Putting stuff in storage.

[Underthemountain]

Hi, we are moving shortly (hopefully) and need to sort everything out for the move. We will be in temporary accommodation so need to put most stuff into storage for a wee bit. Is this easy to organise? Is it really expensive? How do you decide which stuff to store and which stuff to take with you? How long does it take to pack a house up? I need some kind of drugs to get me through the stress of it all.

Just ring Pickfords - they store it for you and also have self-store if you prefer. No need to stress.

Pickfords v expensive. Try somewhere more local. We paid £100 per month.

Thanks, 100 sounds ok. Can I ask about your lofts? They should definitely be emptied before moving day shouldn't they.......? Even if you pay them to pack they wouldn't want to be up and down a ladder I imagine?

make sure it is a 'wee bit' - storage is pricey and now subject to VAT. Any more than six months and unless you have v. posh possessions, you might as well ebay them and then buy again on ebay!

two choices for self-store; containers or indoor storage, warehouses but with aircon, lifts etc. Containers WILL get damp inside and are only for stuff that doesn't mind this, i.e not house contents.

assuming you are going into a standard rental, you need things to sleep on, things to sit on,kitchen equipment, maybe white goods, bedding, clothing, plus life and entertainment stuff.

and yes, empty your loft. You don't need much of what is up there anyway so get recycling!

That's very helpful thanks. No posh possessions (alas!) but def expect/hoping less than six months. Staying with relative, which will save money but means no space for the furniture you mention (and more therefore to store). Where best to store couches/ mattresses-do I need specifically non damp storage then?

Big yellow storage was surprisingly cheap for us - we got a room for eight weeks (extension being finished) for about £100.

Cheers, will look them up.

Also, when you are getting quotes - check:

Insurance: what theirs covers/what yours needs to cover and;
Security: Are the rooms/containers monitored? How do people get in & out etc.,

yes, it MUST be non-damp storage. That is big yellow or anything similar, there are loads of them. You're looking for a climate controlled area, absolutely NOT a container.

they will probably insist you have insurance, and do check security. Calculating the volume required is also good fun!

BTW I did what you are doing, moved from a house to a small rental while house hunting, hence most in storage. The movers were masters of packing although the unit wasn't quite big enough and it all came out five months later undamaged and undusty. We did our own packing so oh, the relief at finding unbroken mirrors!

if there's anything you think you might need from store (minimise this) add a big 'keep to front' label.

I moved from a large 3 floor town house into a 2 bedroom terrace whilst looking for new house and my temporary storage need turned into an almost 3 years rental from Big Yellow at £240 odd per month. Ouchy ouchy ouch. There were compounding factors along the way but still. Have to say Big Yellow were absolute stars all the way and customer service is A++++.

Seriously, get rid of as much as possible before going the storage root. And also think of all the worst case scenarios that could impact a speedy house move as shit does happen.

3 years?! Holy mother of god. Had told my husband about the container ones and he was all excited and is therefore not coming round to the big yellow idea. I guess because it doesn't need to be unpacked and then packed up again......but presumably would be much easier at that point as tis no longer in a house?!
Ps what happens if your stuff doesn't fit?

If stuff doesn't fit, you get a bigger room assigned. They have good opening deals regularly so first 8 weeks could be for pennies.

Thanks. Will try to persuade him.

Not sure where you are but we had in storage in a local mill for a few months. Rate was much cheaper than those new storage places that have sprung up. In the end we used them for the move and they didn't charge the storage fee. We are in Lancashire.

We cleared the loft of 90% of the junk 6 months before we sold. I was so glad we did.

Thanks, will consider that as well. Wish I had six months still!

If you have any clubcard points then you can swap then for both Pickfords and Safestore at the moment.

Unfortunately I have used them all up at the cinema,would have been useful.

repeat - be careful with containers as self-store, they are cheap for a reason! They are really NOT suitable for material and furnishings. You will also need to visit regularly to air out the container and mop up.

if it is a removal company storage, I think the containers go somewhere climate controlled (Check) so that is different.

Well Pickford's self store is £90 near us, so I'm not sure how that's "v expensive" compared with £100?

Hi again-just to clarify-storage like big yellow-will soft toys, bed linen, books, random pieces of nonsense etc be ok? I thought we could take stuff to our temporary accommodation but there just won't be room. Panicking some more....

We had a month between houses and used a big yellow type place, think it was about £25 a week to store the contents of a 3 bed house (2 adults + 2 children's belongings)

Thank you mother!