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Short-Term and Long-Term Storage

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We have different relationships to different things. Like friends and acquaintances, there are some that we like to have around all the time and others that we are fine putting away for a few years. Self storage locations offer different services in the way of time. Some are short-term; some are long-term. It is important to make an educated decision on where you plan to put your things, because you might not see them for a while.

Short-term storage

If your things don't need to be in long-term storage, don't put them there. The most convenient way to keep your stuff safe and out of your hair is short-term storage.

The first thing you gain from short-term storage is flexibility. You are going to be able to access your things much more easily. Many of these facilities are open 24 hours a day, and, by virtue of them being short-term, getting your stuff back is going to be much less of a hassle. Most places will give you a set of keys to your unit, which gives you unfettered access to your stuff.

Short-term storage provides you with a wide variety of unit sizes, and your month-to-month payments will allow you to upgrade or downgrade your insurance, or the size of your unit, as you see fit. That way, if you want to take some stuff out or put some new stuff in, you can adjust everything accordingly. You might want more insurance once you put that expensive piece of art in there. You also might want a smaller unit once you take the couch out.

Long-term storage

If you are planning an international move and you need to store some stuff, chances are good it's going to be long-term. Maybe you have some pretty nice stuff that doesn't fit into your house now, but you plan on getting a bigger place in a couple of years. That's probably also a long-term storage scenario, as long as you don't mind not seeing some of your things for awhile.

What you are paying for with long-term storage is the facility's expertise in packing your stuff and making sure it's safe and sound. Your things will be in the hands of professionals who are adept at positioning items in the unit and monitoring them to ensure their protection.

If you aren't able to check on your storage often, this is a comforting prospect. In essence, what you lose in flexibility you gain in security when it comes to long-term storage. In addition to this, long-term storage is built around a lease that could save you money over month-to-month rentals.

Give a good amount of thought to which of these options will be the most economical and convenient for you. Start early: get a few quotes, compare, and make the best decision for you and your things.

Photo by: Schaufi (sxc.hu)

Patrick Hanan  Posted by Patrick Hanan on August 27, 2009

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