So why would you want to clean out your storage unit in the first place? Here are some reasons that seem like common sense, but it is also nice to be able to remind yourself of them from time to time.  This can help motivate you when things seem rough or overwhelming and keep you on track.

COST

Storage facilities often offer an initial introductory rate that doesn’t seem so bad. However, the monthly fees on keeping a storage unit are often unrealistically low. Take into consideration how immediately you might want to get your stuff back out of storage before signing a contract with a facility’s financial terms in mind. Just remember that the cost of renting a unit is not limited to just what’s on the sign up sheet. Per month costs could be up to $200 a month (more if you’re in Vancouver!).

Add up the monthly costs over a year and assess for yourself, how many times you are paying for the value of the items you’re storing over that period. Is it really worth it?

BURDEN

The owners of storage facilities can make a lot of money off of other people’s procrastination when it comes to parting with their things.

PURPOSE

What was your initial reason for getting a self-storage unit? Did you need it at the time? How much longer do you think that things will remain in there? Over time, the initial reason for keeping the container might be forgotten and one might find themselves needing to store other items and clutter because they are avoiding facing the actual problem or situation. It is a very economic choice, but it comes at a cost and this cost gets higher with every passing month of unused storage, which ends up being detrimental to one’s long-term success.

Where to start…

You may be on the brink of renting a storage unit or looking to go in, clear out and re-stack and repack everything.

Either way here are some handy hints:

• Make sure you label all boxes and bins clearly
• Ensure that the items that you need access to frequently are at the front of the unit.
• Use shelving. You can maximize vertical space by doing this and create more room
• Don’t treat your storage unit as a set it and forget it, be intentional with it.

Cleaning out an old storage unit is not always an easy job. It takes time and effort, but it’s still worth it because you’ll save money and feel more relaxed knowing that you don’t have to worry about dealing with those things anymore! Hopefully these tips on how to clean out a storage unit will help you to let go of some junk and items you no longer want.