Travelling is a fantastic way to discover new places, meet new people, broaden your horizons and create memories to last a lifetime. Planning a trip is exciting, but it can be stressful, especially if you’re worried about what to do with your stuff while you’re away. Whether you’re heading overseas for work, studying abroad or jetting off on a long-haul adventure, living away from home raises one important question: What to do with your belongings while you’re travelling? The good news is that there’s a simple answer. Self storage offers safe, flexible and affordable storage solutions.
If you’re not ready to sell your stuff, pack up sentimental items or burden family members with extra boxes, this guide has all the information you need to find the best long-term storage solutions to store your stuff safely.
How to Store Your Stuff Safely
Long-term self storage is a brilliant solution for frequent travellers and those planning to spend prolonged periods overseas. If you’re studying abroad, globetrotting for months or enjoying a new, nomadic lifestyle, here are some top tips to help you store stuff safely while you’re away from home:
1. Research local storage facilities
Finding a local storage facility will give you peace of mind that your belongings are safe while you’re travelling. The best ways to find top-rated self storage units in your area are to search online and ask people for recommendations. Search engines will bring up results in a matter of seconds. You can click on links and ads to get contact details and read more about businesses and the services and options they offer on their websites.
It’s a brilliant idea to read reviews and testimonials when looking for a long-term self storage facility. This can help you find the best companies in your local area.
Another fantastic way to find long-term storage units is to ask for recommendations. If people you know can’t help, ask for advice in local social media groups. It’s often reassuring to use companies that others have tried in the past and shared positive experiences and feedback.
2. Plan a clear-out and decide what you want to store
Going abroad for a prolonged period offers a golden opportunity to have a clear-out and declutter your room or home. Go through all your possessions and create piles of things to keep, donate, sell or throw away. Once you know what you’re keeping hold of, you can either find a home for it or take it to a storage unit. Knowing what you want to store can help you find the right storage unit based on your requirements. If you’re storing precious artwork or large items of furniture, for example, you may want to choose businesses that specialise in these areas.
3. Outline your storage requirements
Self storage units come in a range of sizes and there are different spaces available to cater to customers with diverse needs and preferences. Before you choose a storage facility, it’s beneficial to outline your requirements. Questions to think about include:
- How long will I need storage for?
- What types of items do I want to store?
- Do any items need specific conditions?
- Will I or other people need access to any items while they’re in storage?
- How much storage space do I need?
4. Compare prices and get quotes
The next step is to get quotes from storage companies and compare prices. When you’re researching and comparing prices, it’s always beneficial to focus on value for money rather than the lowest price. This is particularly important if you’re storing valuable items or precious pieces that have sentimental value. Look for top-rated facilities in your area that offer competitive prices.
Long-term storage solutions often works out better than short-term storage when comparing prices per week or month. If you know you’re going to be away for months rather than weeks, it’s best to get quotes for long-term self storage.
5. Pack your stuff
Packing your stuff properly is a surefire way to enhance safety and provide extra protection. Before you start packing, make sure you have strong, robust containers and materials to wrap items securely. Organise your belongings, make use of bags, boxes, pouches and padding and make sure containers are securely sealed. It’s especially important to pay attention to packing if you’re storing expensive or fragile items, such as delicate pieces of clothing, antiques, artwork, jewellery, ceramics and ornaments.
Once you arrive at the storage facility, take care to position and stack boxes, crates and containers safely.
What are the Benefits of Long-Term Storage for Travellers?
If you’re living abroad temporarily, self storage offers a raft of long-term storage solutions. These include:
- Lowering outgoings by eliminating the need to rent a home purely for storage purposes
- Enjoying peace of mind, knowing that your possessions are safe and secure while you’re away
- Ensuring your stuff stays in pristine condition while you travel
- Freeing up space for other people to use your room or home: This could also enable you to boost your income by renting your room, flat or house out while you’re abroad.
- Eliminating the need to throw away things you’d like to keep
- Accessing organised, flexible storage solutions, which save time and stress when unpacking and settling back into everyday life when you return
- Minimising luggage to travel light and avoid expensive extra baggage charges
- Enjoying the freedom and flexibility to make travel plans based on your preferences and desires, rather than practical issues, such as what to do with your stuff.
Searching for Long-Term Storage Solutions While You Travel? Contact All Secure Self Storage Today!
If you’re jetting off on an overseas adventure, All Secure Self Storage has you covered. Contact us today to find out more about our flexible short and long-term storage solutions. You can also click here to find self storage locations in your area. From Napier to Timaru, we have facilities across New Zealand.
