There are loads of reasons why you might need to use our self storage units. Maybe your children are at university and you need somewhere to keep their stuff during the holidays; perhaps you’re moving house and need to store your soft furnishings until your new home is decorated and ready to move into properly; maybe you’re super-organised and want to put away your winter clothes now that the better weather is on its way, to make room for your summer wardrobe.

We have found, though, that of all the reasons our customers use our self storage facilities, three are particularly common: "the three D’s"...
 

Downsizing

Moving from a larger home into a smaller one naturally means that you’ll have less space for all the belongings you’ve amassed over the years. Many of our customers are people who have retired and moved into smaller, more manageable homes, and others are parents of grown-up children who no longer need as many bedrooms. They’re looking for somewhere to store those belongings that no longer fit into their home but that they don’t want to sell or give away yet.

Items of furniture that don’t fit the space available can be hard to part with, particularly if they have sentimental or significant monetary value. StoreProtect, our insurance alternative, provides coverage for the replacement value of items, but it does not extend to irreplaceable or personally sentimental belongings.. Furniture that you don’t have room for anymore can also still have huge potential practical value for your loved ones: if your children or grandchildren are not yet settled in their own homes, it’s possible that they may need to use your spare beds or wardrobes when they get their own places. In the meantime, storing that furniture in a secure unit for as long as you like could really help out financially at a time when your children or grandchildren have had to pay legal and moving fees as well as a hefty deposit on a new home.

More on the blog: How to help a loved one downsize
 

Divorce

Alas, divorce is a common event for many people and necessarily involves a move for one or both spouses. Even the swiftest divorce proceedings take 3 - 6 months with a fair wind, and until they are concluded it can be difficult to finalise financial arrangements and agree who will live where. Many separating couples move into temporary, rented accommodation pending a resolution of their financial affairs.

If you have to move into a smaller property or into furnished, rented accommodation, you will probably have possessions that you don’t have room for in your new place. Like the ownership of the matrimonial home itself, you and your ex may not agree on who will get what furniture in the early days, but you shouldn’t forget that you will ultimately need to furnish your own home in the long term. Even if you don’t have room for them now, you should still try to keep what you’ll eventually need after the dust has settled. A bed, wardrobe, chairs, as well as personal items such as clothing can all be safely stored in one of our self storage units until you have space for them again.

More on the blog: Should you buy a new property before your divorce is final?
 

Death

Death is never easy to accept, and as well as coping with the emotional aspects of losing a loved one you may have to deal with practical issues too. Sorting through the home of a deceased relative is not something any of us would choose to do, but it will be necessary in order to wind up their estate. It can take time, and it can also be very difficult, in the midst of grief, to know exactly what to sell and what to keep. There may be items of furniture that you can’t use right now, but will probably need in the future - selling them now will mean that replacements will have to be purchased at a later date.

If you’ve lost someone close to you, there may also be items of sentimental value that you want to keep to remember them by: their favourite chair; a picture that always hung in their living room; blankets or items of clothing that still hold their scent. Giving those things away or selling them might be unbearable. Storing them somewhere dry and clean will give you time to decide whether or not to keep your loved one’s belongings in the long run. 

More on the blog:  How self storage can help when a family member dies
 
Whatever you need it for, self storage at Safestore is convenient, accessible and easily affordable. You can move your belongings into a clean, dry unit and you can purchase packaging/protectors to help protect your things. State of the art security systems are installed at all of our sites, including 24 hour recorded CCTV and intruder alarms. Plus, you are the only key holder to your room with unlimited access during opening hours. Find a store near you.