Moving across the country can get expensive. You need to budget for travel, lodging, moving your belongings, and storage.
Moving across the country can get expensive. You need to budget for travel, lodging, moving your belongings, and storage.
Storing your items adds an extra cost. This article looks at what makes up storage fees and how to budget for them.
When moving long distance, you may need temporary storage for your belongings. Factors like timing and logistics can result in gaps between packing up and deliveries.
A storage and moving company provides facilities to securely hold items during transitions. But space rental, insurance, climate control, and access fees add up.
With some planning, you can estimate and manage these expenses.
How Storage Fits Into a Long-Distance Move?
The main parts of a cross-country relocation budget are:
- Packing supplies – Boxes, tape, padding
- Movers – Labor for packing, loading, unloading
- Transportation – Rental trucks, gas, mileage
- Lodging – Hotels along the route
- Storage – Short or long-term container/unit rental
You pack possessions at your old home. Movers load them into a truck for overland transport. If timing issues arise, items may wait at a storage site before final delivery.
For example, your new house may not be ready when the movers arrive. Putting furniture in storage lets them finish the trip while you sort out housing.
Typical Storage Costs
Fees vary between companies and regions. But typical components are:
Rental – Based on unit size needed and duration of storage. For a small room for 1-3 months, budget $100-$250 monthly. Larger spaces and longer terms cost more.
Insurance – Protects against damage, theft, fire. Usually runs $2-$4 monthly per $100 of declared value. Go with sufficient coverage for possessions.
Administrative – $20-$60 for contracts and processing paperwork.
Access – Retrieving items from storage or doing inventory checks costs $50-$150 per instance.
Climate Control – Heating/cooling units to protect vulnerables like wood furniture can add $15-$100 monthly depending on usage and utility rates.
Factors That Impact Storage Cost
Elements that make storage pricing vary include:
- Location – Urban centers are pricier than rural ones. Storage costs in NYC far exceed Tuscaloosa.
- Security Level – Basic units versus restricted access, video monitoring, guards on premises.
- Unit Size – Larger spaces fit more but cost extra too.
- Duration – Long term rentals offer better rates.
- Special Conditions – Climate controls, electricity outlets.
Shop around as fees are not universal. Be clear on what’s covered too – some places charge large item fees for oversize possessions like pianos or boats.
Estimating Your Storage Budget
Add up likely costs from the key factors above to estimate storage fees. Common scenarios:
1-3 Month Rentals
- Small unit rental – $100-$250 monthly
- Insurance – $50-$100 total
- Admin fees – $50
- 1-2 accesses – $100-$300
- Basic climate control – $50
- Total: $350-$800
6-12 Month Terms
- Medium unit rental – $150-$400 monthly
- Insurance – $100-$250 total
- Admin fees – $50-$100
- 1-2 accesses – $100-$300
- Basic climate control – $100-$250
- Total: $1,000-$3,500
Pad estimates by 10-20% for incidentals and overages just in case. Reassess as situations change too – ending a rental early or needing an extension will alter budgets.
Ways To Reduce Storage Costs
If estimates come in high, a few options to lower fees include:
- Take less at first – Prioritize essentials only. Make multiple trips rather than bring everything.
- Compare providers – Some run frequent specials. Units offsite can be 30-50% cheaper.
- Split stays – Switch between self-storage and friends/family hosting items when possible.
- Bundle insurance – Sometimes homeowner’s or renters policies allow riders for separate coverage.
- Minimize access – Careful planning and packing to need fewer mid-storage retrievals.
With smart strategizing, storage doesn’t have to break the bank when moving halfway across the map.
Just be sure to calculate all the costs accurately based on specific situations. And leverage every trick to maximize savings without compromising security or convenience.
