Whether you’re getting ready to put your home on the market or remodel it, at some point in the process you may realize you need storage services.
If you’re prepping for staging your home, you’ll need to pare down your possessions as much as possible to optimize listing photography and home showings. If you’re remodeling is on the agenda, you’ll need to make sure your furniture and household items are protected from the dust and debris that comes along with demolition and construction. Whatever your reasons are to clear out or declutter your home, storage services may be the answer for you.
Tips for Home Staging Storage
Making your home as appealing as possible to prospective buyers is always at the top of the to-do list when you’re selling it. Even if the real estate market in your area is hot enough for bidding wars to be the norm and a successful sale is practically a given, home staging may help you get higher bids.
When you’re ready to begin decluttering, you’ll have a lot of decisions to make, including what to keep on display, what to tuck away in your home, and what to move out of your home. Here are some tips for clearing some of the most important areas, keeping in mind that you want to help prospective buyers envision their own belongings in your home and clearly see how much space you have:
What to Put in Storage
A kitchen is often a catch-all place for everything from a stack of mail on the island to a refrigerator magnet collection holding grocery lists and photos. These items can easily be tucked away in a desk drawer, but what about everything else?
Focus on the countertops: Put toasters and other small appliances out of sight, and remove decorative items, such as wall plaques and that “World’s Best Mom” coffee mug. If you don’t have sufficient storage space in your home, consider off-site storage services for seldom used but larger items, such as countertop ovens and stand mixers.
Take a critical look at your living room and family room, paying particular attention to the personal items you may have on display there. Remove things such as family photos and framed diplomas, and pack up other items for storage, such as personal collections.
Once you’ve cleared away personal items, also think about how your furniture is placed. You can make your living room feel larger by moving furniture away from the walls and make traffic flows more apparent with a new arrangement. If your living room is crammed with furniture or you have some pieces that are showing their age, a storage service is perfect for getting furniture out of the way.
Lastly, keep in mind that buyers are likely to open closet and cabinet doors. Move as much of the contents of cabinets and closets into storage as you can, which will help make the impression on buyers that there’s ample space for their things.
Where to Store Your Belongings
There are more options than ever when it comes to places to store your possessions, including:
- Pod containers that are delivered to your house for packing and kept by the pod storage company until you are ready for them to either be returned to your home or brought to your new address. One possible downside to consider is that you probably won’t have easy access to your belongings if you need them.
- Family members or friends who have space to keep your belongings while you’re selling your home. This is best if you don’t have large furniture to store or don’t need long-term storage.
- Outbuildings on your property, such as a shed or garage. Although you want buyers to get a feel for how spacious your garage may be, it’s easier for them to overlook stacks of boxes or containers there.
- A moving company’s storage service. This can be the best option when you want plenty of choices in size and budget and added convenience. On MoveDay, you can choose from short- or long-term residential storage in an enclosed, climate-controlled warehouse with 24/7 video monitoring security.
Storage While Renovating
Every home renovation project is different, so your storage needs during the process depend on which parts of your home are being worked on and how extensive the work will be. If you’re planning a major remodeling project, your storage needs may be much like they would if you were moving, which may call for a storage unit. On the other hand, storage for minor renovations may be quickly solved.
Here are some ideas for storage while you’re renovating if you don’t need to rent storage space:
- If you have a garage—and you don’t already use it for storage—it may be perfect for your needs. Remember, though, that the garage doesn’t have the same environment as the interior of your home, so take care to properly pack items in containers that protect them from extreme humidity, heat, or cold temperatures.
- As with home staging, a portable pod-type container may meet your needs. Be sure to ask the storage container company how safe your pod will be at their site and what type of environment it can provide.
- If you have the space, you can simply move items in your home from one room to another. If you don’t have a guest room, you may need to ask your kids to temporarily bunk together to free up a room.
Using a Declutter Storage Unit
A decluttering project can be overwhelming, but there are ways to make it less stressful, including using off-site storage. Here are some of the benefits of having a storage unit while you’re sorting through your belongings:
- Use it to temporarily hold items you want to keep and will bring back into your home once you’ve made more space, such as boxes of tax records that must be kept for several years, seasonal items, such as holiday decorations, and sporting gear.
- Store items that you plan to sell at a garage sale or online at a later date. This also gives you time to change your mind if you find that you have room for such items in your home after you’ve decluttered.
- If you’re selling items online, it may also be safer to have interested buyers meet you at your storage unit rather than your home.
When you’re deciding which type of storage you need, be sure to consider what type of environment is best for what you’re going to store. With MoveDay, you can choose from temperature-controlled or climate-controlled storage that offers extra protection for any items that can be affected by temperature and/or humidity, such as artworks and antiques. Get in touch to learn more about our Declutter & Store program.
For Value and Convenience, Choose MoveDay
Get more than storage with MoveDay! Whether you’re getting ready to remodel, sell, or declutter your home, you can take advantage of all of our specialty moving services, from custom crating and packing for your art collection to packing, loading, and storing your items in our secure warehouse. Contact us today to start your personalized quote.
