Why people are using more self storage in 2022

Over recent years, the demand for self-storage has seen tremendous growth, not just in the UK but worldwide!

The growing demand for secure self-storage facilities is linked to many reasons, some of which you may not have thought of. While the most common use is for when people are moving home, the flexibility of hiring self-storage space for other needs is quite surprising.

Here we look at how people are using their self-storage units in 2022.

1: Moving home

There is no denying having a bit of elbow room in the form of a self-storage unit can be invaluable when you are moving home. Getting yourself organised for a house move can sometimes be overwhelming.

It can help to sort through your belongings to decide what you want to take with you and what you can do without. But as you and your family will still need to carry on living in your home until your moving date, it can help that you are not tripping over full packing boxes.

Renting a self-storage space can give you a practical and safe place to store your packed possessions out of the way, ready for your house move. You can store away items that you would rather not risk getting damaged or lost during your move.

2: Home improvements

Although moving home is a leading reason for renting storage space, it can also come in very handy for those that choose to improve their home instead of moving home.

More homeowners are choosing to stay put and improve their homes by adding kitchen or dining room extensions, building over their garage, or adding a loft conversion to add more living space to their homes.

When you are renovating or remodelling your home, there will always be things that will get in the way. Moving bulky furniture or precious or fragile items into self-storage makes a lot of sense. It will give you the peace of mind you need that your possessions are safely stored away, and it will provide you with the elbow room you need not to hinder or delay your home improvement projects.

3: Business relocation

It is not just homeowners that rely on self-storage facilities when on the move. Business owners can also move premises from time to time and will often face the same moving issues. Self-storage facilities can make a move to new business premises smoother.

You can store your stock and other valuable business possessions in secure storage while preparing your new premises and cleaning out the property you are vacating. It is often the case that business owners who rent their premises will have a snagging list to go through before handing back the keys to their landlord.

Before you move in your inventory and business assets, your new premises may need some refreshment or refurbishment, such as new carpets and a lick of paint. Hiring a self-storage unit can give you the breathing space you need as you do all the necessary work for both properties.

4: Assisting students on the move

It is not uncommon for students studying at university to accumulate quite a few possessions, including books and study aids, clothing, bedding, electronics and cooking equipment.

Hiring a storage space can give students the flexibility of a safe space where they can store all of their belongings during their study breaks. If they decide to return home for the summer and vacate their rented room or house, their parents may not have the space to accommodate all of their possessions.

Putting their study materials and possessions into safe storage while taking a gap year is good. The gap year is when students commonly want to go travelling, and storing their possessions will enable them to travel light without worrying about losing or selling their possessions.

5: Downsizing your home

Many older couples choose to downsize into a smaller home when their children leave home. Downsizing can mean moving to a smaller, more cost-effective and manageable home, but it also means that not everything you own will fit into your new home.

Moving some of your possessions into a self-storage unit will help you during your house move, but it will help you decide which pieces of furniture you absolutely cannot do without and which you can let go of.

Using self-storage can give you the time you need to make the right decisions over selling, donating or scrapping larger pieces of furniture.

You may have a sentimental attachment to a piece of furniture that you have no room for in your smaller home. Keeping it in storage will allow you the time to reach out to family members who may want to take it but need time to make room in their homes for it.

6: Storing tools and equipment

With around 5 million self-employed people in the UK, many sole traders operate from home. In some cases, they will not have the available space in their home to store the necessary tools and equipment they need for their work.

Skilled traders such as gardeners, plumbers and electricians etc., carry valuable work tools that they cannot risk leaving overnight in their work vans. A secure self-storage until is an ideal low-cost and low-risk option for many self-employed sole traders to keep their essential tools and equipment safe and protected.

If you are looking for modern, clean and secure self-storage facilities in Southampton, do not hesitate to contact our team at Woodpecker Self Storage. Our friendly team will be happy to discuss your needs.

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