Moving Information: Tips For Selecting A Storage Unit

Moving Information: Tips For Selecting A Storage Unit by Brad Kramer

As part owner in a Dallas moving company, I am often surprised at how little thought customers give to the selection of a storage unit. Most customers focus on the cost of the storage unit and give little consideration to the impact the storage unit will have on the cost of moving your property into it. Careful selection of a storage unit can save a significant amount of time, money and work for your move.

One of the first considerations is in selecting the size of storage unit(s) that you will need. As a rough estimate, a very small one bedroom apartment with no appliances will fit in a 5’x10’ storage unit, a typical 1 bedroom or a small 2 bedroom apartment with no appliances, will fit in a 10’x10’ storage unit, and a typical 2000 square foot house will fit in a 10’x20’ storage unit. You will have to adjust these sizes depending on the amount of stuff you own. More detailed estimates are also available as given in the author's bio below.

A second consideration in selecting a storage unit is the type of storage unit to select. Traditional storage units typically come in two styles; temperature controlled storage units which are inside of a building and garage style storage units. Temperature controlled storage units provide a better environment for your property. However, they typically require much more labor to move in and out of. Your items must be loaded from your moving vehicle to a cart, taken up an elevator, and then placed in the storage unit. If you are hiring a mover, the time it takes to load/unload your property can easily double for a temperature controlled storage unit.

The style of storage unit that is recommend is dependant on four factors; 1.) How much do you have to store, 2.) What type of items do you plan to store, 3.) How long do you plan to store it, 4.) The relative cost of each type of unit. In more urban areas the garage style storage units tend to cost more than the temperature controlled units and in more rural areas the garage style storage units tend to cost less. If you have very little to store, the smaller storage units are typically temperature controlled and this is recommended since the effort involved to perform your move is relatively small. Also, if you plan to store your items for more than 3 months, a temperature controlled unit is also recommended. Extreme temperatures can be very hard on your property, especially your furniture, if stored for an extended length of time. In addition, if you have antique furniture, fine art, or items that will melt/freeze these items should be stored in a temperature controlled environment. For most other storage applications, a garage style storage unit can be used and will typically be less expensive or will save a significant amount of work. As an example, if you have two men moving your property into a 10x10 storage unit, it will typically take 1 hour and 15 minutes less to move you into or out for a garage style storage as compared to a temperature controlled unit. When you consider moving both in and out of your storage unit, this is a total savings of 2.5 hours of work for two men. If you are hiring a moving company for your move this might save you roughly $200. This savings will typically more than offset any additional cost that might be associated with a garage style storage unit.

Finally, you should briefly look at the storage site before signing a contract. Carefully check storage facilities that have vehicles parked around the perimeter of the storage to make sure that there is sufficient room for large vehicles to maneuver. Often the storage layout was not designed to have the vehicles parked in these locations and they prevent some large moving vehicles from turning certain corners and parking near some storage units. These vehicles can also reduce the security of the storage site as they reduce visibility. Ask to see where your unit(s) would be located on the site either in person or at least on a map to make sure that your unit is easily accessible. Also, you should check for the availability of additional storage space in case you run out of room.

Brad Kramer has written several articles related to moving in Dallas. He is part owner of the Apex Moving Company, a top Dallas mover. More information on estimating needed storage space can be found on the Apex Movers web site.

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