Thursday, February 16, 2017

(Renting Storage) Additional Storage--Too much stuff, what should I do?

Renting Storage Space

Unless it’s short term, you’d probably be better off gifting or selling it. Why pay for your stuff again by renting a place for keeping it? 

Exceptions might include
        Staging a house for sale
        Boat storage
        Vehicle storage
        Remodeling removal
        Home sale
        Moving out of State
        Overseas Working
        Military Assignments
        Temporary medical needs
        Etcetera

(Storage Buildings) Additional Storage--Too much stuff, what should I do?

Storage Buildings

A few personal notes about storage buildings

Secure access from unwanted guests or visitors
Maintain adequate ventilation
Maintain a sound roof, walls, doors, windows, etc
Plan storage system and racks
Use correct storage containers
Maintain an inventory list
      --you will forget what’s out there 
      and where it’s located 
Build in a removal date for stuff in your inventory list
Have a sign out and sign in sheet so you’ll know where  
        your stuff is located if you “loan out” stuff
Purge stuff every once and awhile
Saving stuff in your building for family and friends  
     —you don’t need the legal hassle if something happens
    to it and if it’s stuff you are going to give them, 
    go ahead and gift it now instead of later 

Basement Storage-Maybe: Crawl Space Storage-Never

Basement and Crawl Space Storage

Note: Lots of people store things in their basements.
Unless your basement is climate controlled, has both heat and air conditioning, don’t use it for storage.

If your basement is moisture proof and doesn’t have  environmental problems necessitating a sump pump then by all means consider lighting, stair width and steepness before storing stuff.

Plan how you want to store stuff and consider adding proper shelving or racks. Always keep stuff off the floor (suggested at least 6 inches) and be sure to use proper storage containers. Remember cardboard and paper can draw bugs. Leather clothing and shoes need special treatment for storage under any conditions. Keep chemicals below other items and in a separate secured place.

Crawl Space Storage—Don’t

Although some people store outdoor tools in a crawl space under the house if the space is tall enough, invest in a small outdoor storage building.

When you use a crawl space you have a certain amount of  bugs, moisture, rust, and rot and possibly a few critters such as mice, worms, and (yes) even snakes.


Make sure your crawl space is secured against critters being trapped beneath your house. If  you don’t know they are there and they die, they’ll stink up the house and draw varmints. 

Attic Storage- Do you or don't you, I don't and here's why.

And now I digress, as some of my friends were talking at a meeting, the subject of attic storage came up.

Attic Storage-Don’t

Unless your attic is climate controlled
Has proper shelving
Has easy access
Isn’t available through pull down steps
Isn’t available through a small access panel
Isn’t available off your attic controlled climate living space

Note: Lots of people store things in their attic spaces. My advice is (unless the area is part of your living space with both heat and air conditioning)--don’t.

A few years ago, we had our attic “wrapped,” that’s where a company comes in and installs insulation foil rolls to the roof area to keep the outside heat out. [We live in the South, the attic was insulated, had end vents and an exhaust fan.] Access is available through a pull down set of attic stairs. Needless to say we removed all of the accumulated stuff that had been placed in the attic over the years. More than 75 to 80 percent of the “stuff” was now trash, and had to be put to the curb for pickup. Cardboard, paper, foam, plastic were all brittle, discolored, and fell apart…not to mention dusty.

About the only things that survived were glass and a few metal things.

As the years have progressed, we have found that navigation on these attic stairs have become more difficult.

Yes, we have a hand rail, and yes, we have available lighting; however, our bodies just don’t care for the physical act of climbing these stairs with various sized boxes and stuff in our arms. Just putting stuff up there and taking it down became a 2 or 3 person job. Therefore, my advice on using attic storage is simply, “don’t.’ You’ll lose most of the stuff to fluxing heat and moisture changes in the attic. Thankfully, we never stored our pictures up there.