Your moving day is June 15th. Your new lease doesn't start until July 1st. Now, from then to there, have you thought about what you’re going to do with all the furniture, appliances, and stuffs in the house?
These are the situations where moving storage actually makes sense. But storage is one of those services people either desperately need or don't need at all. If you’re waffling on whether to make the call or not, here’s what you need to know about the service and tips on how to decide if it’s for you or not – from your friends at Smoother Movers!
When Storage Actually Makes Sense
Gap between your old and new place
This is the most common scenario. Your lease ends, but your new place isn't ready, or your old landlord wants you out before the new owner takes possession. It could also be that you’re selling your house and the new house isn't ready.
In any case, moving storage makes sense. Two weeks of storage for a two-bedroom move in the Lower Mainland costs $150-$250. That's reasonable when the alternative is paying hotels or asking family to let you camp on their couches.
You're in transition
Maybe you're traveling before settling into a permanent place. Or you're splitting time between two locations. Storage during the interim period makes sense instead of moving everything twice.
You're downsizing
You're keeping items that won't fit in your new place but might fit later. Your grandmother's china cabinet doesn't fit in your new condo – but when you eventually buy a house, it will.
Storage during your transition period costs less than the hassle of selling items you'd rather keep, and less than replacing them later.
You have legitimate seasonal items
People don’t always buy warehouse slot because they’re moving. If you have items that you only use occasionally, like Christmas decors, winter sporting equipment, or patio furniture that could only be used during the summer months, rather than trying to find space for them in the house, just bring them to a warehousing service.
When Storage Doesn't Actually Make Sense
Just because we’re offering storage services doesn’t mean we’ll push you toward it no matter what. There are some situations where you probably don’t need it.
For instance, if you're thinking "I'll just put it in storage and figure it out later," pause. You'll end up paying $100-$200 per month to store items you don't actually want. That box of things you're unsure about? Six months of storage costs more than the effort of donating it would have cost.
Some people hold onto an item out of guilt (your parents gave you a huge dinner table and you’ve no space for it in your house, for instance,) so sending it off into storage became an expensive way to procrastinate on how to deal with it. But think of it this way: eventually, you’d have to retrieve the item (and feel obligated to use it) or (and this is surprisingly common), leave it in storage indefinitely despite the monthly bill. Neither option is actually respectful to the gift or the relationship.
The math also doesn't work for a lot of items. If something is worth $200 and storage costs $25 per month, you break even after eight months. After a year, you've paid more to store it than it's worth. For most household items – furniture, kitchen equipment, decor, electronics – this math is brutal. By the time you've stored something for a year, you could have replaced it brand new for the same price you paid to keep the old version in a unit.
The hard truth is this: storage works when you have a genuine gap (two weeks between moves, a specific interim period). Storage doesn't work when it's a decision-avoidance tool – be honest with yourself about which category you're in.
The Real Cost of Storage
This is where decisions get grounded in reality.
| Duration | Monthly Cost | Total Cost | Reality Check |
| 2-4 weeks | $25-$50/week | $50-$150 | Legitimate gap storage; temporary situation |
| 1 month | $100-$250 | $100-$250 | Seems temporary, but many people stay longer |
| 3 months | $100-$250/month | $300-$750 | People reassess and realize items aren't worth storing |
| 6 months | $100-$250/month | $600-$1,500 | You've paid enough to buy replacement items new |
| 1 year | $100-$250/month | $1,200-$3,000 | Could have replaced most items with new versions |
Storage Options in the Lower Mainland
If you do decide storage makes sense, you have options:
- Full-service moving storage: Smoother Movers offers climate-controlled storage options. Items go directly from your old place into climate-controlled units. You pay monthly for as long as you need.
- Climate-controlled vs. non-climate: Climate control costs more ($30-$50/month difference) but prevents damage to furniture, electronics, and sensitive items. For short-term storage (2-4 weeks), non-climate is fine. For longer periods, climate control is worth it.
- Portable storage units: Many companies bring a unit to your location, you pack it, they store it. Convenient but usually more expensive than traditional storage facilities.
- Self-storage facilities: Various facilities across Vancouver and North Vancouver. Cheapest option, but you handle the packing and transport yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: If I put items in storage "temporarily," how long do most people actually keep them there?
A: Most people intend temporary storage (2-4 weeks) but end up keeping items for 3-6 months minimum. Before you know it, you've paid $600-$1,500 in storage fees for items worth far less. Be realistic about your timeline upfront – if you can't commit to retrieving items within a month, reconsider whether you actually want to keep them.
Q: Should I use climate-controlled storage, or will regular storage be fine?
A: Climate control costs $30-$50 more per month but prevents damage to furniture, electronics, and humidity-sensitive items. For short-term storage (2-4 weeks), regular storage is fine.
Q: If I'm storing a piece of furniture "for my future house," how do I know if I should actually keep it?
A: Ask yourself: Would I buy this item new if I didn't already own it? If the answer is no, don't store it. You're paying money to keep something you wouldn't actively choose to buy.
Q: What's the difference between using my moving company's storage vs. a self-storage facility?
A: Moving company storage (like Smoother Movers offers) handles pickup and delivery – items go straight from your old place into climate-controlled units without you moving them twice. Self-storage facilities are cheaper but require you to pack, transport items, and handle everything yourself.
Q: If I realize after a month that I don't want to keep stored items, can I just donate them or throw them away?
A: Yes, but check your storage agreement first. Some facilities require notice or have specific procedures for abandoned items. Most will work with you if you want to remove items or dispose of them. However, you've already paid for that month of storage, so the financial damage is done.
Conclusion
If you're moving and thinking you need storage, talk to Smoother Movers about your situation. We can help you think through whether storage actually makes sense for your move, and if it does, we handle the logistics so you don't have to!