Evaluating the Benefits of Storage Facilities

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Evaluating the Benefits of Storage Facilities

Staff Writer · Sep 29, 2009

Storage facilities provide several benefits when moving into a smaller place. Instead of trying to fit everything into an apartment that doesn’t have enough space for your things, you can use a self storage facility. If you need to downsize, consider using a storage facility for the following reasons:

You can Buy Extra Time

You can load all of your things in a storage unit, and take as much time as you need to go through them. If you took it to your apartment, you’d have to spend time going through each box, and spend even more time trying to live among so many boxes. You can take your time when you leave your items in storage, to decide what to throw out, give away, keep or sell.

You can Store Extra Vehicles

You might find yourself downsizing your life dramatically, and may need a temporary place to store an extra vehicle. If it’s not possible to have more than one vehicle at your apartment, or if you’re not allowed to park non-working vehicles, you can use a self storage unit. Many storage facilities will allow you to store vehicles of all types, including campers and boats.

You can Store Seasonal Items

If you’re really tight for space, you can use storage facilities for your seasonal items. For example, if summer is approaching, you can box up all of your winter clothing, gear and other cold climate items and put them in storage during the summer and fall months. When it gets colder you can swap those items out with your summer things. This constant rotation will keep you organized and free up space in your apartment, leaving you with only the items you really need.

You can Store Valuable Items

Storage facilities are climate controlled which can be beneficial to you if you want to store items that are valuable to you in a location other than your apartment. However, you don’t want to store money or jewelry in a storage facility. Some things that might be valuable to you to store off-site are pictures, CDs, CD-Roms, a computer and documents. Keep in mind the location and security of the storage facility you choose, and use your judgment as to what items to store there.

You can Store Inventory

If you plan on running an online business from your apartment, you may need more space to house your inventory or supplies. Saving money where you can is crucial when you’re in business for yourself, and self storage might be the way to store inventory and save money at the same time. You can also count the rental fee as a business expense for tax purposes.

You’re not Locked In

Unlike a lease or rental agreement, storage facilities don’t require any long-term obligations. You don’t get locked into a lengthy contract, and many will give you the option of using self storage only for a week. Therefore, if you do find a way to fit everything into your apartment, you can stop using the storage quickly.

There are usually a few options for storage facilities in any given location. Check around for the best prices and reputation. It’s worth avoiding the stress of trying to cram all your things into a smaller apartment.

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