Tips for clearing a huge storage unit

[Somuchstuff44]

I need to do a major clear out of things I have not ever used or worn over the last six years. I regret buying so much and now I need to let it go. There is a part of me that thinks I should just donate the lot, but I could really do with the money. I also do not want to lose money through the cost of utilities or the effort involved in getting rid of everything. I would like advice on the best way to tackle this over the next twelve months at most.

My current plan is:

1. Spend the next six months sorting everything into categories such as clothes, shoes, jewellery and household items that can be sold or donated, and throw away the rest
2. Wash and iron all the clothes in bulk, then sell them on Vinted just before the right season

Does this seem like a good approach?

How much is 6 months paying for the storage unit going to cost you? Realistically, how much will you make from the contents? I’d be amazed if you make much more than that.

I would take a week off work, beg for help from friends, pull everything out and choose a manageable amount of bigger ticket items that might make some money, plus make piles for donation and dumping. Obviously the latter do cost money as well (driving round to different charity shops, fees for going to the tip) but would look to minimise that).

Are you paying monthly fee for the storage? If so, I'd be clearing it our ASAP, not over 12mths!

I've never used vinted, only ebay. Unless your clothes are branded, high end, I doubt you'll make much money from them. Plus, you'll be using electric to wash and iron everything! Plus going back forth to the post office/post box thing would be a PITA. Might be ok if you don't work though. Can anyone help you?

I also do not want to lose money through the cost of utilities Do you mean the electrics to wash/iron?

From experience dont do anything that delays. Get a rail and a hand held steamer plus a load of hangers. Take an item out of box, put on hanger, steam if appropriate, take photos, list, hang on rail.
Unless you take the item out and its not worth listing, in which case it goes in the bin box or charity shop bag (buy the super cheap laundry bags from ebay so you get loads in per trip)
This keeps things to the touch once (apart from putting in a mailing bag to send it) principle and organised

Sorting that would feel endless to me. I'd have to remove say a car load a week and get rid of 90% of that each time, rather than sort it ALL before disposal. Otherwise, for me, the sorting would become an end in itself and nothing would ever leave!

I agree re eBay vs Vinted. The open ended nature of Vinted sales encourages delay from everyone too.

If you’re saying you’re paying for a storage unit to keep things you don’t want you can trust me when I say you need to ditch it now and not worry about how much you might make back because unless you’ve got priceless items, you won’t break even. Get rid of your stuff asap and rid yourself of storage fees. Unless of course someone else is paying.

Tbh if I’m selling on eBay I pack it up ready to go as soon as I’ve listed it.

Thanks everyone. The storage unit is about to renew and it costs around two thousand a year. I work full time so I cannot clear it out before the renewal date, and I do not have anyone who can help me.

When I mentioned costs, I meant the utilities for washing and ironing everything, along with the cost of packaging it all for selling.

I could really do with the money, which is why I thought it would be better to try to sell things. Most people seem to be saying that it is better to get rid of everything sooner rather than later because I will not make the money back. I also have a lot of unworn shoes and jewellery if that makes any difference. Nothing designer, but all good brands and good quality.

If I cancel during the year the storage company will refund the difference. Maybe that makes it a no brainer. Best way to get as much money back as possible!

My advice to you running a declutter and clearance business organise yourself to do two carboots every week religiously you’ll be clear in no time with some cash

Im going to take a not so wild guess here and ask whether you’re already in this unit for longer than you thought you’d be. A huge proportion of domestic storage customers are paying to store things the don’t want or need. Spend one day distributing it to charity shops.

Can you pay someone with a car to help you, say at weekends? Or even a strong teenager?

Wouldn’t it be cheaper to pay a house clearance guy to take the lot before the renewal date?

Yes without a doubt. I have found it overwhelming until now due to health and life stuff.

You could probably spend £1000 rather than £2000 getting a clearance company to take it away.

You could advertise on Facebook- "contents of storage unit free to anyone that can clear it to empty this week - includes clothes with tags etc." (Save yourself 2k and an awful lot of work.)

I have a few small items of jewelry I want to keep, if I find them. I guess I could find a trustworthy clearance company...

I think one of the stumbling blocks to tackling all this is the idea it's worth money.

It might be, but probably much less than you think. All those new clothes and shoes date. Even unworn, they've lost much (most?) of their value. And of course it's cost you several thousand already, at two grand a year.

Unless you have the discipline @Parsley4321 says to dedicate every weekend to car boot sales, you are not going to get rid of everything this year.

I'd cut your losses, pay a clearance company and save yourself a huge mental burden and a lots of hassle.

Free yourself now!

I have Pmd you with some ideas x

Im a reseller and this is the kind of thing I buy. I would go on reseller UK on FB and offer it as job lot. It would save you So much time.

Yay!

You say it’s not designer stuff. Definitely just charity shop the vast majority of see if a clearance company will buy some. It seems very unlikely you’d make the 2k rental fee and it would be a lot of work. Have a rummage to look for sentimental stuff then go for the quickest option. You will feel so happy when it is finally empty! 2k is loads of money - plan what you’ll do with it as an incentive. Holiday?

It's phase eight, hobbs, Kurt geiger, John Lewis etc so not designer but not cheap....

But the money you spent on it is long gone. And you're proposing to spend even more money (and a lot of time) trying to recoup a proportion of it when you could offload it all now.

Do as @Doggymummar suggests, offer it for sale as a job lot to a reseller, and use the £2k saved for something you'd really love.

Thanks for all the replies. This has helped a lot.

Isn't there a TV programme about this sort of thing. People buy a unit/container sight unseen and try to sell the contents?

You won’t make enough on Vinted to cover storage costs (I work for a storage company). Get rid of everything in 2 weeks and give notice. You must be paying a fortune each month!