If you find that you don’t have enough room in your new home for all your stuff, you may want to look into having your items stored. Of course, it’s probably best to just get rid of most of your things, but in some cases that might not be an option. If you’re moving away temporarily, for example, it may be cheaper to put large items like furniture in storage rather then buying new furniture upon your return. If you have a home-based business and need to keep documents and tax record for at least 10 years (as per IRS regulations), you may want to have these stored. Also, if you have antiques or other items which may have sentimental value, you probably would not want to part with them, especially if you plan to pass them on to your kids some day.

First, ask friends or family if they have some room in their homes or garage for your stuff. Of course, leave your stuff only with people you fully trust. If someone agrees to store your stuff, offer some kind of payment or alternate arrangement.

If you’ve never had to look into storage options of any kind, it’s not that complicated, especially if you don’t really have any special needs. Check with your moving company if they offer storage services. The may give you discount and you’ll save yourself the trouble of hiring 2 separate companies. If they don’t then you’ll have to look into self-storage facilities. You may have seen ads for such places and it’s really straightforward – you rent a space for a monthly fee and you can put (almost) anything into your space. You’re responsible for putting your stuff in and taking them out when you’re done. You use your own lock, to prevent others from breaking into your space and you can access it anytime the storage facility is open. Most companies offer fancy options, like climate control which would be ideal to protect your stuff from mold and mildew, but if you’re storing things like lawnmowers, plastic items and outdoor furniture, a regular storage unit should be just fine.You can keep your stuff there for as long as you pay the monthly fee.

In some cases, you might not have the time to pack your stuff and move it to the facility. Another option is container storage, wherein the company will bring a container to your home and you fill it up. Then they come back, haul off your container and put it away in their facility. Then, when you decide you need your stuff, they deliver it back to your home or to another place.

Once you’ve decided what type suits you best, decide on which items should go in storage. This depends, of course, on why you’re storing your stuff. Put smaller items in boxes-this will also help you save space. When you start putting your stuff in, make sure you place enough space in betweend your items (to allow air to circulate) and enough space so you can walk around, in case you need to access your items in the back. Do not store anything perishable or flammable.

Disassemble furniture before storage to save on space. Place mattresses and couches on their sides. Feel free to bring some shelving units so you can take advantage of the vertical space. Wrap edges with bubble wrap or cloth. Use plastic bags that are mad specifically to protect matresses from molds and mildew. Keep cabinet doors and drawers shut with clear plastic wrap, but if you’re storing a refrigerator, leave the door open. If you’re keeping paintings or mirrors, use corner protectors and prop them upright. Cover everything with a dropcloth to protect it from dust, but make sure it doesn’t cover it all the way to the floor to allow air to flow. When storing clothes, sheets, towels or anything made of cloth, be sure to add some moth balls as well.

Finally, consider taking additional insurance, especially if you know your stuff is valuable. The standard insurance will barely cover the minimum. See if your homeowner’s insurance will cover the time your stuff is in storage, otherwise, check with your storage company about what they offer to their customers.