want to get the maximum return on your self-storage unit, you’ll want to find as small a unit as possible. The smaller the unit, the less you’re paying for it.
However, that smaller unit isn’t possible if you let your junk pile up without looking into it every so often. Everything that you put into your self-storage unit should be justified.
Start by going through all of the items that you either currently have in self-storage or are considering putting in it.
If you haven’t moved it to self-storage yet, then grab a pen and paper and walk around your house, listing every item that you’re considering putting in storage. Then sit down with your family and see if they agree with the list you’ve made.
For those of you that already have self-storage and are looking to downsize, simply go through your belongings inside it and determine which items you can do without. From there, decide whether to donate them, toss them, or sell them.
If you don’t already have it, be sure to get storage insurance for your belongings. You never know when an emergency could occur.
2. Organize Accordingly
Too many people make the mistake of simply throwing in box after box in their self-storage unit without organizing it. Not only will this make it more difficult to retrieve things, but it can also cost you money in the process.
If you organize things neatly and sort them out, you can actually consolidate the space that you’re using. This might make it possible for you to store the same amount of stuff in a smaller storage unit, thus saving on storage.
Even if you already have a self-storage unit, it’s not too late to get organized. Be sure to purchase cardboard boxes and plastic moving boxes, whichever is your preference.
Dedicate a day to going to your unit and sorting through all of the items you have. Place all similar items in a box so that you can label that box on the outside, making it easier to retrieve them later on.
3. Gather Several Quotes
Location isn’t everything, ladies and gentlemen. One self-storage location might make more sense on paper if it’s closer to where you live, but how much is that actually helping you?
Unless you plan to make frequent visits to your self-storage unit each month (which few people do), choosing the closest self-storage unit isn’t the main goal.
It makes much more sense to choose a self-storage unit that’s only a few more miles away if it saves you on storage unit costs each month.
Take the time to Google all self-storage locations in your area, finding the highest-rated ones near you. Be sure to reach out to all of them and gather a quote on your needs based on the size of the storage unit that you require.
Think of it this way: even if you only manage to shave $10 a month off of your self-storage unit, that’s $120 that you’ve saved yourself over the course of the year!
4. Store Some Items With Family
As previously mentioned, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be visiting your self-storage more than once every few months.
However, there are always those items that fall in the awkward grey area between “I don’t have space for this” and “I might need it sooner than expected”.
While you might view that as a frustrating scenario, it can actually help you cut costs on storage. Any item that falls under that umbrella can be stored with a family member or friend that lives close by.
That way, you have easier access to it and it’s a few fewer things you need to store, thus making it easier to reduce the amount of storage you need to rent.
5. Invest in Storage Insurance
You might believe this to be counter-productive to saving costs, but buying storage insurance in the short-term might save you a plethora of money in the long-run.
Imagine the horror of finding out that there was a flood at your self-storage facility and that all of the boxes you had on the floor are now completely ruined. That’s hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars worth of items that you’ll need to replace.
That’s where storage insurance steps in. It can help you recover all of your damaged or lost items in case of an emergency. Saving you from having to spend a penny on stuff that you lost due to unforeseen circumstances.
Lower Self-Storage Costs With These Tips
Now that you have seen several tips to help you save on self-storage costs for your belongings, it’s time for you to put them to action.
Be sure to visit this page for information and answers on some of the most frequently asked questions on storage insurance.
For more inquiries, please begin by reaching out via our contact us page and we’ll be happy to assist you further.
I found it helpful when you said that you must consider reaching out to self-storage locations in order to gather quotes that you can compare. My husband and I bought a new boat last week. We need to find a storage locker that won’t break our bank while storing the boat safely, so we will do your tips.
I liked that you said that you could gather quotes on your needs based on the size of the storage unit that you require. My husband and I are planning to find a reliable indoor car storage facility next month. We want some of our cars moved there while our house is undergoing a renovation process. Since we want to save money on fees, we will do your tips.
Thanks for pointing out that you must gather quotes on your needs with the help of Google. I am planning to rent a storage unit where I can move some of my belongings to free up some space in my apartment. Your tips will surely help me find a unit that I can rent without breaking my money.
Hi! My son just moved in back to live with us after spending years in college, and because of that we’d have to empty a huge part of our attic which is filled with our old stuff. Your detailed explanation about how we can reduce our storage expenses by comparing multiple price offers first before committing to a proper unit. I’ll make sure I won’t forget about this just before we make further arrangements soon.
I need to put a lot of my stuff in storage. I appreciate the tips to save on self-storage. Seems like a good idea to find a budget-friendly place.
Yoo-hoo! Yup, you guessed it – it’s me again. Well, I just couldn’t stop thinking about the part where you said that we could always rely on someone we know to safeguard some of our belongings as we try to move them out of their original storage space. This time, my in-laws are gonna have to empty their garage since it’s going to be renovated starting next week. I’ll certainly advise them to abide by this tip so their work can get a lot easier afterwards.