There are many reasons why you might need to put your furniture into long term storage. You might be moving into rented accommodation for a while and can’t take all your furniture with you, or you could be downsizing, travelling the world or moving in with family or a new partner. Maybe there’s just a piece of furniture you love but it doesn’t fit in with the interior design of your home yet you can’t bear to sell it. Long term storage is the ideal solution for all of the above as long as you choose the right storage company who will look after your belongings carefully, as if they were their own.
Long term storage preparations
Before you put your furniture into long term storage there are a number of tips we recommend you digest before going ahead, including:
Finding a trusted storage company
These days, storage companies are springing up all over the place but if you want your belongings to stay safe, dry and clean you’ll need to find the right one. There’s a huge element of trust in leaving your furniture under someone else’s’ lock and key so meet with a number of storage company owners and find out what they offer. Get a feel for the place to see if you would be happy leaving your things there.
Use this mini check list
Does your chosen long term storage company offer the following?
- A collection and delivery service
- Free inventory service
- Easy access
- Professional packing
- Simple insurance arrangements
- Art transport and cataloguing
- Discount rates for six months or more
- Modern purpose built facilities
These benefits should all be a ‘given’ and if they’re not, look elsewhere.
Get recommendations
Before going ahead with your chosen storage company, ask if you can see any testimonials or contact any existing long term storage customers. That way you can hear about the positives and the negatives of each company directly from the customers themselves.
Work out the cost
Do some calculations by working out how many pieces of furniture you want to put into long term storage and what it might cost you each month. That way you can work out how much you need to put aside each year.
Prep the furniture
Make a list of the pieces of furniture you are putting into storage, give them all a good clean and treat exposed wooden surfaces with polish or wax. Then take photographs of it all from different angles. This way you know what each piece looks like, which items are in storage, and you can assess if any damage has taken place when you receive it all back too.
Packaging
If you have a valuable piece of furniture or you have something that holds sentimental value you will want to make sure it stays well protected while it’s stored. Don’t wrap wooden or fabric furniture with plastic sheeting however – it can trap in moisture and encourage mould to grow. Wipe all fabric surfaces with a fabric-safe antibacterial cleaner and then leave them to completely dry. Then use cloths or covers, sheets or blankets to keep the dust away whilst still allowing the air to circulate.
Lift furniture off the ground
Where possible it’s a good idea to lift your furniture off the ground when it’s in long term storage. This will help to protect it from damp conditions. Alternatively, if your long term storage provider offers temperature controlled storage this shouldn’t be a problem.
Put simply, if you use a quality long term storage provider who cares about your belongings as much as you do, the process should be simple, with your furniture coming out of storage looking as good as it did when it went in. Contact our team for further long term storage advice or ask us for a quote.