Whether you’re going abroad to study, volunteer, start an internship, or try out teaching as a profession, you’re surely excited right now. However, doing a little forward planning first can be very useful.
Spoiler alert: You’re gonna need a place to store your stuff.
One big question you’ll be faced with is what to do with all your stuff while you’re gone. There may be no sense paying rent for months just to house your belongings, but can you stash everything with your parents or a friend?
Self-storage is a great solution to these problems, offering a cost effective way to keep your belongings safely and not inconveniencing anybody. Self-storage search websites, like STORAGECafé, can help you find where to store your belongings while you leave the country for an extended period of time.
We’ve got numerous expert self-storage tips about how to store things in a storage unit and how to use self-storage in the way that will suit you best while you’re abroad.
You will also learn about what a storage unit cannot be used for, and get a rough idea of how much renting one might cost you. You’ll be a self-storage pro after this!
Do I need a storage unit?
Do you need a self-storage unit? Well, imagine you’re enjoying the sun halfway around the world when you get a call: “Come and take your stuff out of our spare room or we’ll have to dump it on the street!”
If you’d kept it all at a self-storage facility, you’d have no worries, and there’d be security on the premises too.
Not only this, but you will have chosen your storage unit precisely with your precious belongings in mind—exactly the right size and maybe also with climate-control to safely protect your delicate items.
One of the best self-storage tips is to assess whether it’s realistic to store your stuff with friends or family for a long time. Otherwise, you may need a storage unit!
How much should I budget for storage?
Self-storage costs much less than residential renting; the average national monthly street rate for a standard (non-climate-controlled) 10’x10’ unit in 2020 was $116.
The cost depends a lot on location: for the standard unit, New York City self storage monthly rates average out at $175, while Houston self-storage is cheaper at $84, for example.
If you’re going abroad for a fixed length of time, you may get a discount for a minimum of, say, six months.
Also, because you won’t need to visit your unit regularly, a cheaper out-of-town storage facility can also help you save money.
8 self storage tips and tricks
1. Do your spring cleaning first!
What’s in the box? Hopefully stuff actually worth the price of storing.
One of the best storage unit tips is to cut back first. Many people struggle to throw things away. All those unused items can be put into self storage, but it’s so much better—not to say more economical—to declutter first.
Have a good look at each object and decide whether you’ll really need it when it’s time to get things out of storage; some fashions really don’t come back around again! If you’re not sure about an item, see what you can get by selling it or else consider donating it to charity.
Many people find that items with great sentimental value are worth keeping for the future, however, so consider storing those old baseball mitts or that prom dress.
2. Take advantage of climate control for delicate items
The main feature which determines the street rate of a storage unit, apart from size and location, is whether or not it’s climate-controlled. The temperature of such a unit is kept within a range of about 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity is kept low as well.
This is necessary for delicate items such as documents, photographs, and valuable books and clothes. Also, wooden items such as antique furniture and musical instruments can become distorted under adverse conditions.
And the longer things are left in units without climate control, the more damage they may suffer. Hands down, one of the best storage unit tips is to spring for climate control!
3. Get the right storage containers
One of the top self-storage tips: Get the right equipment for storing your stuff. You can store things in bags and old boxes, but it’s often a better idea to put them in appropriate containers that are designed for the job.
New cardboard storage boxes are cost-effective and are good enough for non-perishable items such as plastic toys and stainless steel appliances. But plastic boxes with sealable lids are more durable, more easily stackable, and will hopefully keep out moisture.
Plus, a large range of sizes are available, and some are very strong and come with handles for easy transportation. Special boxes can also be bought for things like clothes and mirrors, and then there are “dishpaks” for crockery and glassware.
4. Be smart when packing and stacking
This isn’t a game of Tetris. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
You’ll want to make the most of your storage space to avoid paying out more money than you need to. So remember, therefore, that even if your unit’s square footage is small, it’s probably 8’ high, so things can be stacked, as long as you’re careful.
Some furniture can be usefully dismantled to save space. Large kitchen appliances and mirrors should always be stored upright.
Concerning damageable items, shoes should be stuffed with crumpled paper and glassware and porcelain can be encased in bubble wrap. Expensive dresses should be hung up; if your wardrobe is in self-storage too, you can leave them hanging in that.
5. Get the security you need
Many self-storage facilities have high-level security these days, with electronic entry systems, surveillance cameras, and maybe staff who guard the premises. Biometric scanners and infrared detection in the units are even more advanced methods of security that are sometimes seen.
You might find more traditional, out-of-town facilities that don’t have all the advanced security of their inner-city rivals, but these may offer you a more competitive price, and you might prefer that.
Some facilities have their own locks on their units but others require you to provide your own; it is recommended you invest in a good disk lock, which you can then take with you when you finish renting.
Either way, one of the best storage unit tips is to check out the security perks prior to renting.
6. Get insurance for peace of mind
If you’re using self-storage while you’re abroad, having insurance can add to your peace of mind. In fact, some storage facilities insist on it as it potentially saves them worry as well.
The good news is that you may have a renters or home-owners insurance policy which covers your belongings in self-storage, so check the small print. And the facility themselves may offer you insurance, which can be very convenient as you sign those papers at the same time you make the contract for renting your unit.
Alternatively, you can obtain specialist insurance from a third-party provider, which can be particularly useful if you are storing unusual items.
7. Store your car wisely
But inside might be perfectly fine!
One of the top self-storage tips: Don’t be careless with your car! Any car you leave behind should be stored properly. As with other possessions, somebody might let you park it in their garage or on their driveway, but you still might get that phone call asking you to move it!
Putting your car in self-storage is a good move, either on a facility’s dedicated parking area or in one of their garage-sized units.
But if you want your car to be useable when you get back, you should follow some tips: put sufficient air in the tires, fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer, change the oil, and block any holes—including the exhaust pipe—so bugs and rodents can’t get in.
8. You can store very special items too
You might be worried that self-storage won’t be up to the job regarding some very special object you need to keep somewhere, but be reassured: there are proper facilities available.
High-end stereos and so on can be stored in specially-made electronics boxes; many music fans are glad they kept their old turntables, now back in fashion! Batteries and storage don’t mix well, however, so take these out of all equipment first.
One of the best storage unit tips is to look for special storage places available for things needing extra security provisions, such as guns, and for items needing an extra special climate, like vintage wine.
For anyone lucky enough to own an RV or a boat, extra-large units are available for these too.
What NOT to put in a storage unit
When it comes to self-storage tips and tricks, it’s just as important to know what not to put in your unit. Self-storage is an industry that offers a lot of solutions to a lot of problems, but there are some things that should not be stored away in a regular storage unit. Check out the naughty list:
- Most types of food. Cans may be allowed, but even then heat and humidity can make them dangerous.
- Other perishable items such as plants, and bait for fishing.
- Animals. Not even ones that need feeding only very rarely!
- Dangerous chemicals. These are many and various, and can include regular items that you may not think of as “dangerous.”
- Firearms. Self-storage providers usually say no to keeping them in their regular lockers.
- Explosives, and that includes any ammunition for those aforementioned guns.
- Illegal drugs and stolen goods...obviously.
- Money, gold, jewelry, etc. Many facilities don’t allow very expensive items.
- People. Not even yourself if you become homeless. Sorry!
Keep your stuff safe while you’re abroad!
We didn’t think we’d ever say this, but: No puppies allowed.
Self-storage is a great idea if you’ll be going abroad, as it ensures your possessions are secure and not inconveniencing anyone. And many people when they return home want to have their familiar possessions around them again.
Pack and prep them properly, and when you get back you’ll be able to get them out of storage in the same state you left them. These days there are many self-storage facilities with units at a wide range of sizes and prices, so it’s certain you can find the right one for your needs. Happy traveling!
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This article was written with help from STORAGECafé. Storagecafe.com is a US storage space marketplace which currently features more than 25,000 storage facility listings. Anyone moving houses, downsizing, or simply no longer having enough space back at home can use it to find their ideal nearby storage unit. The streamlined search process means that prices and features can be compared, and then a unit can be chosen, all in one go.
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