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DFW Real Estate Articles: 2008
Temporary Storage Units
© by Mike Stevenson
How time flies! Put a few boxes into a storage facility and you'll see the months go by like the pales of a picket fence. Storage units are a great idea -- and they can serve you well in many situations. But storage can become "habit-forming" too. I once put some valuable sound-reinforcement and recording equipment into a storage unit; later I added a few boxes of this-and-that. It was so convenient, and it really made things easier for me by freeing-up some extra space at home. Then, low and behold, time passed. And... more time passed. I was going to move all the equipment to a permanent location -- but I was just too busy. Well, I left those things in storage... for years! Anyway, storage units can help you to make smoother transitions when moving, and they can also be helpful when you're selling your current house.
Enlarge Your Home
When selling, you want to give the impression of ROOM. People usually want to buy a house that offers them a little extra space. If your home seems crowded to a prospective buyer, you're not helping it to sell. Storage unit to the rescue! Pack up the things you can do without temporarily, and move them into storage. You can choose either the plain, "outside-garage" type facility... or the fancier, "climate-controlled" unit. The decision is usually based on the items being stored. Don't put the Girl Scout cookies into the plain one! Use the storage unit to help you clear out some space in the house or to hold furnishings that don't help your overall home decor. Roomy is good when selling, so add some "room" with the help of the storage company.
Help with Moving
A job promotion brings excitement and new opportunities. Sometimes, it also brings a fast-moving relocation. You'll want to choose your next home carefully after having a chance to explore the new city or town. Once again, (drum roll) the storage facility comes through with
a place to put many of your personal items and extra furniture. This allows you to rent an apartment temporarily without stacking five bedrooms full of furniture into that "slightly" smaller space. Check the fine print on the storage agreement to see how much notice is required when moving out. Also check around for the best rate. Sometimes, the same "Name Brand" facility down the street, will have a much lower price for a similar sized unit.
A Final Tip
Always cover you assets! Most units probably don't leak water when it rains, but you don't wanna be "the one". Cover everything with the plastic drop-cloth material that painters use on their jobs. It's cheap insurance, and it may save you a LOT of sorrow and misery! This applies to the climate-controlled units as well. Also, consider placing all of your items up, off the floor, using crates or bricks. You know, of course, to label the boxes where they can be read while stacked, and to stack things carefully with the lightest weights on the top.
Change is good. It's also inevitable. Let your "Friendly Neighborhood Storage Facility" help you to manage those changes in the best possible fashion, and with the fewest possible problems.
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