Look—you’re already moving from state to state. You will spend more money than you think. Your move is likely to go over your budget, take more time than you thought, and may give you a few more gray hairs than you need.
If you find you do not have enough room for your stuff, however, it may be time to expand that budget even further. If can see you will not have a choice, then by no means should you overpay for storage. Consider whether you will need short or long-term storage, and do what you can to secure a tight budget for that storage.
Storing for the Short-term
Short-term moving storage often entails hiring those storage facilities you find in the television show Storage Wars. The first question you need to ask with short-term storage is this: do I need to store these things?
If you are in a situation where you need to move into a smaller place for a time, and believe you can claim the rest of your belongings later, than storage may be the perfect option for you. Be sure to call around and visit storage areas, noting the quality and cleanliness of the facility, before committing your money. In addition, do what you can to budget: establish the length of time your things will be in storage. Knocking that monthly expense off your budget will be a real pleasure.
Most storage facilities offer easy access, which allows you to come and go basically at will. Just remember not to put extremely valuable items in your storage space—the facility’s insurance may not cover it in the event of some natural disaster.
Storing for the Long-term
Perhaps you are moving internationally for a time, or have another situation where long term storage is a necessity. In that case, long-term storage is the answer. Long-term storage facilities tend to offer stronger security, and a greater guarantee that your goods will be well taken care of. Instead of month-to-month storage, you will likely pay a lease, which in the long run will save you money.
Choose long-term storage if you are confident your things will be out of your hands for a long time, and you need them well cared for, secure, and out of the way. In addition, shop around carefully, verifying prices and services. You want to be confident you can take a “hands-off” approach, feeling secure that you will not have to worry about the condition of your valuable property when it is stored away.