The Hidden Costs of Storing Your Stuff When Relocating

What’s the true price tag of keeping your things safe during a move? Here’s a detailed look at common storage fees and how to minimize expenses.

What’s the true price tag of keeping your things safe during a move? Here’s a detailed look at common storage fees and how to minimize expenses.

Moving to a new home can be stressful enough without extra costs sneaking up on you. When you factor in storing your belongings, that outlay grows exponentially if you’re not prepared.

As a long-time customer of moving and storage services, I’ve seen my share of unexpected storage bills over multiple moves.

This time, I did my homework to uncover all the hidden fees that apply when temporarily storing household goods and furniture.

Storage Unit Size Matters

The most budget-friendly option is to precisely calculate what size storage unit you require.

A 5x5 is the smallest at 25 square feet. Going up to 5x10 doubles your space to 50 square feet. Units also scale up to 10x30 with ample 300 square feet capacity.

Choose too small — you’ll struggle to fit everything with potential damage. Too big? That unused space still costs you.

Measure furniture and box dimensions beforehand to select the optimal size.

I learned this lesson the expensive way once! Picking a smaller unit to save money backfired when my belongings got crammed in tight. Not make that mistake again.

Climate Control Protects Valuables

Another key choice is between basic storage units or climate-controlled facilities. I cannot stress this enough — invest in climate control if you own any valuables, electronics, or heirlooms susceptible to humidity, heat, or cold.

A 10x10 climate-controlled unit near me runs $150 per month whereas the same size basic unit is $100.

That 50% uptick safeguards everything from my great aunt’s antique dining set to photo albums.

Storage Duration Multiplies Fees

How long will you store items? Most facilities charge monthly, with longer terms equaling higher overall costs:

• 1 month of a 10x20 unit = $200
• 6 months = $1,200
• 1 year = $2,400

Temporary storage for a move can vary from weeks to months depending on your situation.

Be realistic about timelines to avoid recurring monthly payments. I once naively thought 2 months would suffice — try 8 months and $1,600 on a 10x15!

Extra Charges Add Up

Keep an eye out for administrative fees and insurance costs too:

• Insurance — 10% of unit cost per month
• Lock purchase — $8 to $20
• Account setup fee — $50 one-time
• Late payment fee — $20 per month

Purchase your own lock instead of renting to avoid repeat fees. Also, set calendar alerts for due dates to sidestep penalties.

Strategize to Minimize Storage Spend

Add up all prospective storage expenses to compare options. With smart planning, you can accomplish short-term moving storage on a budget.

Calculate exactly what size is needed, take stock of valuables for climate control, and watch out for extra fees.

What hidden storage costs have you encountered during moves? Share your experiences below to help other readers!