The most recent Self Storage Association Fact Sheet presents some staggering statistics regarding the self-storage “epidemic”:
- Approximately 1 out of every 10 U.S. households currently rents a self-storage unit (which translates into 21 square feet of self-storage space per household)
- Self-storage facilities report an average 85% occupancy rate
- 30% of self-storage renters have rented their unit for more than 2 years
On more than one occasion, I’ve had a client who has wondered whether a self-storage unit might be an appropriate solution to decluttering their home.
Here’s my two cents on the subject.
When to Use Self-Storage
I believe that self-storage can be a smart solution in certain circumstances.
In a nutshell, it can be useful for a specific time frame that has a clear end date.
For example, I may suggest self-storage for home staging clients who have an excessive amount of furniture, clothing, and household items that need “edited out” in order for their property to show well while on the market.
Photo © Depositphotos.com / Andrea Crisante
Self-storage can also be quite useful for people who are “between homes”, such as those who are building a home and have had to vacate their former home before the new home is ready. For those who are temporarily moving cross country or overseas as a consequence of a job transfer or military deployment, self-storage is a great solution for temporarily housing your belongings.
Another situation where a self-storage unit may come in handy is during a major home renovation, in order to protect your belongings from the inevitable construction dust storm.
When NOT TO USE Self-Storage
Photo © Depositphotos.com / Andrea Crisante
When is self-storage a bad idea?
When you are using it as a cop-out for avoiding the hard work associated with decluttering.
When you simply don’t feel like making the tough decisions about what should stay or what should go.
When you don’t have a clear endpoint in mind for when you will remove the items out of storage.
There is a cost associated with keeping and storing things, whether it’s in your own home or somewhere else. The typical rent for a 10×10 (non-climate controlled) storage unit is $115/month. That’s a pretty hefty price to pay for storing items that you may use someday…that you don’t necessarily use or like.
One of my clients recently decided to clear out the storage unit that she’d kept in excess of 12 years. It was heartbreaking to learn that the vast majority of the contents consisted of items that she did not need or want. Since she hadn’t accessed the unit in several years, she didn’t even remember what was in the majority of the boxes.
She estimated the total cost of storing her unit “full of junk” to be somewhere in the vicinity of $13,000 over the course of those 12 years. Don’t let this be you, my friend.
So, what’s the verdict? Do you think self-storage is the solution for your situation? Weigh in below…
Got plans to sell your home? I’ve created The Home Selling Tool Kit, a free resource for helping you sell your home fast and for top dollar. Click on the image below to learn more about it and to download the Tool Kit for yourself!
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Gaylyn says
Do you have tips on how to declutter a storage unit? It is overwhelming I don’t know where to start.
Natalie Gallagher says
Hi Gaylyn,
I haven’t written a post specifically on that space, but the process is similar to decluttering any other space. 1. Start by enlisting some help if it’s packed. 2. pull all of the contents out of the unit. 3. collect and dispose of any trash. 4. Sort into categories: KEEP, DONATE, SELL, RELOCATE. 5. Remove items for donation (and donate them) 6. Remove items to sell (sell them), and relocate items in the RELOCATE category. This is as detailed as I can get in a blog comment. I hope this helps! You may also want to download my Declutter Tool Kit
Bob says
I love your tip about how getting a 10×10 space that is climate controlled. That makes sense considering you don’t want your items to be ruined by heat and moisture. I’ll have to consider getting a unit for all of the delicate artwork that we have in our house.
Sarah Smith says
My husband and I are having our ground floor converted to an open layout. Your information that storage units can be really helpful when doing major home renovations because they can keep your furniture and other belongings safe from dust and debris is very helpful. We will start looking into storage unit services for our books and the couches we just bought.
STEELE HONDA says
Thanks for the article. I learned a lot from the statistics that you have provided. I find it to be amazing that 1 out of every 10 U.S. households have a self-storage unit. I have a storage unit and it has taken a big load off of my shoulders as it has made a lot of room in my house for other things making it easier for my family to have the things we want in the house and while keeping all the old antiques and other cherished goods.
Natalie Gallagher says
Thanks so much for your perspective on this topic!
Petunia Evans says
I learned so much reading this! I never knew that it was so common for people to rent out a storage unit. Mostly because not very many people in my immediate life have used them. However, if I ever need temporary space, which I can see in my life easily as I’ve been moving around a lot, I know that I can just rent a storage unit. And now, I know to use them in only temporary situations. Thank you so much for helping me better understand this!
Natalie Gallagher says
I’m glad to be of help!
Jonathan Pound says
I can understand about “the bad.” I tend to hand onto things longer than I need to. I just need to let some things go. However, there are some things that are family heirlooms that I don’t have room for in my place because I’m renting. Thanks for your article.
Natalie Gallagher says
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for your comment. There are definitely times when overflow storage is necessary, and yours sounds like one of them 😉
Emily says
Natalie, this is just the information I was looking for about self storage. My husband and I have been trying to decide if that is something that we should look into getting. My husband and I will be “between homes” soon. Maybe it is something that would be beneficial for us. Thanks for the informative post!
Natalie Gallagher says
Hi Emily,
Glad the post was useful for you!
Delores Lyon says
Thanks for sharing this advice! I definitely agree that it is important to not let stuff take over. Having too much stuff can really be a problem, especially if you have kids. You don’t want to have to worry about your children tripping over excess furniture, or getting into boxes laying around!
Darcy Webb says
Reading this has really made me do some soul searching. I thought that I didn’t need to get self-storage, but I may have just had a paradigm shift. I don’t think I could bear to part with all of the records I have accumulated over the years.
http://www.selfstore.com.au
Natalie Gallagher says
Hi Darcy,
I’m glad that this post was thought-provoking for you. You mentioned a record collection,..are you referring to a collection of vinyl record album?
What are your ultimate plans for your collection? Tell me more!
Darcy Webb says
I am referring to a record collection. I have a lot of good vinyls from the 70s and 60s. I am not sure what my ultimate plans are. I really just like collecting them as a hobby. I even listen to some of them, but I like to keep most of them in mint condition too. There is a side of me that hopes they will be worth a fortune one day.