Storage facilities

[Walkin Horse]

After my divorce in 2016-18 I took my big wood working tools to my daughter’s house. Probably not a chance I will ever use them again. I’ve moved into a condo with little storage. I have some stuff in a 4x5 cage here. I took my breakfast nook and use it for tools and work bench area. I’ve learned to live the minimalist life. When someone says I need to make a dump run, I say I’m good. Except those darn guns keep coming and cluttering up things.

 

[rwsmith]

When our son was a teenager......

...and giving us trouble I priced a 3' x 5' closet at the storage facility to keep my guns in. $40/month. I bought a safe instead.

 

[Jeff423]

I've recently been thinking about putting most of my "stuff" in a storage locker. After a year - if it's still there - and I haven't needed it - then getting rid of it.

 

[ladder13]

I think I have written this before but something that has amazed me since moving to suburbia is all the homes in my neighborhood with two and three car garages with multiple cars parked in their driveways and garages chock full of stuff.

My garages are for cars. Helps keep the hoarding down, and the thieves at bay.

Cars in the driveway are prime hunting grounds for middle of the night shoppers. A couple years ago one of the folks here reported that their F150 was stolen right out of the driveway and even posted a video.
The car was abandoned about 200 yards away minus their car keys, cell phones and handgun They parked the car in the driveway unlocked.
Guess which age group they belong to.

 

[chief38]

Other than for short term..... storage facilities are a joke! Too many people get one, fill it, then never ever use what's in it! They pay every month and by the time they wake up and realize they have wasted their money, they also realize the money they spent on useless rent could have replaced what's in the unit quite a few times over! When they pass away, the kids either throw everything in a dumpster or just let the storage facility break the lock and auction it off for lack of rent money.

I have known so many that have fallen into this trap! I have also given this speech to many - some listen, most don't!

What ever you don't use within a 6 month time frame - sell, give away or throw out! Save the senseless storage money and buy a few of the items you got rid of, if and when you ever need them. You more than likely won't if its in a storage facility!

AGAIN, short term is a different situation.

 

[NYlakesider]

In the general area I live in storage facilitates are common.

I live rural on a large lake and we have many flatlanders buying camps and vacation property.

What happens in many property sales is they normally go with furniture and most everything needed except food to run a house/camp. So as time goes by and people change items there is a double of many things. Amazing the need for storage. Its a vicious cycle!

When we originally bought our then camp property (1985) we got a lot of stuff. Basically all the camp needed was our own bed sheets/blankets and personal items and food. The two car garage hardly had walking room. Plenty of things stored there. That included enough electrical items to totally rewire the camp and most anything necessary to maintain the property Also found close to 800 rounds of .38 ammo high on a closet shelf. Man I bought the camp from was now 92 and a retired NYC police LT.

I had a 8' box pick up and a large trailer I brought much of the stuff I did not need down to the city area and sold them. Much of it went to a antique dealer that was a union brother of mine. (Fair prices) I of course kept the ammo and what I solid was close to $5,000. A little work and a decent return on my labor. No storage fees!

 

[IraBrad]

As for me, if I don't use a thing for 3 months, I won't need it anymore. Self-storage facilities are indeed convenient, but only if used correctly. I mean, if you don't clutter them with unnecessary stuff, they can be a real asset. I prefer to check the facility from time to time to ensure I'm only storing what I truly need. That's why I find implementing self-storage management tools so valuable—they help me keep track of what's stored and make it easier to manage the space efficiently. It's all about using the storage wisely to avoid the kind of situation you described.