Top Tips for Moving Your House into Storage 2020
Keeping your items safe is a priority for most, so putting your items into a storage unit is usually a wise decision. However there are a number of things you need to consider before moving your house into storage. Before moving your furniture abroad, you might need to look for a place to store your belongings. If so, we have compiled some tips to help you with your removal.
What Type of House Storage Should I Choose?
If you want to store part of your household while moving house, you can choose between self-storage moving containers or storage with moving companies. You can use this storage for household items or for putting furniture into storage.
Self-Storage
With self-storage you can usually enter the warehouse with your moving container within access hours and pick up your stored items. Self-storage is often relatively cheap, safe and convenient, although there is normally a minimum rental period of one month. If you’re interested in self-storage options, you can check out some of the following options:
Storage with Moving Companies
Often it is possible to use storage as an extra service offered by your moving company. The movers will store your furniture as part of the move, and as soon as you need your household items in your house, the removal company will deliver to them to your new home. Often this option is more expensive than self-storage, but it is undoubtedly more convenient and easier.
Inside vs Outside Storage
You can also choose between indoor and outdoor storage units. Indoor storage units offer storage similar to as if you were storing at home, in a walk-in closet or home office. Outdoor storage is slightly different in the sense it is where you’ll find the largest units. These are often used for vehicle storage, storing large items, or using storage during a move. There are many advantages and disadvantages to each which will be shown below:
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor storage |
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| Outdoor storage |
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If you choose outdoor storage, be aware that the list of items below can be damaged by weather conditions:
- Wooden furniture
- Leather furniture
- Household appliances
- Special collections (stamps, comics, coins, wine)
- Musical instruments
Average Storage Moving Costs
The average storage costs will depend on the type of storage you choose. If you use the storage services offered by your moving company, you will need to verify with them how much they charge. You can read our dedicated removal costs page for more information, or get direct moving quotes. If you decide to use self-storage, the price will vary depending on the size of the storage unit. Below we have outlined the average storage costs in the UK:
Use our removal volume calculator to figure out how much storage you need!
Tip! Don’t forget you may have to pay a deposit and buy your own padlock. You will also want to check if insurance is included in the price.
What you can and cannot store
Items that are not allowed in storage
There are a number of obvious and not so obvious things that you are allowed to store in storage units. Below is a list of the items you cannot store:
- Perishables
- Live animals
- Hazardous materials
- Unregistered vehicles
Items that are allowed in storage
Now we’ve determined the main items not to bring to your storage unit, let’s discuss what you can store:
- Registered vehicles
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Clothes
- Household appliances
Top Tips for Storage When Moving House
It is important your items are kept safe. When storing items it is important to package them properly and take extra precaution. Especially if you’re planning on keeping your items in storage for extended periods of time. Before packaging there are also a number of factors you need to consider before moving your house into storage, these can be found on our moving checklist page. Below are Sirelo’s top tips for when moving your house into storage:
Use correct boxes
Typically you’ll need one large box for every 4 medium boxes. Use the smaller boxes for heavy items such as books and dishes; the large boxes for lighter items like bedding, blankets and linens.
Don’t over pack
Make sure your boxes do not weigh more than you can comfortably lift. They should remain in their ‘square’ shape and not bulging at the top or sides so they are able to be stable when stacking. You want them to stay intact and not break to allow anything to damage your possessions.
Label everything
Even though you may think you will remember everything you’re placing in the storage unit, it’s likely there are things you will forget. Especially if you’re leaving your things for long periods of times it’s always best to be organised. Also add ‘this side up’ labels as you don’t want to have positions broken or damaged when moving them around.
Tape matters
This might not seem like a big deal but it is important to purchase good tape. This will prevent items from becoming separated from the rest of the belongings.
Hang it up
You wouldn’t keep your good clothes in a pile at home, so why pile them in a box here? Use hanging wardrobe boxes. This allows your clothes to breath and prevent from becoming damp and dirty. It’s also advised to use cedar chips or moth balls to keep any potential insects away.
What Next?
We hope you have found this blog useful. Need more moving advice? Check out our most popular articles:
- House Removals: Book your house removal near you!
- Moving Boxes: Everything you need to know on where to find moving boxes
- Packing to Move House: The ultimate guide on packing when you’re moving home
