Like every other bill, self-storage costs have been rising, but never fear – there are a few ways you can manage or even reduce your storage costs.
How much should I be paying for self-storage?
Self-storage costs vary significantly depending on which part of the country you’re in and which storage facility you are using. Even if you’re happy with your current storage provider, it’s interesting to check what you’d get from nearby competitors by asking for quotes. This post has some tips for costing up storage.
What is the best way to reduce my storage costs?
Our best tips for reducing self-storage costs fall in these five categories.
- make sure you’re not overpaying for self-storage insurance
- declutter your stored goods
- organise your stored goods to make best use of the space
- check you’re using the best storage company for your needs
- benefit from better rates for long-term storage
We’ll take these tips one by one, starting with a quick and easy method that could potentially reduce your self-storage bill.
1. Compare quotes for self-storage insurance
Do you know how much you’re paying to insure your stored goods each month? In most cases, you will need to insure your stored goods, but you don’t need to use your storage company’s insurer if you don’t want to. Check your storage bill to see if your storage company is adding an insurance premium.
Storage companies don’t always have access to competitively priced insurance policies, so check in with a specialist self-storage insurer to see if you can reduce your storage costs by switching over. Get a quote from Store and Insure – it takes minutes and could save you cash each month.
2. How to declutter your stuff in storage
Reducing the amount of stuff you have stored could allow you to use a smaller, cheaper space. Sometimes, we put things into storage and then forget about them. Review your inventory to decide whether you are paying to store items that you no longer want or need.
3. Reorganise your stored goods to make best use of the space
Tidying and rationalising your stored goods could allow you to downsize, which will reduce your storage bills. Once you’ve decluttered, work on packing your storage unit efficiently. This post has some ideas for ways to organise your storage unit.
4. Ensure your storage facility still meets your needs
The amount charged for storage can vary a lot depending on which storage facility you are using.
A centrally located storage company will charge more than a facility that is out of town, for example. Storage companies with climate-controlled facilities, enhanced security or 24-hour access may also have higher charges. Have a think about whether your storage company meets or exceeds your needs, and shop around to see if other facilities might be a better fit.
You may also find that a new storage centre has opened that can offer you a better deal. Here are some tips to help you work out if moving your stuff to a different storage provider is worth your while.
5. Ask about rates for long-term storage
Some storage companies will offer you a deal on up-front payment for six months or a year of storage. If you know you’re storing goods for a longer period, it can’t hurt to ask.
You should also check that your storage company is still offering you a good deal – some companies will encourage you to join up by offering favourable rates for the first six months. Once that deal expires, you may find that you’re paying over the odds for your storage. It’s worth getting a few quotes from competitors.
Reducing your storage bill
There are definitely some steps you can take to keep your storage costs down – and checking that you’re not overpaying for self-storage insurance is an easy first step.
