Outdoor, drive-up storage units are large enough to store everything from furniture to lawn and garden equipment, so they have plenty of uses. Every renter uses the unit for something different, though, and many of them get curious about what’s going on in neighboring storage units. Since it would be impolite to pry into other renters’ storage habits and personal lives, this article offers the perfect opportunity for satisfying that curiosity. Read on to find out about the top reasons that people rent storage units.

Reduce Stress During Moves

Moving to a new home is exciting, but the process of preparing for it can be incredibly stressful, especially for homeowners planning to sell. Renting a self storage unit can help to keep that stress to a minimum. Here are a few examples of how:

• Having a place to keep some items off-site during the staging process and real estate showing.
• Being able to downsize into a smaller home quickly without feeling rushed into going through belongings first.
• Dealing with a closing date that has been pushed back.
• Having a place to keep personal items while working transient jobs that don’t offer a permanent residence.
• Consolidating homes when couples move in together or parents move in with their children.

Some people rent storage units on a short-term basis just to assist with selling a home or moving into a new one. Others use them as long-term storage solutions. Either way, having a safe place to keep things will eliminate a lot of stress.

Deal With Clutter at Home

Minimalism has been incredibly popular lately as an interior design trend, but even people who don’t want to embrace that level of clutter control can still benefit from renting a storage unit to free up some space in their homes. According to recent research, removing clutter from the living environment directly reduces stress, boosts mood, instills confidence, and makes it easier to focus. However, not everyone can or wants to just get rid of all their possessions and adopt a life of comparative aestheticism.

Renting a storage unit allows people who have completely understandable sentimental attachments to their belongings to take advantage of the mental health benefits of living with less clutter without having to throw their favorite things away. For those who do want to go the full mile and get rid of things permanently, a temporary storage unit rental will make it easier to complete this process in a reasonable timeframe.

Store Belongings After a Death in the Family

Because most people don’t like to face the idea of their mortality, it’s very common for older adults to leave large amounts of stuff behind when they pass away. The last thing most families want to be dealing with while they’re grieving the loss of a loved one is to have the added stress of going through all of their worldly possessions immediately. More often than not, though, all of that stuff needs to go somewhere and can’t just sit in the home indefinitely. Even if the home won’t be sold or rented, keeping it looking like a time capsule isn’t healthy.

Renting a storage unit allows grieving families to deal with going through a loved one’s belongings on their terms. They can wait until the stress of the funeral is over, then go through the process of dividing up, giving away, or otherwise getting rid of cherished personal items when the loss no longer feels so raw. Taking this extra time can help to minimize stress and avoid unnecessary arguments by allowing everyone to heal emotionally before they have to confront practical issues regarding the person’s possessions.

Empty Dorm Rooms for Summer

College kids collect a surprising amount of stuff while they’re away at school, and many are left facing serious dilemmas regarding what to do with all of it over summer break. Even though this problem is ubiquitous across college campuses, few schools offer on-site storage options. Renting a storage unit with some friends offers a much more practical alternative to carting everything home and packing it into a childhood bedroom or, even worse, having to sell everything at the end of the semester only to repurchase the same goods at the start of the next year.

Students who want to get a good deal can lower their rental costs by going in on a unit with friends. That way, they can take advantage of the remarkably low prices associated with larger, outdoor storage units without wasting all of that extra space and can even split the cost, reducing their monthly bills even more.

Start Expanding a Home Business

Starting a business at home is a commonplace occurrence. However, as the business begins to grow, everything required to keep it running can quickly take over the home. Renting a storage unit is an easy way to address this problem so that the business can grow and thrive.

Some small business owners just use their storage units to keep documents organized. Others use them to keep specialized tools and equipment, inventory, or raw materials used frequently in their jobs. Common examples of businesses that can benefit from renting storage units include:

• Small retail stores.
• ECommerce shops.
• Antique dealers.
• Specialized book shops.
• Carpenters.
• Artists and craftsmen.
• General contractors.
• Landscapers.
• Other service professionals.

As long as a business owner doesn’t need to store prohibited items, the chances are good that the company will benefit substantially from maintaining a storage unit, and so will the business owner’s family.

Finding the Right Facility

In most cases, renters can save money by finding a facility that offers outdoor, drive-up storage. They’ll get more space than is typically available at indoor storage facilities, plus easier access to all of their stored belongings.

Individuals, families, and businesses that want to rent storage units should look for facilities that are conveniently located, adequately secured, and able to offer competitive pricing. There are plenty of options available, so don’t just go for the first one that comes up driving down the street. Do some research and find a storage facility that checks all the boxes.