Storage Facilities

[minoanmiss]

I have received news which upends my plans. while I try to figure myself out again I will be asking some questions. The first is: do you have any advice about storage facilities you can lend me? I've never used one. I'm not sure what a good price is per month, what I can expect, or how to estimate how large of a space I need. Any and all help appreciated.

Comments

[sonia]

Yikes! Good luck with everything!

And meanwhile, thank you for the delightful Halloween card. :-)

[contrarywise]

I hope things work out okay for you! *hugs*

First, it pays to shop around. Some storage places will give you the first month free, but if the monthly rent is still high, it's not that good a deal. FWIW, we pay $130/month for two 5'x10' units on Rt. 1. Remember that you get to stack stuff in your storage unit, so consider height in your calculations.

If possible, draw a map of where stuff is in the storage unit so you can find it quickly if you need to retrieve something before you empty the unit. Put stuff you're sure you won't need for a while in the back, and stuff you want to stay handy near the front and on top of other items.

Also consider how close you want to be to your stuff, and note that many places now require you to have insurance that will cover the loss of your stored property. Storage places do have security measures, but they're not infallible.

Remember that, like renting an apartment, storage space rent tends to go up the longer your stuff stays there, so budget for regular increases. My storage rent has been stable for a couple of years, but that might be due to the pandemonium.

My Google-fu turned up this link that might be helpful in estimating your storage needs.

Hope this helps, and thanks so much for the Halloween card!!

[princessofgeeks]

I have no advice about the Boston area but I know this: You will get through this and be okay. If it all happens as you fear, in some ways it's like a divorce.

Divorce is survivable. I have been through 3, in some cases leaving with only the clothes on my back. Not ideal, but survivable.

Help and a support system is there for you. You have more friends and helpers than you know. I am glad you are reaching out.

Thinking of you daily.

[bikergeek]

For books, which are the things you own that you most prize, you're going to want climate controlled storage, I would think.

[princessofgeeks]

I think books could pretty easily be parked with friends?

[bikergeek]

"Friends are people who borrow my books and then set wet glasses on them."

(Ha Ha Only Serious)

[princessofgeeks]

Wow.

[gingicat]

Please don't forget to take care of your mental and physical health during all of this.

[acelightning73]

When my father died and I sold the house, my husband and I took and put all my parents' stuff in a storage unit (near where we lived at the time). Often they will rent you a small truck at a cheap rate to move all your stuff in. Anyway, when we got to a point where we couldn't pay the rent on the storage place, we put all the stuff in our house, where it got ruined by Sandy. So make sure your storage place is on high ground.

[sovay]

Any and all help appreciated.

spatch and I have stored much of our stuff for the last eight years at the U-Haul in Medford; it has cost about $160/month and been worth it. I can check with him as to the dimensions of the unit.

*hugs*

[goss]

I'm sorry I don't have any useful advice, but am sending you ALL the hugs and support. <3333

[baranduin]

Oh sweetie, I'm sorry you have to go through this. I don't think I have good advice to offer since my understanding of your living situation is so incomplete, so will be an Elf and just offer love and hugs. Except for one question that I don't think you should even begin to answer right now on account of today's trauma (piled on more trauma). And that is how would you like to live? With TL, with another roommate, on your own?

*sprinkles poppies for nourishing sleep*

[dine]

I've never had a storage unit, so cannot offer opinions on that - but I do have opinions on you. to wit, *hugs* and all my love & support for getting through the tough times. I'm thinking of you, and if there magically is anything I can do super-long distance, please lmk immediately

[libitina]

If you have the resources to get stuff to, and access as needed, a storage facility outside of the city, then it will probably cost less and have more stable prices.

Good luck

[bironic]

Some friends did that research last year and settled on CubeSmart on Commercial St. near Ocean State Job Lot, fwiw. https://www.cubesmart.com/massachusetts-self-storage/medford-self-storage/180.html

[used_songs]

*hugs* I wish I could help. My parents rented storage for my grandmother's stuff after she died and all I know is climate control is important and you can fit a lot into a relatively small space if you are careful about packing it. Also, maybe you have a friend with space you can borrow? When I had to move quickly one time, I had a friend who let me use his shed for 6 months for furniture and kitchen items. It helped a lot until I had my apartment.

[petra]

I have no advice, just love from afar and hope for the best.

[ex_flameandsong751]

-hugs-

It has been a good decade since I was involved with a storage unit [The Evil Ex had one] so I have no idea what prices are like now, but I would second the suggestion to get it outside of Boston if at all possible because storage places tend to charge more in a major city and less so in a suburb/small town. Also:

How you store your things is important. Sterilite bins, but also stuff like bubble wrap around the items inside the bin even if an item isn't fragile, which will add some protection from the elements. I know people might come at me for suggesting plastic use but, this is where wrapping stuff in cloth/paper isn't going to cut it. Clothes are more difficult to store long-term because of the risk of moths, I remember The Evil Ex had some of my clothes in storage when we needed a storage unit [long story] and they all got moth-eaten.

[lavendertook]

This is the first I’m learning that you are dealing with a divorce and I feel blind sided for you. Oh honey! I got nothing but love and an ear. And now a kick in the pants to get my place in order so if you need a getaway week I have a bedroom ready for you that isn't piled with boxes. All the luck in the world to you, sweetie!

[cjsmith]

Thank you so much for the Halloween postcard!

No advice, I'm afraid, but tons of support vibes and wishes of all good things for you.

[kshandra]

I have no advice to offer, not knowing what pricing is like on your coast, but much empathy. We have a small storage unit near our apartment, and storage for our travel trailer about 20 minutes away. I came to the conclusion yesterday that I need to do some shopping around to see if I can get both of them in a single location at a better price.

[hitchhiker]

no advice, just really hoping everything works out well for you :(

[dira]

*hugs lots*

[mdlbear]

Not a whole lot of advice here, but lots of sympathy; I hope things work out well for all concerned.

[chanaleh]

Wow. Came here to say I'm so sorry to hear about this. I have nothing useful to send except love to you all.

[killing_rose]

I don't know Boston prices, but I know when I was checking pricing in my area/where i am about to relocate, uhaul has some good rates, and depending upon if you use them to move said stuff, you can get a month free. (I ended up not having to do this, though it will be interesting to see what all I can fit in the studio when I go collect keys.)