Moving house or renovating can often require that you store some or all of your household goods for a few weeks, or even several months. Once you’ve decided to store your goods in a safe and secure location, it’s time to decide which type of storage best suits you.
There are basically two types of secure storage with slight variations. Self-storage is, as the name suggests, the do-it-yourself option. This usually means hiring a van to take your goods to a self-storage facility, where you have rented a pre-agreed size of storage space. While this option gives you flexibility to visit your storage unit, which is a positive, it also has some negative aspects.
Using the self-storage option means you will need to calculate the volume of storage space required before you begin unloading your hired van. This may seem quite simple, but unless you know exactly how everything will stack in the unit, you could easily miscalculate and end up having to rent a second unit, or paying for space that you don’t need. Then there is the risk of damage to your furniture and goods. A professional remover will know, not just how to pack a container for maximum efficiency, but how to ensure the goods are properly protected.
The second main type of storage is through a removals company. Most removers have their own storage warehouse where they provide container storage. This option involves paying a remover to collect your goods, store them and return them at a later date.
Storage containers can be loaded at the point of origin and delivered into the warehouse.
In most cases, the furniture and goods are loaded directly into the storage container at the point of origin. This reduces the manual handling and thereby decreases the risk of accidental damage. With professional movers doing the loading and unloading, you will further reduce the risk.
For more information on container storage, visit www.aimovers.org.uk/blog/what-is-container-storage .
