We often don’t realize how much stuff we collect over the years until it’s time…
What do you do when you have to move out on the 31st, but can’t move in until the 10th?
Well, being homeless isn’t really an option. Most of us don’t have family or friends with space, or, if we’re being honest, the desire to play host to you and your family and all of your belongings for the two weeks before you can move into your new place.
This is actually a more common situation than you might think. Many apartment complexes require several days to flip an apartment, taking the time to repaint, check or replace appliances, and clean.
It’s also common for families that are selling their home to buy a new house to have to move out before being able to move in — so, where do you go?
And, most importantly — where does all your STUFF go?
Temporary Storage for Conflicting Moving Dates
At On The Go Moving and Storage, we noticed this problem that our clients were facing. We’d help our clients pack and move — into a self-storage facility. These units usually require a lengthy contract (often far longer than the customer needs). Additionally, the units themselves weren’t ideal for storage — pricey, difficult to get to, and not often very secure, amongst other problems.
Value Limits
Many storage units offered a limited insurance coverage for their renters. Unfortunately, only up to a certain value. For most families in the Seattle area, this value limit was significantly lower than their overall value of items being stored. This meant that they had little security knowing that their belongings, in the event of a problem, would actually be covered.
In other words, there was a significant financial worry during the entire time items were being stored.
Poor Security
Security is touted as a big priority for many self-storage companies, but the reality is usually far different than the picture painted. Many companies seem to suggest round-the-clock on-site surveillance, alarm systems, and top of the line security.
The reality is usually a few cameras placed around the location with one or two people on duty managing several hundred units — or more. This opens a door for burglary, vandalism, and other damage to your belongings. And, as identified above, you can’t be sure that you’ll be covered enough to even replace your items in the event this does occur.
Unsealed Units
We all know that Seattle has a lot of rain. Unsealed units or those units that aren’t within enclosed buildings are particularly prone to moisture build-up. Even if it’s just a puddle in one corner, this moisture can severely damage your belongings or allow mold to begin growing on your wood or fabric items. Rapid changes in temperatures can also cause damage — a common occurrence in the Seattle area during the early spring and fall months.
Pest Damage
As if the water weren’t threat enough, rats are also a very real issue in the Seattle area. Finding a self-storage unit that is tightly sealed against pests is a huge priority, as we’ve all experienced or witnessed the damage that a single rat family can do in just a matter of days. Units that are near commercial locations, the water, or manufacturing facilities drew more vermin as well.
Dirty Units
Most storage units are not thoroughly cleaned between uses. This means that no one is monitoring for leaks, bugs, or other pests. It’s important that you are moving your treasured belongings into a clean, safe environment. After all — it’s what you’re paying for, right?
Inconvenient Location
Many of our customers moving in and around the Seattle area had trouble finding temporary storage that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. In order to try to bring the costs down, many of them were forced to find a storage unit far away from the city center and in the more rural areas.
Needless to say, this caused no small amount of inconvenience for the family, as well as drove up costs of travel during moving. Anytime an item was needed, it required an hour or more drive to the unit and back. If the move-in date to their new home was more than a week or two out, these trips could add up quickly.
Why On The Go Moving is Your Best Temporary Storage Solution
We saw all of these issues that our customers were having with self-storage solutions when they found themselves in need of temporary storage. So, we decided to fill this need by creating our own storage facility.
At On the Go Moving and Storage, we use storage vaults. These are large, 7’ x 7’ x 5’ boxes that we keep in our warehouse. You can reserve as many of these storage vaults as are available and necessary to store your belongings. Our warehouse is climate controlled and constantly monitored by multiple staff on onsite security systems.
Most importantly, we offer month to month contracts for our customers. No long contracts signed, no wasted money — just great storage services that suit your needs. As our moving crews help you pack up and transport your items, we’ll wrap them all in protective materials to keep them safe during transport and storage. As we load your vaults, you’re welcome to stay to watch the process and take inventory of what items are loaded into each vault. (This is helpful if our customers need to return to get something out of storage.)
When your move-in day finally arrives, our crew will help you unload all of your belongings into the moving truck and to your new location. A painful moving experience rendered far less painful thanks to storage services that you actually feel confident and comfortable using.
If you’d like to learn more about our storage services, contact our team or fill out our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!
