Storage and Warehousing: Safe Short and Long-Term Storage for Your Goods

What Is Storage and Warehousing?

Storage and warehousing services let you keep your belongings in a secure facility for days, weeks or months. Many packers and movers offer storage as part of a move, for when your new home is not ready or you are between homes.

Storage can be short term, for a few weeks around a move, or long term, for belongings you do not need straight away. The right choice depends on how long you need it, how much you have and how often you will need access.

When You Need Storage and Warehousing

• Your new home is not ready when you move out of the old one
• You are travelling or working abroad and need to store furniture
• You are downsizing and want to keep some items for later
• You need space for business stock, documents or equipment
• You are renovating and need to clear a room or the whole home

How Storage and Warehousing Works

Storage is usually arranged together with packing and transport.

• Inventory: items are listed and, ideally, photographed before storage
• Packing: furniture and goods are wrapped and packed for safe storage
• Transport to storage: goods are taken to the storage facility and unloaded
• Storage: items are kept in a secured space, monitored and, where offered, protected against damp and pests
• Retrieval and delivery: when you are ready, goods are delivered to your new address, or you collect them

How to Prepare Your Items

• Decide what you need to store and what you can sell or give away
• Clean and dry furniture and appliances before packing
• Empty and defrost fridges and freezers
• Make a list of items and keep a copy
• Note the value of high-value items, in case you need insurance

What Affects the Cost

Quotes vary between providers, mainly because of these factors:

• The amount of space or volume of goods you need to store
• How long you plan to store them
• Whether the storage is climate controlled or basic
• Packing, transport and retrieval charges
• Insurance for stored goods

How to Choose a Provider

• Visit the facility if you can, and check security, cleanliness and signs of damp or pests
• Ask how goods are protected from fire, water and pests
• Ask whether insurance is included, and what it covers
• Check the terms on access, minimum storage period and what happens if payments are late
• Compare quotes and get the terms in writing