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If you are moving home, whether you are moving locally within Canada or moving internationally, you may need to decide on whether to put some of your belongings into storage. Short-term storage and long-term storage can be a great option for those moving internationally who don’t want to lose their treasured possessions or for those down-sizing who are looking for a long-term storage solution for their household belongings.
What Do We Mean by Storage?
When talking about storage solutions, rather than a dusty space in someone’s attic, we are talking about purpose-built storage facilities specially created to care for your belongings and keep them safe. Storage facilities often offer specialised storage solutions for delicate items such as antiques or valuables and provide round-the-clock security to keep your belongings safe. Storage facilities can provide climate-controlled space for a variety of items.
Why Should I Use Storage Facilities for my Move?
When it comes to moving home, there is inevitably going to come a point when you will need to decide what you are moving to your new home and what you will need to leave behind. If you are moving internationally, you may want to take fewer belongings with you in order to save on the costs of transporting your items as well as the effort needed to move them to your new home abroad and find a place for them. If you will be moving overseas temporarily but moving out of your home in Canada or are between homes, storage units provide a safe space in which to store your household belongings until you need them again.
Short and long-term storage facilities are a great way to care for your belongings temporarily, perhaps when moving to a new house that needs decorating before you move your furniture in and can keep your belongings safe until you are ready to move them again. If you are downsizing and won’t be able to fit all of your furniture into your new home, you may need to find an alternative place for them to live until you need them again. This can particularly be the case if you have specific items that hold sentimental value.
What Types of Storage Facilities are There?
When it comes to storage facilities and household storage, there are two main types. These are short-term storage and long-term storage units. Which one you choose will depend on how long you need to store your furniture and belongings for. Those moving overseas, for example, may need a longer-term storage solution to care for their belongings whereas those who are moving home and have only a short period of time before they will need their belongings again will be able to make use of a short-term storage facility, otherwise known as storage-in-transit.
Within these categories of storage types, there are also specialist storage services that include the storage of things such as antiques and artwork which will require special conditions, some storage facilities also offer services such as wine storage or long-term vehicle storage.
What Can I Put Into Storage Facilities?
When it comes to what you can and can’t store in storage facilities, the answer is that it really depends on the specific storage facility and what their individual rules are. That said, there are some general rules about what you can put into storage.
One of the most common items to be put into storage is furniture. Whether you are waiting for your new home to be ready before putting new furniture in or are putting your furniture into storage when moving abroad, long term furniture storage options can save a lot of inconvenience during your move. Large household appliances such as fridges and freezers are also common items to put into storage as they can be inconvenient for those downsizing or moving overseas.
Another popular item to put into storage is books. These become incredibly heavy when put into boxes so many people choose to put these in storage or donate them rather than pay the costs of transporting these to their new home. Short-term storage facilities are also often home to artworks or collectable pieces that owners want to ensure are safe during what is often a chaotic move.
What Can’t I Put Into Storage
For obvious reasons, storing food in a storage facility is a no. Food can go off in storage and attract pests that could damage both your belongings and those of others using the storage facility so is often banned from storage facilities. In the same vein, plants should not be put into a storage facility as they will not receive the care they need to survive. The same applies to animals of any kind.
Dangerous items are also not permitted to be kept in a storage facility. Anything that has the ability to explode, corrode or cause any sort of damage should not be kept in a storage facility. This would include items such as alcohol, fertiliser, paints and other items you may not immediately class as dangerous or hazardous. When moving belongings to storage, any items that are wet or damp should not be placed into storage as they have the ability to cause mould or mildew so be sure to dry any items thoroughly before putting them into storage.
Preparing Your Belongings for Storage
Before you place your belongings into storage, it is important that they are properly prepared in order for them to remain safe during the storage process and in perfect condition once you need them again.
As with any house move, your belongings will need to be properly secured and packed before moving them to your chosen storage facility. Take extra care with anything fragile and make sure it is packaged properly to ensure it doesn’t move around. During the packing stage, make sure you clearly label and categorise each box you pack so that when you come to collect your belongings, you know exactly what is in each box.
If you are storing furniture, disassemble your furniture and clean it before packing it for storage. Make sure you place any screws needed in a bag attached to the furniture to ensure you have everything you need when it comes to putting your furniture back together again. Above all else, make a list of everything you are placing into storage so you know what is there.
Where Can I Store My Belongings?
There are countless storage facilities available across the country with varying degrees of service. At QMM World Movers, we have specialist storage facilities available in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver ready to house your belongings safely and securely. Our storage facilities in Toronto and across Canada keep your belongings in perfect condition, with fully outfitted fire and theft protection systems and regular patrols to keep your household belongings safe for whenever you need them.
If you are looking for a short term storage or long term storage solution, contact QMM now to find out more about the options available to you.
