Where Can Families Find Cost-Effective Door-to-Door Storage?

Moving house? If you're moving the contents of a 4-bed home and there's any kind of delay, you may need to make use of self-storage.

from providers like Kiwi Storage is a popular choice with busy, time-poor families with lots of stuff to store. It involves bringing the storage unit directly to your home for loading, so you don't have to do multiple journeys to and from a storage facility.

But where can families find cost-effective door-to-door storage? You may assume it's much more expensive than standard storage, but it can actually work out cheaper once costs like van hire, fuel, insurance and your time are factored in.

Read on to find out more about the benefits of door-to-door storage for families, how much it costs and how you can keep the overall cost down.

Why families need door-to-door storage

Door-to-door storage is particularly useful for families moving house, who need to de-clutter before selling but aren't quite sure what they need to keep. It's also used for renovations, where messy building work means you need to get valuables and other items out of the way.

In both of these situations, there's enough going on without the extra stress of shifting stuff to and from storage. This may involve hiring a van, multiple journeys, lots of physical work loading and unloading, and perhaps also issues with finding somewhere to park (especially if you live in a built-up city like London).

The convenience of having a storage unit brought directly to you, loaded, stored and then redelivered can be a huge time-saver for busy families. It takes one large job off your plate, so you can focus on the rest of your hectic schedule.

What cost-effective really means when it comes to storage

You may think that you'll pay a lot more for the convenience of door-to-door storage, as there are extra services involved. While it's true that it does usually cost more compared to simply hiring a storage unit, that's not the full story.

If you hire a van to move everything to and from your 'cheap' storage unit, you'll still have extra costs to pay. This includes:

• Van hire per day (remember, you'll need a second day's hire to collect everything from storage)
• Security deposits
• Fuel and mileage
• Insurance and excess protection costs
• Penalty charges for damage, late return etc.
• Transport to get to and from the van hire location

Even if you have your own car, you'll still need to make multiple trips. This may mean extra costs for fuel, parking, congestion charges and other expenses.

All of these costs add up quickly. If you compare it side-by-side with a mobile storage solution offering collection and delivery, you might find that there's not much between them. The more convenient door-to-door solution could even work out cheaper, all costs considered.

How to keep costs down with door-to-door storage

To get the most from door-to-door storage and keep costs down, here are some handy tips:

• Store only what's needed - more stuff means more space, which can mean a larger or additional unit for an extra cost
• Look for flexible, short-term plans - avoid being locked into a long storage contract if you don't need it
• Check extra costs - for example, insurance or redelivery charges, so there are no unexpected surprises
• Pack smart - utilise space wisely in boxes and bags, making use of vacpack solutions to shrink things down to size. Dismantle furniture before collection, so it takes up less space.

FAQs

Where can families find cost-effective door-to-door storage?

Specialist storage providers like Kiwi Storage offer mobile storage solutions which collect and redeliver from your home address. It's cost-effective, with (including VAT).

Is door-to-door storage cheaper than self storage plus van hire?

It can potentially be cheaper, once you factor in the cost of van hire, the self-storage unit and extra costs like fuel, parking, insurance, excesses and penalties. This is why it's a popular choice with families on a budget.

Are there minimum storage periods for families?

Some providers have a minimum storage period of 1 month, but you can always get in touch to discuss alternative options if you need a shorter period.

Can multiple family members' items be collected in one visit?

Yes, you can store as much as you need and it can all be collected in one visit. You simply need to book the unit size you need, making sure that everything fits comfortably inside.