What do you do when your house feels cramped? Some people rent a storage unit. Others rent a bin to temporarily get stuff out of the way. That is alright for the short term, but can be costly in the long run. What if the problem is bigger than not enough space during renovations or creating the look of more space when listing a house for sale? What if what you really need to do is permanently get rid of stuff?
Storage Units
There are approximately 3,000 storage unit facilities in Canada. Prices for individual units range from $90 – $300 depending upon location and size of unit. Some locations have special incentive deals, lower rates for smaller units, or other perks to encourage customers to use their services. It is a lucrative business for those in need of space, but ultimately at what cost?
Why Use Storage Units?
People rent storage units for a variety of reasons;
- To store motor vehicles like cars, boats, motorcycles, RVs, etc.
- For temporary storage during renovations
- To prepare their home for sale to make it look more spacious
- For seasonal items like Christmas Décor, Halloween decorations, lawn furniture, or other festive ornaments that are only used during specific time periods
- When university students temporarily need more space
- After couples separate and need to store items before finding a new home
- When people are downsizing
- To free up more room in a home
What Are the Alternatives?
While storage units are a great solution for temporary storage needs, there is another option—purging. People often rent storage units because their home has become cluttered. They are constantly moving things around to make more space, only to have to move those items once more to create space again in that new area.
Instead of moving items around your home, make the decision to permanently create the space by purging. When you get rid of clutter, you feel calmer, more relaxed, and can enjoy your space more readily. It really does help.
Worried about getting rid of family heirlooms? In today’s world we have so many options to hold on to memories. Transfer pictures onto the cloud – no zip drive to store. Take pictures of items to remember them and then purge the boxes of memorabilia you never look at. If you can’t restore furniture, let it go to someone who can. Same thing goes for Grandma’s teacup collection—release it to someone who might actually use it, instead of letting it collect dust.
For those downsizing due to changes in circumstances, why not consider this an excellent time to make a fresh start. Let go of potential negative memories that linger with items from your past life. If you are downsizing, be realistic about your new space and remember the reason why you are making the change in the first place. Things don’t equal happiness. And too many things can actually harm our physical and mental health.
Purge
We know how difficult it can be to make a change, but Load of Rubbish is here to help. We offer anything from single item pickups, all the way through to full estate cleanouts. Our staff are professional, conscientious of your needs, and check in with you every step of the way to ensure you are happy with our services.
Change is hard. We get that. Making the decision to part with stuff is a big move, but it’s worth it. Plus, using our services saves you money. There are no monthly storage unit fees when you permanently get rid of stuff you no longer have room for. Doesn’t that sound good? You bet it does.
Sometimes a storage unit is a good temporary solution to your storage woes. Most of the time though, it is better to let things go. To start fresh. Time to purge! Time to move forward for a better life.
