The Need for Long-Term vs Short-Term Storage
Long-Term vs Short-Term Storage: There are a multitude of reasons for wanting to rent storage space: Perhaps your collection of antique clocks or retro action figures is taking up too much space in your home, but you just can’t bring yourself to sell them. You may be taking a year’s sabbatical to travel, and need a space to temporarily store your belongings.
Or perhaps, you are relocating to another country for work and need a place to store your furniture, appliances, and various belongings indefinitely. Whatever situation you find yourself in, the question you will have to answer is, “do I need long-term vs short-term storage?” Read ahead through Mini-Entrepôts’ guide to help you determine what type of storage you need!
Long-Term vs Short-Term Storage: The Difference
As should be obvious, the difference between long-term vs short-term storage really depends on how long you envision storing your belongings. Whether temporary or indefinite, most storage unit businesses offer fixed contracts for periods such as 1, 3, 6, and/or 12 months.
However, to afford our clients maximum flexibility, Mini-Entrepôts offers storage unit rentals on a renewable monthly basis. Unlike most storage facilities, Mini-Entrepôts won’t charge you automatically on the first of every month, but on the same day that you signed up. You can store your belongings for as long as or as briefly as you like!
Weighing the Benefits of Long-Term vs Short-Term Storage
Determining whether long-term vs short-term storage would be better suited for your particular needs and specific situation may not be as obvious to some as it is for others. If you are having difficulty deciding between these two options, weighing the pros and cons of both with our following guide may help you make your decision.
Short-Term Storage
For those who need to store items or belongings for a limited amount of time, short-term storage would be your best option for the following reasons:
1 - Flexibility
Sometimes, circumstances in life dictate you find a quick response and an easy solution to an unforeseen issue. For example, if you are a first-time home buyer whose completion date for their dream house happens to be three months after you need to vacate your rental property, you’ll need to find a place to stay and store your things…and fast!
While bunking with friends and relatives may be the solution to one of your problems, renting a storage unit for your furniture, appliances, and most of your belongings would be the other. This way, your belongings are safe and sound for the limited time you won’t be able to use them. This also works well for other scenarios, such as spending a summer at college or university, working in another city or country during part of the year, or storing essential seasonal equipment (i.e. lawnmower, snowblower, lawn chairs, holiday decorations, etc.) you can’t fit in your home or garage. With short-term storage unit rentals, flexibility is key!
2 - Cost Effectiveness
One of the prime benefits of shorter term vs longer term storage is that you’ll be paying less in rental fees due to the limited time you’ll be using the space. After all, it only makes sense that paying for 3 months of storage rental would be cheaper than paying for a year. Most storage unit rental companies offer promotions and discounts for limited-stay contracts, with options to extend if needed. Others try to maximize their profit margins by necessitating contracts by fixed (albeit shortened) terms, usually 1, 3 or 6 months.
However, to offer maximum flexibility at competitive prices, Mini-Entrepôts allows you to pay for your storage on a month-by-month basis. Contracts renew automatically on the date you first signed, unless cancelled beforehand. The benefits with this deal are clear: you get to keep your stuff stored for as short a time as you wish, saving you money on a monthly basis!
3 - Packing for the Short-Term
Packing a storage unit for a shorter term may mean you’ll be visiting the space to access your belongings more frequently than if it were for a longer-term contract. If that is the case, you’ll need to pack your belongings in a way that keeps them both safe and easy to access.
First, consider lining boxes and containers against the perimeter of the storage unit, leaving a space in between as a walkway. Leave items you will use frequently towards the front of the unit, for easy access. You should wrap things that are fragile or easily breakable in bubble wrap or newspaper, and place them in containers that are clearly labeled “fragile.” As much as possible, keep boxes and containers light and visibly labeled, with heavier items positioned at the bottom of your stack.
Long-Term Storage
For those who need to store items or belongings for an indefinite amount of time, long-term storage would be your best option for the following reasons:
1 - Contemplating Downsizing
If you’ve decided to move into a smaller home or are moving to another city or country for work and are having difficulty deciding what pieces of furniture, appliances, or personal items you’ll be keeping, you should consider renting long-term storage. This way, your belongings will remain safe while you decide what you wish to keep, sell, donate, or throw away. Of course, the debate of long-term vs short-term storage is rendered moot by Mini-Entrepôts’ storage unit policy, which allows clients to store their belongings on a monthly basis.
2 - Business Considerations
Inflation has guaranteed that everything from food to office space rentals has gone up significantly in price since the pandemic. This is why many start-ups and smaller businesses have opted to rent storage units as a space to run their operations. With a reduced monthly rental cost (as opposed to renting a space in a building or office complex) and extra space to store office supplies, business equipment, and stock, renting a long-term storage unit is the optimal choice for economically-minded entrepreneurs.
2 - Business Considerations
Inflation has guaranteed that everything from food to office space rentals has gone up significantly in price since the pandemic. This is why many start-ups and smaller businesses have opted to rent storage units as a space to run their operations. With a reduced monthly rental cost (as opposed to renting a space in a building or office complex) and extra space to store office supplies, business equipment, and stock, renting a long-term storage unit is the optimal choice for economically-minded entrepreneurs.
3 - Packing for the Long-Term
Inflation has guaranteed that everything from food to office space rentals has gone up significantly in price since the pandemic. This is why many start-ups and smaller businesses have opted to rent storage units as a space to run their operations. With a reduced monthly rental cost (as opposed to renting a space in a building or office complex) and extra space to store office supplies, business equipment, and stock, renting a long-term storage unit is the optimal choice for economically-minded entrepreneurs.
For more information or advice on long-term vs short-term storage, or to inquire about rentals, contact Mini-Entrepôts today!