Tips on Moving Out of Your Self Storage Space
Chris Threet
July 13th, 2021
Tips on Moving Out of Your Self Storage Space
Self-storage can be a great way to put your unused possessions in a safe place, particularly if you’re moving or have some other life circumstance that means you can’t have them all with you in your home. But self-storage always comes to an end, and that will mean unpacking your unit and moving out. Moving out of your storage space may seem like a daunting task. The good news is, it can be quite manageable.
How To Move Out Of Your Storage Space
Moving out of your self-storage space means taking everything out, loading it onto a vehicle, and carting it away. Let’s break that down into separate tasks, and take a look at each one.
Rent or Use a Moving Van / Truck
A moving van or truck is a good way to move your possessions. You’ll need a vehicle big enough to handle even your largest possessions—think about furniture, such as dressers, couches, and beds. Another reason to get a moving van or truck is that it will make for fewer total vehicle-loads. Unpacking a storage unit and putting everything into a vehicle takes time and trouble, but you can cut down on both time and trouble if you rent a large vehicle that can handle everything in fewer loads.
Use a Platform Truck Dolly
A platform truck dolly can be a tremendous life-saver when it comes to moving large, heavy items, particularly furniture. There are numerous designs, and if your storage facility doesn’t have one or more on hand you can probably buy, rent, or borrow one without too much trouble or expense. A platform truck dolly will make it much easier to get heavy, bulky items from your storage facility into your vehicle. Some of these items may cause serious injury if you try to move them with muscle power alone. Your knees and your back will thank you for using a dolly.
Ask Your Friends for Help
There’s a rule governing moving and friendship: you’re allowed to ask your friends to help you move. There are two main forms of favors you can offer in return: the first is the longer-term favor of helping them move, and the second is the tradition of feeding everyone pizza (or other fun food of choice) and providing refreshing beverages. No one enjoys moving, but many hands make light work. Ask your friends to help you move, and it will be over faster. To continue a theme from above, you’ll also run less risk of injuring yourself: large, heavy furniture in particular should only be moved by at least two people.
Hire an Expert
Maybe you don’t have many friends available to help you move. On the other hand, maybe you have a very sensible concern about sparing your knees and your back. In that case, why not hire a moving company? Yes, it’s an extra expense—but the benefit is that you don’t have to move things yourself.
Clean Up The Unit
Cleaning up your unit is good manners, and a polite way to end your relationship with your self-storage company on a positive note. You don’t have to spit-and-polish everything top to bottom: sweeping out the unit and cleaning up anything that may have spilled should suffice.
Remove the Lock
Your lock is your property, not the storage company’s, so you’ll want to take it. Besides, if you leave it there, locked, you will still be occupying the unit. It’s also good manners to let the storage company know that you are leaving in advance. Two days’ notice should be plenty. And once you’ve moved out, let the company know so they can inspect the unit and close your account.
Self Storage Tips