SMALL RENOVATION OR HOME IMPROVEMENT: 4 STORAGE OPTIONS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER

Are you planning a small or medium home renovation? Perhaps you’re adding a bedroom or modifying the existing layout to create an open plan living space?

No matter what your project is, you will need to move and store your possessions to make way for builders, painters and other trades to complete your renovation.

PLANNING A RENOVATION AND STORAGE

Let’s look at the potential impact of redesigning a living area to become open plan. All items from the existing lounge room, dining area and possibly kitchen would need to be removed and stored at some point. Bedrooms that are attached or share a wall with the living area might need to be emptied as well.

After reading that, we’d understand if needing to store a few roomfuls of possessions is holding you back from a much-needed renovation. If you’re remaining in your house while the renovation is going on, it can be overwhelming.

Putting your household items or possessions into storage is the ideal option and luckily, there are a few different ways you could go, depending on your time and budget. But first of all, like any good renovator knows – preparation and planning is key.

PREPPING FOR PACKING

First of all it’s a good idea to prepare for packing and plan what materials you need to safely store your items. We think one of the best options is a clear plastic box with a lid. They’re cheap, durable and stackable. They can also be used again. Plastic storage containers can be purchased online from retailers such as Bunnings or Officeworks. If you prefer strong cardboard packing boxes, we sell them at mobistorage along with other packing supplies.

Once you’ve figured out what you need to pack the items in, you can look at some of the different storage options available.

FOUR STORAGE OPTIONS FOR RENOVATORS:

1. SELF-STORAGE

Self-storage is a popular option to make way for home renovations. It’s a safe and secure way to store your possessions and most facilities will have different sized units to suit your needs.

The traditional self-storage facility is where you rent a storage unit, pack up your items and move them into the unit yourself.

You will need to have access to a truck or trailer and generally move all your possessions into the unit in one day. There can be some financial and time pressure with this option. If you need to hire a truck or trailer, that will come with a cost and there will be a time limit on how long you can use them for – either due to availability or how long you can afford to rent them.

2. MOBILE SELF STORAGE

This is a great option if you want to save time and money. At mobistorage we can bring a storage container right to your home, drop it off and you can pack your items at your leisure. There’s no rush and no need to hire a truck or trailer.

You can keep the storage container at your house to easily access your items when you need. Or call us and a truck will come and pick the container up and take it to one of our secure storage facilities. We can also drop the container at another destination for you, if you want to store your items somewhere else.

For a small to medium home renovation we recommend our medium size container.

A medium container measures 2.4m (W) x 4.9m (L) x 2.3m (H).

3. USE ANOTHER ROOM IN THE HOUSE

This could seem like the easiest and most cost-effective option but it’s important to be realistic. Ideally, you will need a room or space that isn’t going to be used during the renovation. If you don’t have a spare room or space, you could end up competing for space with a bunch of boxes. That might get pretty annoying if the renovation goes on for a few weeks or months.

4. STORE AT A FRIEND OF FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE

This could be another cost-effective option if there is space. Some things you would need to consider with this option are transport, safety and access. You will need to pack and transport the items yourself, either hiring or borrowing a truck or trailer. Check the security out too – will your possessions be safe at their house? And also, if you need to access the items will you be able to easily?

PROTECTING YOUR VALUABLES

No matter which storage option you go for, it’s important to protect your valuables.

We have moving packs that include wrapping blankets and straps to keep your valuables safe during the move.

Also, make sure you have the right insurance cover. Check that your insurance policy covers valuables away from your home. Just in case they get damaged.

If you want a stress free renovation, no matter how big or small, it’s important to plan.

And the earlier you organise your storage requirements, the sooner that dream room or living space can be built.

We’d like to help you with your storage requirements. You can give one of our friendly staff a call on 1300 914 706 or email us: [email protected].

You can also get a quote or reserve your mobile storage container online.