Anyone looking for a storage option for their belongings is not always searching for a home for their items forever. Often, the need is only a planned short-term solution, for example during a move or a renovation.
In some cases, the need may also arise less voluntarily, for example when a separation is impending or a sudden inheritance overwhelms the household. In businesses as well, a more or less expected lack of space may occur. Bulk purchases of office supplies, goods or seasonal items often only need temporary shelter before they are required in daily operations.
Selfstorage and Full-Service-Storage offer the optimal storage units here, which can be adjusted not only in terms of storage space size, but also in terms of the rental period for which the premises can be used.
If you are therefore looking for a solution for temporary storage for your property that is flexible both with regard to your storage needs and with regard to the rental, you should read on.
Below we provide you with a few tips on how to best organize temporary storage and what you need to pay attention to before committing to a storage solution and signing the rental contract for the storage unit.
What is meant by temporary storage?
Temporary storage is generally the rental of a secured storage space for a short or indefinite period. As a rule, you can choose between two different types of storage: Selfstorage and Full-Service-Storage.
With Selfstorage, you initially rent only a certain, pre-agreed area. You are responsible for the rest.
Full-Service-Storage offers you not only the storage space, but also a “full service” that includes not only collection and transport from a location specified by you to the storage facility, but also professional and documented storage throughout the entire period. The services are generally included in the rental price for the storage unit.
The starting point for Full-Service-Storage and Selfstorage is the same: you pay a monthly or four-weekly rent for a specific area, calculated in square meters or cubic meters.
As a rule, both the area and the rental period can be changed and individually adjusted during the period in which you use the storage unit.
If you do not yet have any ideas about the duration of the rental contract when applying for the storage space, you should inform your Selfstorage or Full-Service-Storage provider. However, pay attention to the fine print regarding rental period, notice periods and changes to your rental contract before signing.
Before concluding a contract with a storage facility, you should also consider a number of other measures and safety precautions:
What do I need to consider for temporary storage?
Regardless of whether you want to store your items only for a short time or for many months, you should always ensure that the following requirements are offered to you:
Security
Make sure that your stored goods are adequately monitored and protected from unauthorized access. The landlord of your storage unit should have CCTV/video surveillance on site and also guarantee that only you or persons authorized by you have access to your belongings.
Cleanliness
Inspect your future storage facility before storing your items. Make sure that everything is clean, orderly and hygienic. You should not notice any signs of vermin or rodents. Also ensure that there is adequate lighting and that corridors, stairwells and elevators appear presentable.
Climatic conditions
In addition to cleanliness, the climatic conditions in your chosen storage facility are important. Make sure that your storage unit is sufficiently heated and ventilated. Your storage space should have an appropriate temperature and no moisture that could damage or even destroy your stored goods, even during temporary storage.
Insurance
As a rule, your property is covered by your household contents insurance. Reputable Selfstorage and Full-Service-Storage landlords generally also offer supplementary and basic insurance, even for temporary storage contracts.
Flexibility and scalability
Especially in the case of temporary storage, make sure that your landlord can adapt to your needs. Ask whether you can increase or decrease the storage space afterwards. Inquire with your Selfstorage or Full-Service-Storage provider whether you can extend or shorten the rental period and how this affects the rental price.
In which situations could temporary storage be useful for me?
In many cases, the need for temporary storage of items can arise suddenly and unexpectedly. Anyone who suddenly finds themselves with too many possessions will first look for storage options within their own four walls.
However, garages, basements or attics are rarely suitable for proper storage, even for shorter periods. Under certain circumstances, storing items at home may even be prohibited by law and not only punishable by fines, but also jeopardize your insurance coverage.
Professional storage facility landlords, whether Selfstorage or Full-Service-Storage, offer storage units specifically intended for this purpose, which are available to you in any life situation.
Here are some of the most common reasons for which temporary storage is ideal:
- Moving and temporary housing problems: Bridge the time between handover dates while your belongings are safely stored and out of the way.
- Renovation: Temporarily store your furniture off-site to keep it out of the way during the work and to avoid dust and damage. If the renovations take longer, simply ask for an extension of the storage rental contract.
- Relationship/household change: Store your belongings in storage units for a while to give yourself a breather in a stressful situation. Make sure with your landlord that they can demonstrate a certain flexibility in the case of an uncertain storage duration.
- Seasonal storage: If winter clothes get in your way in summer and summer clothes in winter in your wardrobe, temporary storage units are probably the perfect solution. The same applies to those who are tired of stepping over temporarily unused winter/summer tires every time they get into the car in the garage.
- Students: Once the initial joy of having your own place in a shared flat or student residence has faded, most students realize that the parental home also had its advantages. Anyone who can no longer reach their bed because bicycles, ski and tennis equipment or other items from the former children’s room are in the way will appreciate the convenient storage and quick check-in/-out of an external storage facility.
- Commercial storage: In addition to the need for space, business warehouse customers are also subject to legal regulations that are intended to ensure that people can move safely in their workplace. SMEs and start-ups in particular, which are still in the early stages in small premises, can expand their physical workspace with external storage facilities. Create space for yourself and your employees with temporary storage of bulk-purchased office supplies, accounting records from previous years or archiving. You can continuously adjust your storage space to your needs and either increase or decrease it.
In order to benefit from temporary storage, you must also consider your own preparations, including:
- Packaging: Make sure that your belongings are properly packed. Use sturdy storage boxes that protect your items from dust and other external influences.
- Organize your items properly when packing so that you or your family members/employees can easily find them later.
- Check with your insurance that external storage is also included in your coverage.
- Never store prohibited items or materials, including flammable substances such as lubricants, gas containers and fuel, weapons and particularly valuable property such as jewelry, furs or coin collections. Storing prohibited items could not only invalidate your insurance coverage, but also result in the rental contract with the storage facility provider being declared void without refund.
What are the advantages of temporary storage?
As already mentioned, temporary storage of items serves to create space in your own home or business. In addition, external storage of household goods and business inventory can offer a number of further advantages, including:
Greater flexibility: Because you can continuously adjust the size of the rented storage space and the term of the rental contract to your needs and always receive a clearly structured monthly invoice, you gain the freedom to focus on more important matters.
Savings in time and effort: If you choose Full-Service-Storage, in addition to flexibility you also have the opportunity to avoid the stressful carrying of items, transport and professional storage. The items are collected from you, transported to the storage unit and stored there by professionally trained staff.
Order and space: Within a very short time, you gain an orderly home or a clear workplace. During moves or renovations, you can devote yourself undisturbed to the relevant issues at hand instead of constantly having to rearrange items.
Protection and security: External storage facilities probably offer far better protection for your belongings than you can achieve at home yourself. This applies not only in terms of monitoring, but also with regard to climate-controlled, well-ventilated storage rooms that offer optimal conditions for temporary storage.
Cost control: By only paying for what you actually use, you always maintain an overview of your finances, provided that you have chosen a storage space provider with transparent pricing and clear contracts.
If you are looking for a reliable temporary storage space for your belongings and also want to avoid the hassle of carrying and transport, contact the helpful customer service team at BOXIE24.
