There are many things that prompt people to downsize. From skyrocketing rents to wanting to be closer to work, renters and homeowners switch to smaller residences for a variety of reasons. However, depending on how much stuff you own, downsizing may present a number of challenges. If your new home doesn’t contain ample storage space, it may be time to make some tough decisions. People who will soon be downsizing would be wise to consider the following storage solutions.
Renting Storage Units
A good storage unit can be a boon to anyone who owns a fair amount of possessions. As any longtime packrat can confirm, smaller residences aren’t always accommodating to people with large numbers of belongings, and it can be hard to feel at peace in your living space when you’re surrounded by stuff on all sides. This is where a secure storage unit enters the equation. For a reasonable monthly fee, you can give your lesser-used possessions a good home while keeping only the items for which you have immediate use in your living space.
The size of the unit you’ll rent depends largely on the number of items you wish to store. For example, if you only have a few boxes of old possessions, a small to mid-sized storage locker should prove more than adequate. However, if you could fill an entire room with your old stuff, a larger locker may be the way to go. Furthermore, if you have any vehicles you wish to store, look for storage facilities that provide appropriately-sized units. Whether it’s a car, motorcycle or boat you’re looking to store, you should have no problem finding cheap storage units that meet your needs.
Friends and Family Members
If you currently lack the financial resources for renting out a storage unit, consider reaching out to close friends or family members who have storage space to spare. For instance, if a friend or relative has an enormous basement, attic or garage, there’s no harm in enquiring about storing some things there. Just make sure that this is someone with whom you’re close, as making this request of a casual acquaintance, coworker or neighbor is liable to come across as strange or presumptuous. Additionally, if this person agrees, it couldn’t hurt to offer this person a little bit of money for their troubles.
Of course, the downside to this type of arrangement is that there isn’t much you can do if any of your items become lost, damaged or outright broken while in the other party’s possession. This person was doing you a favor by agreeing to store your excess belongings, and if they’re doing so free of charge, your right to complain about unfavorable storage conditions is extremely limited. So unless the party in question is someone whom you trust implicitly, finding an alternative storage solution may be the best course of action.
Residential Storage Areas
If you’re moving to a condo or apartment complex, you may be able to take advantage of onsite storage solutions. Many apartment buildings provide residents with designated storage areas, although the use of these areas isn’t always free. Certain buildings allot each resident a specific amount of basement-based storage space, while others rent onsite storage units to tenants. The monthly fees vary from place to place, but most buildings won’t charge you more than $100 for your own storage unit. Depending on how much stuff you intend to keep in storage, this may represent an incredible bargain. Additionally, some complexes allow residents to rent miniature garages, which can prove useful for both storing vehicles and keeping your possessions safe.
When it comes to living space, bigger isn’t always necessarily better. As a growing number of Americans are discovering, there are numerous perks associated with downsizing. In addition to coming with smaller rents, mortgages and property taxes, smaller homes essentially force people to be mindful of their clutter. Since smaller residences contain less free space, people have to carefully consider each purchase they make and question whether it’s something they truly want in their home. Needless to say, this can be a bit of an adjustment for people who are accustomed to occupying larger living spaces. So if you’ll soon be downsizing, take care to consider the previously discussed storage options.
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