Is it time to schedule my storage unit Junk Removal? The explosion in the number of self-storage facilities isn’t a figment of your imagination – it’s a 21st Century American phenomenon. The US makes up almost 90% of the global storage market with 50,000 storage facilities across the country. That’s over three times the number of McDonald’s restaurants in America! Between 2000 and 2005, the total square footage occupied by self-storage facilities doubled. It went from one billion to two billion square feet. Since 2000, storage rentals have also shot up by 65%(storedge.com).
It’s clear that Americans really like using self-storage units. You likely have one or have used one in the past. But do you really need it? At an average cost of around $100 for just a 10′ x 5′ unit (gobankingrates.com), storage rental can take a sizable chunk out of your monthly budget.
Storage units come in many different types and sizes, ranging from 5′ x 5′ outdoor units to gigantic 10′ x 30′ or larger indoor, climate-controlled units under 24-hour protection. The fancier the unit, the more expensive the rent. For top-tier storage, rental prices can soar to $1,000 or more! Think of everything you could get done with an extra several hundred or $1,000 every month.
We get it – you’ve got appliances that still work great, a huge DVD collection that you don’t want sitting in your living room, or even an old car or motorcycle you’re going to fix up someday. You don’t want to throw these items out – they’re still perfectly good!
While it can be difficult or even painful to part with items that are in good shape, that you plan to use again, or that you have fond memories of, this doesn’t mean you should keep things around that are no longer adding value to your life.
Somewhere, everyone has a box of old cords, a tube TV, or a specialty kitchen appliance that they haven’t used in years. Modern tools like these were expensive to purchase and often still work perfectly, but technology advances so quickly that they often become obsolete long before they stop functioning. This makes us reluctant to throw out “perfectly good” items we still possess.
Here’s the thing: if you haven’t used an item in two years, it needs to go. This “2 Year Rule” is a useful way to quickly determine what items you can get rid of without missing them. The thing about self-storage is that it’s an “out of sight, out of mind” situation. When you put your items in storage somewhere away from your home, you tend to forget they exist. If you can forget something and live without it, you don’t actually need it in your life – and you certainly don’t need to pay $100 per month to keep it laying around!
If you have valuables that you rarely use, consider renting them whenever you need them. Some quick math might show you that you’ll save a lot of money by occasionally renting those special tools rather than paying high monthly fees to store them.
We hear you. Whether it’s your kids’ elementary school art projects, your grandmother’s old clothes, or just some knick knacks you’re particularly fond of, many items have sentimental value. It can feel wrong and almost sacrilegious to get rid of meaningful items like this.
However, you’re typically never going to use items of this nature. They’re things you occasionally pull out of their containers and look at fondly. They trigger happy memories and give you warm feelings inside. You could never throw them away! Could you?
When it comes to sentimental items, our advice is to keep one or two of your most cherished pieces. Then, take high-quality pictures of the rest and give them to family. You’ll save a ton of space (and money!), but, still have both visual and physical access to your priceless items. In fact, cutting down on the number of sentimental items you have may actually prompt you to display or use the few you decide to keep – a win-win!
Life doesn’t wait. You work hard, get your chores done, and then want some time to relax or hang out with your family. Cleaning out a storage unit isn’t your idea of a weekend well spent.
That’s where Junk Smiths can help. We’re a full-service junk removal company, which means we’ll take care of the removal, loading, hauling, donating, recycling, and disposal of all of your items. All you have to do is tell us what to take during your full-service storage unit cleanout. We’ll be on site within 24 hours of your call, and our prices are by far the best in the Huntington Beach area.
If you’re ready to save a ton of money every month and get rid of clutter that you no longer need, give us a call today. We’re happy to help!
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