Self Storage Isn’t Just For Moving: The Six Major Life Events Behind The Trend
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If having enough space has never been an issue for you, you might ask yourself, “What’s the deal with all these self storage facilities popping up everywhere? Are people moving that much?” Well, yes. But that’s just a small part of the story. The truth is that storage is great for more than finding a temporary place for your stuff while moving. So, when is it worth it to use self storage?
Here’s a little industry secret: Six major life events often lead people to self storage — think of them as the six “D’s” of demand. Some involve big changes, like downsizing or divorce, while others come with new beginnings, like starting a business that needs distribution space or welcoming a new family member and needing to declutter. And then there are the moments that call for extra storage, like inheriting heirlooms after a loved one passes away.
One way to maximize self storage is to know when it’s worth considering. Here are the key life events where self storage becomes especially useful as an extension of your home.
- Dislocation
A long-planned relocation is quite a luxury. Very often, we find ourselves having to move on a shorter notice than we’d like — be it due to a job change, a military deployment or any variant of the disruptive events that life likes to throw at us.
In this case, using self storage is a great way to help us make the move with less stress and more clarity. A long-term lease will probably be enough for you to decide what you want to keep at home or sell off/donate. And if there are some things you’d rather keep in storage for the long run, there are long-term leases, too!
- Downsizing
Let’s say you’re an empty nester who’s not all that psyched about dealing with a big house after all your kids have found their own homes. Or let’s say you’re naturally going to want to downsize to a smaller place. Great!
But are you ready to stuff all your precious belongings into your new apartment? And if so, will the physical (and, eventually, mental) clutter be worth it? If you’re not sure, self storage is definitely an option you should entertain.
- Divorce
No divorce is the same: For some of us, it happens out of the blue. For others, it’s years in the making. Regardless of where we find ourselves in the grieving process, self storage is a sensible option for temporarily storing stuff that may or may not go to the other person in the divorce proceedings or that we may or may not want to keep long-term.
Plus, there’s no need to prolong the breakup time by postponing your relocation due to logistical reasons. One short-term lease for a storage unit can put you that much closer to a new beginning.
- Distribution
Ah, the thrill of starting your own business — sometimes, you can do it right from home! The only thing better is watching it grow and grow. And maybe it grows a bit too big for your home so that your loved ones are not thrilled with navigating the house through all the materials needed for your business.
Self storage is a great option in this case — just make sure you find a facility that has security cameras (most of them do) and that’s close to your home (there’s bound to be at least one) so you can easily access your items when you need them.
A storage unit makes even more sense if your small business involves sensitive items that don’t really fit the climate of your location. In this case, using a climate-controlled unit is a great way to protect your stuff from extreme temperatures.
- Decluttering
Those who have had to make do with a small space — and share it with other people — will agree that physical clutter is mental clutter. When you have so much stuff that you can barely organize it all, you’re less likely to invite people over, let alone a potential romantic partner.
There are also logistical problems that may afflict even those willing to brave the risk of living in a cluttered space: Are you willing to dust an overcluttered place? If the honest answer is no, get ready to deal with potential lung issues.
OK, but what about the valuable stuff you want to keep but don’t use every day? The objects with emotional value or just the plain old seasonal items?
Whether you’re set on keeping things long-term or are not sure whether you should part with them, self storage is worth it for your mental — and physical — health. However, we advise you to set an alarm in a month’s time and ask yourself again how many of those items you really need to keep. This is my current option for self storage. I'm going through my entire house and either keeping, donating or storing my items. Not only is this helping to make my current home much for organized and livable but it's also a great step for the move I'm planning within the next year or two.
- Death
We’ll cut the suspense: This refers to inherited items. You know, the heirlooms you inherit after the passing of a loved one. Sometimes, they are expensive or delicate items you’d rather keep in a place that’s even safer than your home, like a maximum-security storage unit.
Other times, they can just be items you’re not over the moon to have been gifted, but you still want to keep them for memory’s sake. Self storage might be worth it in this case, too. But do check on the items occasionally. You might realize you’d rather have them at home or that it’s time for you and that inherited plate collection to part ways.
Now, self storage is a young invention (not even a hundred years old yet), and its uses are likely to grow in time. These six life events are just some of the scenarios where a storage unit is more than worth it. But it’s good to keep them in mind if you want to stay on top of your housekeeping skills — and not just when relocation forces you to get organized.
