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Avoiding Clutter Like the Plague and Cheap Self Storage

November 2nd, 2011

Having too much stuff can be a headache, especially when you don’t have enough room for storage.  Possibly the greatest and easiest way to reduce your clutter is by looking into cheap self storage.    Aside from this, you also have the following options:

 

  • Give or sell your stuff to antique shops, thrift stores, and Goodwill.
  • Make an extra effort to re-organize your place.

 

Insufficient space is a problem among people in the United States. 10% of U.S. households rent at least one storage unit for their excess belongings. The financial repercussions can be serious. Many renters end up paying far more for the storage space than their stuff is worth. In order to reduce the costs of self storage, you should do a great deal of research before you sign up for a long-term deal.

 

  • First find out what you need.  There are a lot of self storage services that will charge you a hefty fee for additional benefits and services you may or may not need, like free rental of a moving truck. Storage space expenses differ by size, amenities, and location provided by the facility. To decide how much you are willing to pay, it is essential to formulate a list of what you want from the storage space. You may want a storage space to be conveniently located or you may want convenience in terms of location, climate control, or size.
  • Make a decision on how much space you will need. You cannot do an accurate comparison of costs if you do not know how much space you will need. One company might offer great rates on really large units but charge more than the local competition on a smaller unit that would meet your needs. Then decide if you can downsize further. As a general rule, storage prices will be lower for smaller units. Once you’ve determined how much space you’ll need, take a second look at your possessions and see if there is anything you can give away or sell.
  • Look for the best deal.  Self-storage is a very low-innovation business, and has been slow to adopt online best practices such as price transparency. Fortunately, aggregators such as SelfStorage.com and SpareFoot can tie into storage facility management software.  They can also provide information on services and pricing at each location. You can use these sites to look for your preferred amenities like drive-up units, climate control, 24-hour access, and strong security.   You can then sort by price to discover the cheapest self-storage unit with the features you want.
  • Estimate the actual savings of short-term promotions.  A lot of storage companies will offer a discounted rate for the first 3-6 months of a contract, a discounted rate for a yearlong contract, or a first month of free access to units. Think about how long you plan to rent out the unit to come to a decision on which promotions will save you the most money in the long run.

 

Self-storage ought to be a last resort for organizing your home. If you are in a situation that requires self storage, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to go about your search for the right unit. You should consider where you want the unit to be located and the size of the unit you require. Remember that many storage customers don’t intend to keep their storage unit for as long as they do, and look for promotional deals on self storage contracts.

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