There are a few traps that people new to self-storage might stumble into. Here are some insights into getting your self-storage set-up right. Not only will these tips make your life much easier, they could help you reduce your monthly storage bill, too.

1.       Don’t pay to store stuff you no longer need or want

Storage is a great solution when you want to clear space at home. But before you put an item into store, ask yourself if it is something you definitely want to keep. These are some examples of things people hang on to when they really shouldn’t:

• equipment for hobbies they no longer pursue
• inherited furniture they don’t have space for
• clothes that no longer fit
• broken possessions that they think they’ll repair

There may be some items that you’re unsure about, of course. It can help to store them for a little while, and then decide. It’s not unusual for the attachment to wear off after three or six months. So plan a regular review of your stored goods and get rid of anything that you no longer care about.

2.       Don’t store these banned items

There are some categories of domestic goods that are banned from most storage facilities. Some things like fireworks, solvents and gas cylinders are banned because they increase the risk of fire in your storage unit. Others, like plants and food can encourage pests, or damp and mould that could have an impact on your things. And of course, fire, pests and mould could affect property belonging to others using the storage facility.

Most storage companies won’t allow you to keep living creatures – including fish in aquariums – in a storage unit. A storage unit is not an appropriate setting for any pet.

Some items won’t be covered by your self-storage insurance. For example:

• money, coins and bullion
• lottery tickets and scratch cards
• phones, watches and jewellery worth more than £500

For a complete list of items that won’t be covered by Store and Insure, see the Terms documents.

3.       Don’t waste space in your storage unit

It might seem like a good idea to get a unit that is larger than you need so you can keep adding stuff whenever you feel like it – but why pay for space that you’re not using? Use an inventory to plan your storage so that you can work out how much space you need. If you move some things out of store, opt for a smaller, cheaper unit to reduce your monthly storage bill.

Look for ways to pack more efficiently, for example by putting beds or couches up on end to maximise the full height of your storage space. You may also save some space by dissembling larger items like wardrobes and desks.

Efficient box packing can also help you make the best of the space you have. See Removal Reviews for some advice on packing.

4.       Don’t over or undervalue your stored goods

The value of your stored goods will change as you move things in and out of storage.

When you get a quote for self-storage insurance, we will ask you how much your things are worth. Insurers base the cost of insurance on the value of your stored goods – so the more your things are worth, the more expensive they will be to insure. It might be tempting to give a lower value for your stored goods to keep your storage costs down.

But this will mean that if you need to make a claim, you won’t get back the full replacement value.

Maintaining an inventory document will help you to keep track of the value of your stored goods. Remember that the value your self-storage insurer is interested in is the replacement value. This is how much it will cost to buy the item new. Money Supermarket has tips on valuing domestic goods for insurance.

5.       Don’t overpay for your self-storage insurance

Your stored personal property will need to be insured. Self-storage insurance is mandatory for most facilities. This is to give you protection in case of a flood, fire or other incident that causes loss or damage to your stored property.

Some storage companies will offer you their own insurance – but this doesn’t always represent best value for money. You could save money each month if you get quotes from a few specialised self-storage insurance providers. It takes minutes to get a quote from Store and Insure . Give us a few details, and we’ll get right back to you.

Avoid these five mistakes

A good storage routine – including regular reviews and an inventory – will help you to avoid these common pitfalls.