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Finally found a place to live and ready to get your items out of storage? That’s great news! We’re excited for you.
Now, to help make this process a little easier, we’ve put together a few steps on how to start moving out of storage. We hope this helps streamline things for you. Before you know it, you’ll be living it up in your new place!
How to start moving out of storage
Here’s how to approach moving out of storage:
Tip #1: Give the storage unit move-out notice.
Every storage provider has different rules and regulations. Whether you have a month-to-month storage unit or a year-long contract, it’s important to call the storage company right away if you plan to be out soon.
Tell them the date of when you are moving, and be sure to ask what all is required of you so that you don’t end up with an invoice in the mail. As a general rule, it’s best to inform storage companies of your expected move before paying for the following month. That way, you hopefully won’t have to pay as much. In some cases, the rent can even be prorated based on when you move out. (Don’t forget to ask about any public storage move-out refunds or public storage clean-out fees!)
Tip #2: Figure out where everything is going to go.
Whether you’re moving out of public storage or self-storage, you’ll need a place to put your items. So, if you recently closed on a house and will get to move in soon, you’re good to go. If you haven’t closed yet, though, you don’t want to take your items out prematurely.
Otherwise, you might not have a place for them, and you may end up getting rid of things you love. Make sure to stay in communication with your storage unit provider if you plan to move. That way, no unexpected issues come up once you’re ready to be out of there.
Tip #3: Remove your belongings.
After you get in touch with your storage unit company and know where everything is going to go, the next step is to take your items out of the storage unit. You can either do this by yourself or hire movers like Bellhop.
Tips for moving items out of storage:
- Write a list of what’s in your storage unit.
- Decide what you’re going to declutter, and make a plan to take that to a donation center. You might also choose to sell those items.
- Organize items into what you’re going to keep and get rid of.
- Ensure you have enough people to help with your decluttering. We recommend having a buddy or two help you out if it’s a big storage unit if you choose to DIY your move-out!
However you choose to remove the items from your unit, you’ll want to make sure you have a moving truck or another appropriately sized vehicle. That is so that you have a place to store your items in transit to the new location.
Also, it might help to have two vehicles so that someone else can drive one vehicle to a donation center or other place and drop off unwanted items throughout the day as the truck gets full. That can help save you a lot of time and keep you from needing to go through the items again at a later date.
Additionally, if you need assistance with the move, you can check out this article on how to compare moving company quotes for insights on how to select a mover.
Tip #4: Do a good cleaning.
It’s always good to leave a space in better condition than when you found it. So, stock up on a few basic cleaning supplies (make sure they’re compatible with the storage unit’s flooring), and grab a broom. After your stuff is out of there, it’s time to clean.
You’ll want to sweep the entire floor to make sure there are no crumbs, residue, or debris left behind. That way, the unit is in usable condition for the next tenant. (Plus, it’s just a nice thing to do!)
#5: Take off your lock.
Don’t forget to find out whether the lock belongs to you or the storage unit company. It can vary by provider. If you used a personal lock, feel free to take that home with you.
However, if you were using the facility’s lock, double-check that the lock belongs to you now. Otherwise, you’ll want to turn it in so that you don’t get charged, and they won’t have issues getting inside the storage unit.
#6: Let the storage company know when you’re out.
Once the storage unit is clean and empty, don’t forget to let the provider know that you’re out of there. That way, you won’t get charged. (Note: If you leave the lock on by accident, they may assume you’re still there, so it’s extra important to remove your lock before doing your vacate form (if applicable).)
More often than not, storage companies make it a part of the agreement that the tenant must inform the company once they’ve officially vacated. So, don’t delay. Give them a call, or swing by in person. It shouldn’t take long!
Need help moving into your new home?
With Bellhop’s help, moving out of storage and into a new house has never been easier. We provide several moving services to help you out, including hourly labor, local moving, last-minute moving, commercial moving, and more. If you need reliable movers who will be there as promised, we’re the ones for the job.
Find movers near you today.
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