Storage of house contents in shipping container-type situation?

dunroving

As per the title, I have moved country a number of times and on all occasions, was able to store my house contents in the shipping container at a storage facility (for a fee) until I found accommodation.

I have just (today!) retired and plan to move house to another part of the UK. I have the idea that if I can sell my current home first, that would put me in a better situation as a buyer, as I would be a cash buyer with no chain. In order to do this, I'd need to store my house contents until I bought a new house. I might even buy a fixer-upper, in which case I would keep everything stored until the house had been renovated.

The only information I can find on this indicates that the removal van is unpacked and contents put into storage, then the reverse is done (removal van is re-packed). It seems I could avoid the "unpack-repack" charges if my stuff was moved using a storage container. Does anyone know whether this is a feasible option for a within-UK house move?

Comms69

What? You want to store your stuff? So contact a storage place?

3mph

We sold our house and moved into a rented one until we found the flat we wanted and as you plan to do it made us cash buyers and in theory in a better situation.

All our furniture was loaded by a removal company into containers which they then stored in their warehouse. The containers are about 7ft x 6ft x 6ft The bulk (3 containers) we have left in long term storage (1 to 2 years) for our daughter to have when she returns to UK with 1 container of stuff for the flat when we moved in.

It worked really well, particularly as we could have work done on the flat whilst still the rented house

It would be a lot cheaper to self store if you were prepared to do that.

Scotbot

Yes. I have just moved back and my stuff is in storage minus the container. You will pay a mozza for a container and be hard pushed to find anywhere to store it. Assuming you mean a shipping container. Storage facilities provide secure storage in rooms ,you would not get a container in one. When int movers store stuff they have their own depots at the ports. Check quotes from removalists companies but self storage with 2 removal costs likely to be cheaper.

dunroving

Comms69 wrote: »

What? You want to store your stuff? So contact a storage place?

My point was that doing it this way would involve an extra lot of unpacking (to put in storage area) and repacking (into a van to deliver to new destination). A shipping storage container isn't unpacked until it reaches the final destination. I just can't find any information on whether this is feasible for a within-UK (rather than international) move.

Scotbot

dunroving wrote: »

My point was that doing it this way would involve an extra lot of unpacking (to put in storage area) and repacking (into a van to deliver to new destination). A shipping storage container isn't unpacked until it reaches the final destination. I just can't find any information on whether this is feasible for a within-UK (rather than international) move.

Since the stuff was already packed it took 2 burly guys only about half an hour to unload into the storage room.

dunroving

3mph wrote: »

We sold our house and moved into a rented one until we found the flat we wanted and as you plan to do it made us cash buyers and in theory in a better situation.

All our furniture was loaded by a removal company into containers which they then stored in their warehouse. The containers are about 7ft x 6ft x 6ft The bulk (3 containers) we have left in long term storage (1 to 2 years) for our daughter to have when she returns to UK with 1 container of stuff for the flat when we moved in.

It worked really well, particularly as we could have work done on the flat whilst still the rented house

It would be a lot cheaper to self store if you were prepared to do that.

7 x 6 x 6 sounds almost like what was called (I think) a "lift van" when I did my international moves, whereas a "shipping container" came as a 20-footer or 40-footer - the sorts of things you see on these massive floating shipping barges. Were you meaning that self-storage is cheaper because you pack/unpack yourself, or is this simply cheaper than storing via a removals company? I definitely can't be involved in self-packing/unpacking as doing this several times over the years has wrecked my back.

Scotbot wrote: »

Yes. No it isn't. I have just moved back and my stuff is in storage minus the container. You will pay a mozza for a container and be hard pushed to find anywhere to store it. Storage facilities provide secure storage in rooms ,you would not get a container in one. When int movers store stuff they have their own depots at the ports.

From what you are saying, it sounds like this simply isn't a typical within-UK thing, then. That would be a shame as although it is the norm for international moves, it is actually a regular local/national company at each end.

dunroving

dunroving wrote: »

7 x 6 x 6 sounds almost like what was called (I think) a "lift van" when I did my international moves, whereas a "shipping container" came as a 20-footer or 40-footer - the sorts of things you see on these massive floating shipping barges. .

Just Googled and yes, this is what was called a lift van:

http://www.rainieros.com/moving-guide/before-the-move/liftvans-vs-containers/

PasturesNew

I've seen Pickfords lorries - and used their storage similarly - where they pack people's stuff into individual wooden crates that are half the size of their van ... they load the crate/s and seal them - at their warehouse they offload the crate/s into their warehouse, where they remain sealed "forever" until they deliver them to a future address.

I needed just one crate, so half a van. When I wanted my stuff out they offered me a "part load", which meant that they'd wait until they were coming my way and had a spare gap and they'd bring it on a date they chose; this came with a discounted price as they were choosing the "when".

Scotbot

I have done a few int moves and when I moved back this time needed storage as have yet to buy house. Self storage was about the same price as getting the shippers to store it. They would also have charged removal costs as they would have unpacked the stuff from a container into a storage unit then packed it into a van to deliver. I have never in about 6 moves had a container delivered it has always turned up in a removalists van from a local company as you state. I assume the containers are reused by the shipping company.
Perhaps it differs by country.

Owain_Moneysaver

There is a removal company that will park a container on your front garden for you to fill, take it away and store it, and then deliver the container for you to unpack, but I can't remember their name :-)

It's not a very common service though.

If you have the space and access at both ends you could hire a storage container but you'd have to pay delivery, hire, transport, hire, and collection fees.

Half-van crates sound a more sensible arrangement. You can also pack the crates so you can get a phased delivery with essentials in the first crate, and ornaments in the second.