Short-term storage can hold many benefits as it stops you from being trapped renting a storage space that you no longer need. More and more people are looking to short-term storage as it offers them the flexibility that they want whilst being much cheaper than some long-term storage options. 

Here we are going to talk about what short-term storage actually is and how it can benefit you. 

What is Short-Term Storage?

Short-term storage is typically defined as anything less than 3 months. It is used in those short periods of time when you need some extra space. This could be because you are redecorating your house or may have someone coming to stay for a few weeks. It is an affordable and efficient way in which to keep your belongings safe for a short period of time. 

It differs from long-term storage in the ways in which people use it. Long-term storage is used for 3 months+ and it is used by businesses to store their stock, as a constant extension to their home or whilst they go travelling for extended periods. Depending on where you rent your long-term storage, it can also lead to you being trapped within a rental contract which will, over time, become extremely expensive. Whether you go for short-term or long-term storage, you must always look for facilities that offer flexible contracts. 

Top Benefits of Opting for Short-Term Storage

No matter your reason for needing storage, short-term storage has many benefits. Here we will be discussing some of the top benefits that come from opting to use short-term storage. 

Flexibility and Convenience

Short-term storage can be much more flexible than long-term storage which is a huge benefit. Flexibility allows you to adapt your storage to your needs which can change during the duration of your rental agreement. 

Also, it gives you the ability to leave your unit before your rental agreement expires. This will stop you from having to pay for a storage unit you know longer need. 

Your ability to do this will differ from place to place but with our short-term storage we just need 14 days’ notice and you will even be refunded for unused days. 

Cost-Effective Solutions

Short-term storage is also much more cost-effective as it allows you to only pay for the time that you need and, as we have said above, with the right flexible contract, you will even be able to leave your unit earlier than you first expected. 

Transition Ease During Relocations

Using short-term storage during house moves or renovations is an excellent way to alleviate some of the stresses which come with these types of situations. 

It will give you a space where you know your belongings are being well looked after, allowing you to focus on bigger decisions related to your move or renovation. 

Decluttering and Organisational Help

Decluttering can feel like a huge, overwhelming task but by using short-term storage you can actually make it easier and more manageable. It will give you a temporary space in which you can store your belongings whilst you do a thorough spring clean. 

Or it could be the place in which you bring all the things that you aren’t sure whether you want or need them anymore. Placing them in short-term storage will allow you to go through these items at a pace that suits you without keeping it cluttering up your home.

Seasonal Storage Solutions

Short-term storage is also excellent for storing seasonal storage. You could rent a unit in order to store seasonal clothing, sports equipment and/or holiday decorations. These items will all be kept safe until the right season rolls around for you to need them again.  

Real-Life Uses of Short-Term Storage

There are many uses for short-term storage in our day-to-day lives. We can really benefit from using short-term storage in order to make our lives easier and more convenient. 

University Students

University students can make excellent use of short-term storage by using it as a safe and secure place to store dorm items and furniture during the summer and winter breaks. 

Businesses During Office Renovations

Businesses can find help from short-term storage during office renovations. Using short-term storage will give them a safe space in which to store all their office equipment and furniture, allowing the renovations to run smoothly without any added worries about items getting damaged. 

Travellers & Digital Nomads

If you have decided to go travelling for an extended period or you are considering trying the digital nomad life, short-term storage will be ideal for you. You will have a storage space in which you can store all your belongings and have peace of mind that everything is safe and secure. 

With short-term storage, if you decide that a travelling life isn’t for you, you will be able to retrieve your belongings as soon as you arrive back home. 

Tips for Maximising Your Short-Term Storage Experience

There are a variety of ways in which you can get the most out of your short-term storage. 

Choosing the Right Unit Size

Which unit is right for you and your needs will be entirely dependent on what you want to store and why. Think about what you want to store and your estimated time frame for storing and begin looking at what sized units are available in your local storage facilities. 

If you are finding it difficult to gauge this on your own, give the facility a call and a member of their team will help you. All of our team members are ready and willing to help our customers find the storage that is right for them.

Ensuring Easy Access

What access you need is, again, going to be determined by what you are using your short term storage for but choosing a storage facility that is in a convenient location and has access hours that work for you is very important. 

Many of our facilities have extended opening hours to allow our customers convenient access. Please check our website to see if your local store offers extended opening hours. 

Properly Packing and Labelling

To maximise your short-term storage experience it is important to properly pack your storage unit. 

• If you are storing furniture, it must be cleaned and larger items must be disassembled. It must then be wrapped in blankets, dust sheets and/or bubble wrap. Depending on the type of furniture you have, you may also want to consider corner protectors for furniture pads. 
• Soft furnishings such as pillows, cushions and mattresses should be cleaned and then either placed in vacuum bags or have a mattress protector placed over them. 
• When it comes to boxes it is important to not overfill or underfill them. Overfilling could lead to items getting squashed, underfilling could lead to items moving around in the box, both of which could lead to items being broken. 
• Wrap any fragile items in bubble wrap and use bubble wrap and packing peanuts in boxes for added protection. 
• Label every single box clearly with which room it is from and the items that are in it. 
• When it comes to placing it within your unit, place large pieces of furniture and your mattress up against the wall. With the boxes, make sure that the heavier ones go on the bottom. 
• If there are any items that you will need earlier than others, place these at the front of your storage unit for quick retrieval.

Is a Short-Term Solution Right for Me?

There are many advantages to using short-term storage, particularly if it is flexible. It allows you to store items for a short period of time, making tasks such as a house move or renovations much easier. It also allows you to make room for guests or children coming home from university in an easy, cost-effective way. 

Short-term storage will be the perfect helper for your next house move, family visit or decluttering project. If you would like to know more about our short-term storage, please head to our website.