Storage when moving house: when you need it and how to arrange it

Moving dates rarely line up perfectly. Completion slips, a chain breaks, you sell before you find somewhere, or the new place needs work before you can move in. Short-term storage fills the gap so you are not paying for a rushed decision.

Key points

• Storage is most useful when there is a gap between moving out and moving in, or when the new home needs work first.
• Book it early. Popular unit sizes go quickly at month end and over the summer.
• A 2 to 3 bed house usually needs around 150 sq ft. A 20ft container suits a 3 to 4 bed house.
• Expect roughly £50 to £200 a month for a mid-sized unit, more in London and the South East.
• The quickest way to compare local stores, including independents, is Local Storage Quote, our sister site.

When you might need storage during a move

A gap between completion dates. If your sale completes before your purchase, your belongings need somewhere to go. Storage plus a short let or a spell with family is often cheaper than holding up a sale.

Selling before you buy. Selling first puts you in a stronger position as a buyer, but it can mean a few months between homes.

The survey turns up work. If your Level 3 Building Survey finds damp, a roof that needs replacing or rewiring, it is far easier to get the work done in an empty house. Storing furniture for a few weeks can save on both trades' time and damaged belongings.

Decluttering to sell. Clearing out bulky furniture and boxes makes rooms look bigger in photos and viewings. It also makes life easier on survey day, because the surveyor needs clear access to the loft, meters and the corners of each room. Our guide to preparing your home for a buyer's survey covers what to clear.

Downsizing. Moving to a smaller home often means keeping a few pieces you are not ready to part with yet.

What size unit do you need?

As a rough guide:

• 25 sq ft - boxes, bags and a few small items. A locker or small unit.
• 50 sq ft - the contents of a studio flat.
• 100 sq ft - a 1 to 2 bed flat.
• 150 sq ft - a 2 to 3 bed house.
• 200 sq ft or a 20ft container - a 3 to 4 bed house.

Packing tightly with flat-packed furniture and stackable boxes can drop you a size, which saves money every month.

How much does storage cost?

Prices depend on size, location and how long you need it. Roughly:

• 10 to 25 sq ft - around £20 to £100 a month.
• 50 to 150 sq ft - around £50 to £200 a month.
• 200 sq ft and above - around £200 to £400+ a month.

London is the most expensive region. Many stores offer half-price or free first months, so the headline price is rarely the whole story. For a fuller breakdown, see the self storage price guide on Local Storage Quote.

Indoor storage or a container?

Indoor self storage is usually drier, climate-steadier and more secure, with lots of unit sizes. It suits sofas, mattresses, wooden furniture, electronics and paperwork.

Container storage is normally cheaper per square foot and often lets you drive right up to the door, which makes loading a van quicker. It suits garden furniture, tools and sturdy boxed items. Look for vented containers if you are storing for more than a few weeks.

There is a good side-by-side comparison in this container vs indoor storage guide.

The easiest way to arrange storage

Ringing round storage companies takes time, and the big national names are not always the cheapest. Local Storage Quote is our sister site and the simplest way we know to sort it:

1. Tell it what you need to store, roughly how much space and when you need it from.
2. Enter your postcode and how far you are happy to travel.
3. Your request goes to suitable stores near you, including independents, and they come back to you with prices and availability.
4. Compare the offers and book directly with the store you like.

It is free to use with no obligation to book, and it covers both indoor units and containers in one go.

Tips for storing belongings during a move

• Book as soon as you know there could be a gap. You can usually cancel or shorten if dates move.
• Check your insurance. Most stores require cover. Your home insurance may already extend to stored items.
• Label boxes on the side, not the top, so you can read them when stacked.
• Keep an essentials box with you - documents, chargers, medication, kettle and bedding.
• Put the things you will need first nearest the door.
• Do not store food, liquids, gas bottles or anything flammable.

Line up the survey and the storage together

The survey is often the thing that decides how long you need storage for. If it finds problems, you may want to renegotiate the price or get work done before moving in. Book your survey early so you have the report in time to plan around it. Our guide to when to book a house survey explains the timing.

Get a fixed price for your survey, and use Local Storage Quote to sort the storage side.

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