How to keep costs down and make the best choices for you when using self-storage when downsizing.
So, you’ve decided to downsize your home. Maybe your children have all grown up and flown the nest, and there’s no need for such a big space anymore, or maybe you’re just looking for a cosy living space that helps you cut down on the amount of clutter you have!
Whatever your reason for downsizing, self-storage can be a great option for keeping your belongings safe – whether you’re planning on using it long-term or just temporarily.
In this post, we’ve covered a few of our top tips for storing your belongings when you’re downsizing homes.
1. Decide what you’ll put into storage one room at a time
Take an inventory of each room in your home, and start noting down the things you plan to keep in your new, smaller home – and the things you want to hold onto but won’t have room for.
It’s probably a good idea to make an additional column for things you plan to get rid of altogether – it’s worth noting that self-storage when downsizing is charged per square metre for self-storage, so the more you have, the more it costs. Be savvy about what you want to hold on to.
2. Make a drawing of your new space
If you’re struggling to whittle down the items you plan to move into your new home, it can be helpful to make a drawing of your new space and plan out exactly what will go where. If it helps, you could even include measurements to get a more accurate picture.
Once you’ve got a clearer idea of what you want to go in your new home (and what will fit!), you should also have a much clearer idea of what needs to go into storage, and what can be donated/thrown away.
3. Consider if you need storage long-term or short-term
Short-term storage can be a good option if you are only downsizing temporarily – for example, if you are moving somewhere while your permanent home has renovations.
However, you might want a long-term storage option if you are downsizing permanently (or for the foreseeable future), but have things that you want to keep hold of. For example, you may still be holding onto your children’s belongings but not want to transport them to your new home.
4. Consider smart storage solutions in your existing home
To keep storage costs down, it’s a good idea to look into storage solutions you can incorporate into your home. There are plenty of ways to really make the most of a small space.
A few quick ideas include:
- Buying a bed with under-bed storage space
- Utilizing the wall space with shelving
- Use over-the-door organizers for your kitchen, shoes, bathroom organisation, and even for smaller accessories like jewellery, belts etc.
- Use drawer organisers to keep things tidy
5. Make sure you know the value of your stored items
Once you’ve got your list of items you are going to put into self-storage when downsizing, it’s absolutely vital that you have accurately recorded exactly what’s stored and the value of those items.
You’ll need this figure for your storage insurance – something that is mandatory for many self-storage providers, and highly recommended even if not.
Self-storage insurance covers the cost of your items should they be lost, stolen, or damaged due to a number of incidences including fire (which, unfortunately, is much more common than you may think), flooding, theft etc.
You’ll need to have the correct value of those items to ensure the full amount is covered should anything happen while your belongings are in storage.