We get asked all the time about the difference in storing your items in self storage vs. storing at a moving company. Most people do not understand how items are stored in a moving company. Public storage can have its challenges, so depending on your needs, working with a moving and storage company might be a better option. Your items are stored, pad wrapped in vaults, which only contain your items. We inventory each item and provide you with the inventory of your items, so you know what to expect to receive when we deliver them. So the choice all depends on your needs.
The Facts About Self-Storage
- Great for do-it-yourself people. You do all the work, including packing and loading your items into storage.
- Access. If you need space to store non–furniture items and then access them, self – storage is usually the better option. Some examples are seasonal items such as patio furniture, lawn mowers, Christmas ornaments and decorations, snow blowers, contractors that need space for their product and supplies, etc. You can store these items at a moving company, but if you need to access them, there is a small charge to pull them.
- Oil paintings, musical instruments, photos, do better in a climate controlled facility. Furniture and most other items do NOT need climate control and are not worth the added expense.
- One important distinction to note is the difference between a regular self-storage facility and a climate-controlled storage facility. Regular self-storage facilities are non-heated garages with garage doors and concrete floors. They are a great place for people that need extra space for non-furniture items. Climate controlled facilities are more expensive than regular self-storage facilities. Climate control is unnecessary for most household furniture and other items not mentioned above. We have stored some people’s furniture in our warehouses for over 50 years, and they are in the same condition as when they arrived. Wh? Because they are wrapped in pads and professionally loaded.
- Be careful about “self storage experts” and online visuals on how much space you need. Many places even offer discounts for booking the storage online. 2 or 3 bedroom homes are just not going to fit into the prescribed cubic footage recommended, unless you use a high quality moving company to properly protect and stack everything from floor to ceiling. Self-storage facilities do not provide enough padding or the proper padding. Paper pads are NOT adequate protection for stacking furniture or to protect the sides of items.
- “Renting Moving Help." Connectors to “local, independent customer reviewed helpers” is just not the way to go! They are not criminally background checked, and do not carry any insurance. No workmen’s compensation insurance, no property or cargo insurance. So if someone is injured, it is usually on the property owner, and if any items are damaged, there is no replacement coverage (many times you won’t even notice the damage until you take your items back out of storage ). We cannot emphasize this enough!
The Facts About Storing With A Moving Company
- Using professionals to handle your items from start to finish. Furniture and related items need to be stored at a moving company.
- Packing materials, furniture pads. Furniture requires moving blankets and tape to protect. Most self–storage facilities provide few blankets, and you have to pay a rental fee for them, IF they are available. Plastic and paper pads are provided to purchase, but they are not good options to protect your furniture. There is also a charge for items that have to be stretch wrapped in plastic (sofa, for example). Moving companies stretch wrap your items free of charge. Mattresses and box springs need to be protected with thick plastic moving bags. Bags offered for purchase by self–storage facilities do not offer adequate protection from rub marks, punctures, and tears.
- Insurance/Valuation. This is to protect your items while they are in storage for water damage, fires, etc. Note that most homeowners have very limited coverage. Movers offer full replacement coverage at a very small cost. Self–storage valuation varies. Some offer very limited coverage. Others charge high monthly prices for coverage.
- Rodent protection. This is important. Moving companies are required to have full pest control services by the PA Public Utility Commission and Allied Van Lines. No matter how "new" or “clean" a self–storage is, each unit needs individual pest control services to protect your items from mice, ants, cockroaches, etc. They can get in anywhere!
- Using any moving company to move your items into a self–storage facility is messy. Moving companies must remove their blankets when placing the items in the facility. We cannot leave our blankets at another facility. So then the moving companies have to use whatever the storage facility provides to store AND stack the items. Moving companies are also relieved of any damage once the items are put into storage, unless the customer is there to watch every item that is placed into the facility and witnesses any damage. This is not a good option.
- Moving companies store all items in a protected storage vault. No items are kept on concrete floors. Wooden furniture kept on concrete floors can wick the moisture. Also, severe temperature contrasts in non–heated facilities are not good for glue with furniture.
- One – Stop Shop. Ease of doing business. You can get all of your materials need to do any packing you choose to do yourself, have the movers pack any other items (including fragile items), and move everything using their blankets and materials into their storage, and use the same company to move everything out to the final destination – whenever that time is. Seamless, much easier and much less stressful.
Overall, there are many advantages of storing with a moving company versus a self storage facility. At O'Brien's Moving and Storage, we care for your items, protect them, and return them safely to you when you are ready for them. We offer household storage, commercial storage, and record management services. Contact us today for a free estimate and learn about our exclusive storage offers!
