Assess whether utilizing a mini storage company for both storage space rental and moving services may simplify your relocation process.
Introduction Finding a storage and moving company near me that can handle all aspects of a move can greatly reduce stress.
Relocating involves logistics like packing boxes, renting storage units, transporting items, and more.
Rather than coordinating different providers for each service, utilizing a single company for your storage and moving simplifies the process.
Below we explore whether mini storage firms can handle the complete job.
What Services Do Mini Storage Companies Offer?
Mini storage, or self-storage, companies provide lockable units to store personal and business items. While their central offering is storage rental space, many have expanded to offer:
- Packing supplies – Boxes, tape, bubble wrap
- Truck rentals – For DIY moves
- Moving services – Loading, transportation, and unloading
This enables them to manage a greater portion of client relocation needs.
So in addition to storage units, they may also coordinate packing, moving vehicles, movers, and delivery.
This consolidation under one provider can be more convenient than separate arrangements.
Could Using One Firm Reduce My Moving Costs?
Rather than budgeting and paying for independent storage space, truck rentals and movers, utilizing a single company for your entire move could provide cost savings. Storage facilities with integrated moving services can offer:
- Bundled pricing on storage space with other relocation needs
- Discounts when using their own storage units and movers
- Lower hourly rates for their moving crews vs third-party movers
| Service | Storage Company Rate | Third-Party Rate |
| Storage Unit | $50/month | $100/month |
| Truck Rental | $50/day | $75/day |
| Movers | $30/hr | $45/hr |
Savings add up when using one provider to meet all needs.
What Should I Evaluate When Selecting a Storage and Moving Company?
If aiming to use a storage facility for both storage space and relocation services, key aspects to examine include:
Security
As home or business contents will be on their premises, stringent security precautions like gated entries, video surveillance, and unit alarms should be in place. Customers should have unique entry codes without facility employees accessing stored items.
Storage Unit Accessibility
Ensure extended gate operational hours beyond 9-5 so contents can be accessed at convenient times. Climate-controlled units may also be needed for valuables like art and electronics.
Moving Crews and Equipment
Their moving trucks, blankets, and dollies should be well-maintained. Moving crews should be experienced with tracked customer satisfaction ratings.
Insurance
Standard policies often only cover $5000 in theft/damage claims, so evaluate if enhanced rental insurance is right for your items.
Carefully weighing these factors provides confidence in using one trusted firm for storage space plus coordinated packing and transport during a move.
Outlining Required Steps When Using One Company
If selecting a single storage and moving company to simplify your relocation, key steps will involve:
- Performing a needs assessment – quantifying storage space and moving supplies/services required for possessions.
- Finding facilities meeting criteria like security protocols and insurance near current and future addresses.
- Scheduling an initial walkthrough to visualize available storage units and lock in reservations.
- Completing rentals for storage units, trucks and crew members to assist.
- Transporting all items in coordinated waves – heavier boxes/furniture first via their trucks and workers.
- Placing additional boxes and inventoried items into reserved rental spaces as the move progresses.
- Continually monitoring stored goods and rental durations based on accessing frequency.
Condensing these critical activities under one roof mitigates the stress of relocating.
Conclusion
When weighing could a mini storage company handle both my storage and moving needs, the convenience and potential cost savings merit strong consideration.
Maintaining possessions within one secure facility and utilizing their own moving equipment/crews prevents coordinating various vendors and builds accountability.
Carefully assess their offerings against protection, accessibility and value criteria. Ultimately simplifying a stressful move by partnering with one storage and moving company can prove prudent.
