If your stuff has begun to overwhelm your Layton rental home, you might be contemplating if you should rent a storage unit. But before you sign a contract, you should thoroughly analyze your situation. Is a storage unit really required? Or are there are other methods to manage your belongings? To assist you with making responding to this question easier, we will discuss some of the reasons why you might – or might not – need a storage unit.
Too Much Stuff
One of the most common reasons people rent a storage unit is because they possess too much stuff. This might occur while downsizing to a smaller home, when moving, or when between homes. Some collectors lack space for their collections, as do individuals who have inherited items they no longer need or are currently using.
However, owning too much stuff isn’t always a valid reason to rent a storage unit. This particularly applies if you weigh how much you’ll spend on the monthly rent compared to the value of the items you wanted to maintain. Putting an extra $100 a month on a storage unit, for illustration, implies those items will cost you $1,200 a year to own and not use. Before renting a storage unit, it is important to analyze why you want to keep the things you plan to store and, preferably, consider other alternatives to a storage unit.
Storing Valuables
One thing that can drastically change the equation on value and storage is if you have valuable items you want to keep but don’t have space for them at the house for one reason or another. Needless to say, if you possess high-end valuables, be sure to select climate-controlled storage. Belongings like artwork, musical instruments, antiques, photos, and electronics can be damaged by heat or cold and should not be placed in an outdoor storage area.
Creative Alternatives
If you have things you want or need to keep but don’t think it’s worth the cost of a storage unit, explore alternative, more imaginative ways to keep your stuff – or not. For the most part, having too much stuff is the outcome of being unwilling to let things go, even things you will probably never use. If you can overcome your attachment to these things, you could possibly sell or give them away instead.
Then again, if you have stuff you can’t give up but don’t necessarily need a storage unit to keep, try asking a friend to keep or store it for you until you have the available storage space to take it back. A friend or family member with an empty spare room could keep that antique furniture, piano, or framed artwork you don’t currently need but intend to preserve. Otherwise, get creative with the spaces in your own home to make room for your belongings. Underneath staircases, attics, and garage shelving would all be able to add usable storage space and let you hold on to a few more of your cherished belongings.
While there are some circumstances where a storage unit might be essential, more often than not, there are other and less expensive ways to deal with having more stuff than we need. At the end of the day, the decision is dependent upon you! However, if you believe that a bigger rental home would give you not only more living space but more storage space as well, give Real Property Management Northern Utah a call! You can browse our listings and apply online when you find one that catches your eye.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
