Tag Archives: Storage

Do You Have A Storage Unit? Do You Really Need It?

Okay people. Let’s start this conversation right now. No beating around the bush. Let’s just get right to it. There are only a few good reasons to have a storage unit and even those are limited.  Here they are:

  1. If you are remodeling and are using a storage unit to keep your furnishings clean and safe during the renovation.
  2. If you are moving and using it to store your things for a SHORT period of time until your new residence is ready.
  3. If you need it to keep inventory for your business.

That’s it. There’s really no other reason to have a storage unit for an extended period of time. Sorry but that’s the truth. 

 

As a Professional Organizer, I have to say that if you haven’t used it (whatever “it” is)  in 6 months to a year, chances are you won’t and don’t need it.  Further, having the option of putting things in storage enables and may even subconsciously tempt you to acquire more since there’s “somewhere” to put it. Finally, knowing what storage can wind up costing, I can assure you that it is not worth it. Just do the math!

Here are some questions for you to think about: 

  • If you’re storing things that you have no room for, how important can those things be?
  • Why don’t you have room for the items you’re storing?  
  • Can you get easily access the things you need that are in storage?
  • How long have you been storing these things?
  • When was the last time you went to retrieve something from storage and were able to find what you were looking for?
  • How much money are you spending on storage?

Here’s the facts:

  • Storage costs a lot of money!
  • People usually store things because they can’t decide what to do with those items. 
  • Most of the items that people store never find their way back into the homes of those that stored them.

So, before the weather starts heating up and it’s just too hot to even think about going through your storage units, let’s do this now, together! This is how we can help:

  • We will empty everything out of the unit so that you can see everything;
  • We will go through each and every box and/or item to determine what to keep, what to donate and what to toss;
  • We will facilitate each of these options;
  • We will do this in one day!

Sounds good right? So don’t put this off for another day.  Let’s do this!

STORAGE: To Have or Not to Have? That is the Question.

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I was talking to a prospective client last week and he brought up a subject that I think warrants some attention. Storage! He said he was currently sharing a house with other people and was running out of room in his quarters. He wanted to know if I thought he should get a storage unit. I was actually THRILLED that he asked for my input before just going out and renting a storage unit.

Needless to say my answer was a resounding NO. However, I was able to give him some ideas as to how to get more out of the space he has. For the moment, I was able to talk him out of renting a storage unit.

I can’t tell you how many times in a month that we get calls from people who want to clear out their storage units after years (and I do mean years) of paying for storage. Most of the time after we’ve finished clearing out the storage unit, our clients are amazed at how much money they’ve spent (or should I say wasted) on rent because most of the time the contents weren’t worth holding on to or, for that matter, storing.

Here’s some interesting facts:
• If you rent a storage unit you’re contributing to a $154 billion industry – bigger than the Hollywood film industry
• 1 in 11 American households has a self-storage space and spend over $1,000 a year in rent
Before I give you my many reasons why I think storage is a waste of money, I want to acknowledge that there always extenuating circumstances and there are times when storage is necessary.

Here’s a few good reasons to rent a storage unit:

1. When you’re moving but don’t know where and, therefore, not sure of what to take (or not)
2. When you’re remodeling and don’t want your belongings to get ruined in the process
3. When you have to clear the contents of a loved one’s home and you don’t have time or the wherewithal to figure things out
4. When it’s for the short term (ie, the end of a college year but you’re returning the following season)
5. When you have no other options and it’s only for a short period of time

Now for my rant about why having a storage unit is usually NOT a good idea:

More often than not, storage units become an abyss. Once again, more often than not, it becomes a catchall. We wind up putting anything and everything in there that we’re not sure of or that we don’t want to make a decision about. Sometimes it’s because there’s no more room in the house or garage.

Before long the storage unit is full of who knows what and the thought of getting in there to figure it out is, in itself, overwhelming. So it just sits there. Month after month, year after year. In the meantime the costs keep adding up. At the end of the day, you’re using your hard-earned money to pay for storing “stuff” that you aren’t using and probably don’t need.

So, if you have a storage unit, spending who knows how much money, let’s talk. Maybe you really don’t need it after-all. Perhaps we can figure out another option. I do know one thing for sure and that is I can help you come up with countless other ways to spend that money.