subject: When Your Basement Isn't A Good Fit, It's Time To Move On To Warehouse Storage [print this page] We recently moved and were considering putting most of our things in storage. We aren't really pack rats, but there are a lot of things that we don't need or can't use that we aren't really ready to part with yet. Most of it ends up stored in boxes for some future day; baby clothes, old toys, books, and decorations. More or less, it's the accumulation of the past ten years of living in our old home. I guess some of it could be thrown away, but that is a concern for another day.
Luckily, since they were already boxed up, those items were easily loaded and moved. Most of them are now in our new basement, but eventually we want to use the space for something more hospitable than cardboard boxes. Before too long, I think we are going to be sorting through the stuff again, repacking it, and deciding what we will be keeping near by and what we will be storing in a warehouse.
I've seen and used a few warehouse facilities in my time, and even considered investing in one that came up for sale a few years ago. Security is my strongest concern, so I'll be looking for a warehouse with onsite employees, security cameras, and easy access. One that can actually ship items for me is another plus. There is no guarantee that we won't be moving again someday, and I would like to be able to call the warehouse and arrange for whatever we have stored there moved to wherever we might end up.
As part of maintenance, I'd also like a warehouse that can keep track of what I place in storage via computer, with reports available upon request. That will make it easier for me to know what is there at any given time as well as provide verification to my insurance company should I opt to insure whatever I have in warehouse storage. Not only that, but let's say, for some reason I can't make it to the warehouse and I want the boxes of holiday decorations shipped to my house. I can just call, tell them what needs to come out of inventory, and let them do the driving.
When the time comes for storage, I know what I want. Security, efficiency, and the ability to have specific items moved from point A to point B without actually having to go to the warehouse myself. Now, it's just a matter of deciding what stays and what goes.
