None of us has the intention of losing our place of residence to clutter. It sneaks in unannounced - a box that has strayed, a piece of furniture that has found its way into a garage and is now settled there. The car is parked on the driveway. The mess stays put. There's a smarter way to live. Click here!
The image of professional storage has evolved a long way out of its old-fashioned image. Lose the rusty roll-up doors and shady back-street places. Recent facilities have motion-activated cameras, individually alarmed units, key pad entry system that records all visits and 24/7 monitoring. The things you have are not as insecure as you may suspect.
Another game-changer is climate control. The unspoken killers of all that you hold dear in your heart are heat and humidity. Furniture such as beloved sofas develop mould. Due to the fusion of cherished photographs, they come together. Instruments of music are hopelessly out of tune. Regulated units such as temperature control help to prevent such types of damages before they start happening and this feature alone justifies the monthly cost to anyone who has items of sentimental or monetary value.
This is something that businesses realized long ago. Retailers must have excess inventory. Craftsmen are unable to carry all the tools to all workplaces. Start-up e-commerce businesses soon surpass the limited flat storage. Off-site solutions allow them space to grow without having to bear the expenses of a commercial lease.
The final justification has been eliminated by the flexible pricing. Most providers have also launched rolling monthly contracts, short term contracts and discounted longer contracts. You only pay what you consume and you can also make changes as your life evolves and you do not necessarily need a lock-in.
And life is changing. Divorce, downsizing, bereavement - these changes come quickly and leave you with a full household of possessions to take care of. The shock is absorbed by a good storage unit. It keeps things in place as you locate your footing, and it buys you time without pressuring you to make premature decisions which you will regret later.
Then there are the sentimental articles which deserve more than a damp corner of a garage, the first bicycle of a child, the furniture which belonged to his parents and which they bequeathed to him upon their death, the gifts of a relationship which failed but still have meaning. Those do not have to be disposed of. All they require is a befitting location.
The ease of access has never been more either: drive up stores, smartphone controlled lock, and even door to door delivery.
It is not a storage space. It's breathing room.