How to Move Out of a Storage Unit

Renting a storage unit is a temporary solution for most people although there are some cases when a long-term rental is the best option. Whether you’re renting on a month-to-month basis or you’re in for a year-long contract, when the time comes to take your things out of storage, you should go through the process with ease. Most self-storage companies offer a customer-friendly move-out process. There are only a few simple steps to follow for a smooth experience. Read on to learn how to move out of a storage unit.

Notify your storage provider

The first thing to do when you’re moving out of your storage unit is the same as moving out of your place. That’s to contact your provider and let them know you’re leaving. Depending on the company, you may be required to send a formal written notice. Or, it may be as simple as making a phone call. But, you should check with your storage provider directly. Most facilities let you rent a unit on a month-to-month basis so you can leave pretty much anytime you want. However, it’s important to note that most companies will not reimburse you for days you don’t use until the end of the month. And you may even have to full for a full month if you’re moving out in the middle of the month.

Figure out the next step

Before you find yourself out of the storage unit completely at loss as to what to do with all of your things, prevent this from happening and make a game plan for all of the belongings you’re taking out of storage. For example, if you’re moving into a bigger home and you need to use some of the furniture you have stored… Go ahead and measure the space and create a layout. This is to make sure your furniture will fit into a new house. In case you don’t have enough space for everything you’re moving out, you’ll still need to find a solution for where to put those items. So, consider donating, gifting, or selling things you don’t really need and want to move out of a storage unit.

Find a moving vehicle

When you’re moving out of the storage unit and you have a plan for which item goes where don’t forget that you’ll also need a vehicle. You’ll need to transport all of those belongings to a certain place. Depending on the size of the storage unit and the number of things you have inside, you may be able to use your own car. Or alternatively, you can always choose a rental truck service. Whether you decide to rent a truck or a van, make sure it’s the right size. That way you wouldn’t end up paying for several trips. Access your belongings correctly so you could decide which size is suitable. Another important thing to keep in mind when you’re transporting your things with a moving vehicle is that you’ll need to load all of those items too. So, you may need help with doing that.

In case you’re moving out heavy or bulky items such as furniture pieces, appliances, pianos, spas, and similar large objects, you’ll need at least one helper. You’ll need assistance with loading them into a moving truck. Plan ahead and in case you can’t find a helper among friends and family, you can reach out to moving labor services and pay an hourly rate.

Leave the unit nice and tidy

Cleaning the storage unit is usually a requirement. But even if it wasn’t, you wouldn’t want to leave the space messy for the next person to use it. Cleaning the storage facility doesn’t have to take an entire day. Just make sure all the boxes and items are out and there’s no trash left behind. In case there’s a lot of dirt and debris, you should take a minute to lightly clean and sweep the area before you leave it.

Take the lock with you

Once you have all your belongings taken out of the storage unit and it’s looking well enough for the next user, you’re good to go. But before you leave, make sure you get the lock you used to secure the facility. If you don’t remove it, the storage provider will not be able to access it after you’re gone.

Inform the storage provider that you left

Now that you’re all set and you have your lock and your belongings with you… The only thing left to do is to notify the storage company that you moved out. The way you do this depends on a specific company. But in most cases, you’ll be required to inform the property manager that you’ve left. Some companies like U-Haul require you to log into your account, have a zero balance, and have your unit cleaned before you can access the vacated-unit option. Other companies will require you to stop by the office and fill in vacate card. So the process of informing the storage provider that your unit is vacated depends on the policies of a specific company. Whatever the case may be, it should be fairly easy and pretty straightforward.

And there you have it! These simple steps are a sure way to have a smooth move-out process and leave the storage unit with ease. In case you’re looking for a new storage facility, then U-Haul, ExtraSpace Storage, Public Storage, CubeSmart, and Life storage are only a few of the popular storage providers in the country. But it’s worth noting that your local movers offer storage services too so you may want to check that option as well. If you’d rather get all the services from one trusted source, then feel free to reach out to Dumbo Moving and Storage. We provide a wide range of services besides affordable storage solutions, including commercial and residential moves. Contact us to receive your complimentary moving in-home estimate or an online one!