Tag: self storage

Why Storing Your Extra Stuff Isn’t Always the Answer

Posted on by Jordank

Storage is big business. A wide variety of “storage solutions” on the market promise to help you #organize your #stuff by purpose and season, from the underbed box of out-of-season sweaters to the huge green bins designed to hold holiday lights and decorations.

What’s more, about 10% of U.S. households lease a #storage unit to contain bins, boxes, boats, cars and other #things they just can’t cram into their current homes. Self-storage is a $44 billion industry in the U.S., and it’s growing fast.

But storage is rarely the answer to one’s #decluttering and #organizing needs. “Just because it’s out of sight doesn’t mean it’s out of mind,” says Miss Minimalist. “Your clutter is still there, hanging over your head, piled beneath your feet, lurking in the dark corners of your home.”

#Storage systems can help people #organize. You #sort items into a brand-new box or bin, label it and put it on a shelf. If you return to that bin knowing that it holds what you’re looking for, so much the better! But if you don’t, all you’ve done is hide your junk.

The same goes for a self-storage unit. You likely overestimated the value of the goods stored and/or the likelihood of using those things again. And you’ll do anything to avoid making a decision about that stuff, including continuing to pay the monthly fee.

Self-storage units can be useful in the short term if you’re transitioning between homes or downsizing. But most units are just a replacement for #decluttering. Reconsider renting if you don’t really need most of what you want to put in there.

“Because your #clutter is stored in an off-site location, there’s a greater chance you just won’t bother dealing with it,” says Garage Living. “Before you know it, years will have passed, the #junk in your storage unit will collect more dust, [and] your bank account will be emptier.”

Before you waste money on a bunch of new organizers or a self-storage unit, #declutter. Figure out what you aren’t using now and how likely that is to change. Reduce the sentimental items to only most treasured and put them in a truly safe place.

Then, contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #picukup. On the appointed day, a driver will pick up the things you no longer need and help you reclaim space in your cleaner, more streamlined home.

Is Self Storage the Right Answer for You?

Posted on by Jordank

Did you inherit a bunch of furniture and memorabilia as part of a relative’s estate and need a place to store it safely? Maybe you recently downsized and need to “shelve” that overflow stuff until you can find a place for it or sell it. Or perhaps you are moving, renovating or divorcing and need a place to put everything until the dust settles.

There are all kinds of reasons people turn to self storage, and more Americans are doing just that every year. The self-storage industry has been growing an average of 3.8 percent annually since 2013, according to a report from IbisWorld, and is now worth more than $37 billion per year.

If you’re considering becoming the one in 11 people nationwide who pay for self-storage, however, you should first think about why you need the extra space and how long you expect to need it. Once all of that extra stuff is out of sight, it’s easy to ignore — even though warehousing it costs a premium every month.

There are good reasons to invest in a self-storage unit, says DoughRoller. When you’re buying, selling or renovating your home, you can keep your extra stuff safe in storage until it has a new home. If you have an end date in mind, you won’t pay the rental fee month after month just to keep your stuff hidden.

Another good reason to invest in a self-storage space is to protect an investment. If you have an antique car that you only drive in the summertime and no extra garage spots, it’s a good idea to store it in the winter. Another good use of self storage is to warehouse goods you sell or business documents you don’t need on a daily basis.

Too often, however, self storage is the final resting place for the things that people never really needed, but couldn’t bear to part with. If you rent a unit only in an attempt to get the #clutter out of your home, you’ll be wasting good money — $91 per month, on average — to keep that extra stuff out of sight and out of mind.

Like a gym membership, self storage can quickly turn into something you pay for without thinking or taking advantage of its full value. And remember: If you happen to miss a few payments without rehousing your stuff, the storage provider will solve your clutter problem on its own by seizing that stuff and auctioning it off.

Instead of turning to self storage to house your junk, get rid of it. Box up that old bread maker, kick that extra couch to the curb and contact ClothingDonations.org for a pickup. Your donation will not only help the nation’s veterans, but also save you the hassle of moving that stuff to another location and the cost involved with housing it. You’ll be better off without it.