An average American moves 11.7 times in his/her lifetime, according to the Census. Whatever the reason is — whether it be starting your own family, expanding your business, or getting a diploma — you must thoroughly plan your move. More importantly, your pocket must be ready, as moving, especially from one state to another, will cost a pretty penny. What if you’re on a tight budget? How should you plan your move? To move with ease, on a budget, you should consider using a self storage facility before, during and after your move.
How much does it cost to move from state to state?
Before you get sentimental in picking up, packing and hauling your stuff, you first need to know how much it will cost you. Interstate moving with an average distance of 1,225 miles will cost you around $4,900 — significantly steeper than the average local or intrastate move. The major factors that affect the moving price are:
- Weight of the shipment (your stuff) — While intrastate movers charge per hour, interstate movers charge by weight.
- Distance — If you’re moving more than the average distance, then most likely you’ll pay more than the average cost.
- Labor — This depends on where you will get your moving services.
Do you need to hire professional movers? If hiring professional movers and white-glove services is too much, it’s okay. It’s not that companies are negligent of their budgeting process, but some people simply don’t have the means to afford their services.
If there’s too much to lug and too little to spare, it’s alright to opt to do a DIY hybrid, hauling by yourself while keeping other stuff in a storage facility, just like anyone else. According to the now-defunct American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), a little over two-thirds of the interstate moves are DIYs.
Less stress as you make this big step in your life
There seems to be a downsizing trend. In 2020, the moves were fairly smaller; the average square footage handled by movers decreased to 1,595 square feet from 1,877 square feet. The pandemic plays a big role in this, as the 2021 Migration Report notices.
If you’re contemplating throwing away that piano you got from your grandpa or that outsize holiday gift a friend who traveled to Africa gave you, don’t worry. You can still keep it, even if it won’t fit in your new place. You don’t even have to KonMari — not everyone has the bravery to do this!
A self storage unit is the key. It’s like renting an extra closet space, but away from your home. You get to keep sentimental items in a safe place while leaving your home clutter-free, and therefore stress-free.
Professional services and high-quality storage units
There are two critical factors for a renter’s experience to be great: first is environmental, and second is quality service. Aside from saving a lot of your hard-earned money by using a storage facility, you can also take advantage of these features:
- It’s all-in-one storage for any stuff. Aside from self-storage units for your furniture, appliances, etc., there is also drive-in storage (for vehicles), climate-controlled storage (for special collectible items), portable storage containers, and other types too.
- You can have your own storage lock. Though most storage facilities provide safety locks, you can opt to bring your own for your peace of mind. Pick the right lock for your storage unit.
- Most storage facilities are climate-controlled. Hobbyists and collectors are often very wary about temperature and humidity. As much as possible, you should try to keep those rare basketball cards in mint condition and that bona fide vintage furniture spotless. You lose when their value decreases!
- They have strict SOPs and even special measures for pandemic safety. Since most storage facilities know how much you treasure your stuff, they have top-notch security equipment installed to protect it from theft. Only authorized people and renters can have access to the storage premises. Since the pandemic started, most have switched to doing their transactions and customer service online.
Insured security: no issues of damaged and stolen items
Employing a reliable moving company can save you a lot of headaches, as a lot of effort is consumed when you opt for a DIY move. Yes, you can save around $16 per hour for a mover, but all the tasks that you were meant to leverage are now yours to do. You carry all your stuff, you load and unload them from the truck, and so on.
Not to dampen your spirits, but if you cannot watch over your items and be extra careful during the move, your stuff might not survive the transporting journey. You then lose money rather than save. To avoid such mishaps, you can put all your items first in a storage facility and go back and transport them once you’re ready.
Most facilities have 24/7 on-site surveillance and security, so apart from the fact that your items are well stored, they’re also well guarded. Many storage facilities offer insurance for your items, so no need to worry about unforeseen incidents — just be sure that the full value of your stored possessions is covered.
Saving up on deals and packages
The number of storage facilities has mushroomed in recent years, both in suburban areas and in city centers. There’s healthy competition out there. You can save some money by taking advantage of the deals storage facilities sometimes offer.
The only issue is that the price of self storage units varies from state to state and from city to city. For example, among the US States, self-storage units in Hawaii cost the highest while Oklahoma has the cheapest.
Choosing the perfect location of your storage unit is important. You can opt to rent one in your city or perhaps at an out-of-town location a few hours away from you, depending on what suits your budget.
Flexible time
Most of the self storage facilities are accessible 24/7. Having a self storage unit is a way better option than having your friend’s place as a temporary depot for your stuff: When you need something you have to contact them, arrange a suitable schedule, and travel to and from their place, and the stress for both of you is tiresome and not cost-efficient.
Also, if you find you can no longer pay the rent on your unit, self storage providers allow 30-90 days between it going into default and its contents going to auction. You don’t want this to happen — but if it comes to this stage, it’s reassuring to know that storage facilities are often flexible and understanding.
Perfect for anyone no matter the situation
According to Yardi Matrix data, there are currently 1.4 billion square feet of space in storage units across the United States. The number clearly shows that self storage units are in demand. Based on a 2020 StorageCafe study, self storage renters are mostly composed of Gen Xers (ages 35-55) and Baby Boomers (ages 56-71).
People often become convinced about the usefulness and effectiveness of self storage when they realize how flexible it is — short-term can become long-term, and vice versa. So, what are some of the most common reasons people rent self storage units?
- Starting a family
- Relocating because of a new job
- Waiting on a closing date with trusted house buyers
- Downsizing
- Emigrating and needing to save up for transportation costs
Storage facilities are also useful in removing stress during the move. When you’re in the middle of this process, using a storage unit as a temporary storehouse can be a great asset.
