Traveling and item storage

FrankR

Hello
I would like to go travelling for 1 year or so when travel restrictions lift.
Is it possible to put all my stuff into storage at a facility for this period? How safe is it and what would the cost be?
I don't have much stuff (enough to fill a shed) as I'm youngish person.
Most valuable item is my computer.
My plan is to travel (visit a friend or two) and study a part time masters course online, at the same time.

Brie

you should be able to quickly google local storage firms. 

like many people moving house we stored a number of items "for a couple of weeks" (Ha! More like 5 months!!).  It was easy, accessible, fully monitored by cameras.  I don't think it had 24 hours access but we didn't need that in any case.  

the issue would be the cost - our storage had a discounted rate (50%??) for about 8 weeks and then the full cost. So needed to have a direct debit set up.  

if you are concerned about the computer then box it up and label it "tea set" or something.  

And let someone you trust hang on to the key or lock combination just in case you fall in love while travelling and want your valuables shipped to your new home in Patagonia or wherever.

canaldumidi

This will give you an idea, but as with everything, shop around:

https://www.safestore.co.uk/self-storage-prices/

saajan_12

If its for an extended time, and the priority is price rather than regular access, then consider finding a storage place a little further out where it'll be cheaper. 
If you'll need to come back to it during the year and refresh your suitcase, then somewhere more convenient would be better. 

Also depending on what you have, might be better to sell or get rid of bulky items and furniture.. sometimes long term storage ends up more than just buying the item again when you're ready. 

coffeehound

Security varies at these self-storage places.  All will have a padlock on the door -- usually supplied by you.  The place I'm currently using gives you a free padlock, but it isn't a very good one.

In addition to this, some places have an electronic alarm on the door that is disabled when you enter your code at the main entrance to access the building.  Big Yellow have this, but many others don't, and it is then purely that padlock on your unit that prevents access.  For this reason I wouldn't recommend a combination padlock as they're too easy to defeat.  Best to fit two or more locks to make your unit less attractive.

Some grant 24-hour access, which must greatly increase the chance of burglary.  I have heard of self-storage places being burgled but the actual chances of it happening to you should be pretty remote.

deannagone

Renting a storage space in someone's house might be an idea if you could be sure it was secure. https://www.storemates.co.uk/  It can be cheaper than renting a storage unit.

AdrianC

Consider whether it's actually worth storing each item... You may find it cheaper to bin and replace.

TripleH

When I sold my first flat I put stuff in storage as it seemed a good idea at the time. Long story short, it wasn't. I paid more for storage than the stuff was worth but mine was cheap stuff that ended up in student houses my parents owned.

Go through what you have and think long and hard about why you have it. If you are storing do you really want to store items you will never need again? It is a good opportunity to clear out stuff you no longer need/ use.

Good luck with your travels, best thing I did, I came back a new person to when I left. Where are you planning on going?

Greymug

FrankR said:

Hello
I would like to go travelling for 1 year or so when travel restrictions lift.
Is it possible to put all my stuff into storage at a facility for this period? How safe is it and what would the cost be?
I don't have much stuff (enough to fill a shed) as I'm youngish person.
Most valuable item is my computer.
My plan is to travel (visit a friend or two) and study a part time masters course online, at the same time.

If the most valuable item is your computer, take the computer with you (assuming it's a laptop) and just sell/get rid of everything else. 

Storage costs.

csgohan4

If a particular item doesn't "spark joy" recycle or throw away. We are all hoarders in some ways.