Storage Tips?

tequila2k

I'm just about to complete the sale of my flat, before I go travelling for a year.

Can anyone offer any money saving advice on how best to store all my worldly possessions?

Thanks.

Meatballs

Be nice to your parents.

BTman

Or rent a lockup/garage for a year?
Depends on how much "worldly possessions" you want to keep...

tonyivb

Firstly consider your large bulky items... it may just be easier to try and sell them as the cost of storing a sofa, bed, wardrobes etc can be more than what they are worth (not to mention the hassle of transporting them to/from the storage site).

Failing that... alternatives to the traditional (paid for) storage places

1. Blag some space of family and/or friends (Fa/oF)

2. Offer to buy Fa/oF a new garden shed... the catch is that your stuff will be stored in it until you need it and after that it will be theirs.

3. If Fa/oF have some space on their driveway/land then buy a barely legal klapped out van, store your stuff in it & then just flog the van to a scrap dealer when you are done with it.

Remember that Big Yellow etc. charge a premium for easy access... you do not need access to your stuff for at least 1 year, therefore why pay this premium?

Vampgirl

We used Big Yellow when we moved to Egypt for a year: for convenience, security and the fact we had no other option! However I have to say that they were very good, our possessions were secure and because its humidity/temperature controlled they were kept in great condition - no damp or musty smells - not even in clothes! They also have a good range of different size rooms to suit all needs.

One tip I would give is that the premium 24hr access is very useful if you're moving the stuff in yourself and making many trips after work/at weekends etc...but once you're in there make sure you downgrade to the basic businesss hours only access.

Also be aware that you'll need to provide emergency contact people in this country in case there's a problem and they need someone to attend your room (very unlikely, its just a precaution).

buglawton

There are quite a few out of town farms that rent out secure steel containers, about £100/mnth for a small house full.

Melissa177

I don't know about your council, but mine (Wandsworth) offers cheap lock-up/garage rental for residents of the borough. Might be an idea to give your local council a call?

I used Safestore when I needed storage recently - I got a half price deal, but it still wasn't cheap (£125 per month for a 35 sq ft locker, first six weeks free if I took an extra 6 weeks on). That's quite a lot of money for a year though.

kennyboy66_2

A steel container (20' or 40') at a self storage place would probably be cheaper than Big Yellow. You could get a decent discount if you paid for a year upfront. I would expect to pay approx £400 - £800 for a year depending on location.

Some places insulate their containers using spray on foam. This will vastly reduce condensation.

tequila2k

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Love Tonyivb's idea of storage in an old van... that's ingenius!
A local council garage sounds ideal, so I'm making enquiries about that right now.

Thanks again!