Congratulations on your upcoming home remodeling project! A beautifully refreshed home awaits you on the other side of lots of planning, plenty of hard work, and collaboration – and, let’s be real, probably some hiccups and unexpected issues. Before you get too caught up in the details of knocking down walls, tile choice, paint colors, and appliances, take some time to figure out your storage options. If you don’t plan for your storage needs, you’ll find yourself rushing to get items out of the way before contractors arrive. Talk about stress and unneeded frustration. We’ve rounded up some of our top storage solutions and tips to help you with your remodeling adventures. And, yes, we do mean adventure because you never really know what’s going to happen along the way.
Avoid the Shuffle
Avoid the room shuffle when it comes to boxes and furniture. If you’ve ever had a renovation project that didn’t quite go as planned, you’re probably familiar with the shuffle. You start work on room one, so you hastily pack everything up and move the boxes to room two. When it’s time to work on room two, you have to not only move room one’s items but now you also have to move room two’s items. The end result? You do way more packing and lifting than you should ever have to do. With storage units in every size and many available amenities like drive-up storage units, climate-controlled, and more, save yourself time and energy by skipping the shuffle. CubeSmart is flexible enough to help with your storage needs for however short or long you need storage.
Consider the Basement or Garage
If you have a roomy basement or garage, you may have a built-in solution for your storage needs. Make sure you keep boxes from different rooms together and well-labeled to make it easier on yourself when it’s time to put everything back. However, use caution if you live in an area with severe temperatures. Whether your region is prone to extreme heat or cold, garage or basement storage space could leave your items exposed.
As far as basement storage goes, you may want to avoid this option if you live in an area at risk of flooding or high humidity. Even light flooding could wipe out an entire room’s worth of items, and high humidity could leave belongings tinged with the scent of mildew. If you face any of these scenarios, a temperature-controlled remodeling storage option might be better for you.
What About Portable Storage Containers During a Remodel?
Another option to explore is driveway self-storage. With this option, a company drops off a portable storage unit in your driveway. You move items into it for the duration of the renovation and unload everything when remodeling is done. This is a convenient option for short-term remodeling projects since you can simply keep the storage container in your driveway until you finish. For longer-term renovations, you could face significant storage and transfer fees if you need to hang on to your storage container for a longer stretch of time. This type of storage solution is not climate controlled, so it’s probably not a good idea for valuable items or those that could be damaged by significant swings in temperature.
Homeowners associations (HOA) tend to not like driveway self storage, which is another tick in the “con” column. Check your bylaws very carefully before reserving a self-storage container. While many HOAs are great, some are known for being a little heavy-handed with their rules and regulations. These rules extend to how you can use your driveway space. Things that are considered eyesores, including old vehicles and pop-up storage units, are often prohibited under HOA bylaws. If you live in a development with an HOA, make sure you check their rules to avoid a heavy fine.
How Can Self-Storage Units Help During a Remodel?
Storage units are a convenient and budget-friendly way to clear out your things for a renovation and keep your items easily accessible. Units vary quite a bit in size, so whether you’re just remodeling your bathrooms or tackling the entire house at once, you can store items for as long as you need. Many CubeSmart storage facilities have flexible leasing options, so you don’t have to commit to a six-month or year-long contract to store your items. Month-to-month leases offer flexibility so you can be prepared for any delays in your renovation project. We’ve all had the occasional project, DIY or professional, go a little bit longer than expected.
Storage units come with the added benefit of a variety of offered features. Many of our facilities have climate-controlled units, which makes this option better than using your garage or basement. Climate-controlled units are optimal for electronics, musical instruments, and other items in need of extra consideration.
To get the most out of your unit, plan ahead. When you’re on a tight schedule, it’s tempting to shove boxes in and plan on rearranging them later. Instead, look at your renovation schedule and which rooms will be finished first. Lay out your storage space so you have a walkable path through your boxes, which should be sorted by room. Set it up so that the boxes you’ll need to take back home first are easily accessible. Loading a truck is harder when you have to weave through three rooms’ worth of boxes and furniture before you get to items you actually want to load.
Don’t forget to look into the amenities offered by the storage facility you choose. At some of our facilities, you can rent a moving truck for free, hire professional movers via our partners, or use other resources to make your remodeling project just a little easier.
Call our friendly customer service team to find out more about our self-storage units and ask about our current deals to save you money.
Header image by Rene Asmussen from Pexels
