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Flexible Storage Options When Moving Across the Country
Moving across the country is a major undertaking, but with the help of long-distance movers who offer flexible storage options, your move will be much more manageable. Some of the decisions you’ll face when looking into cross-country movers are whether or not you’ll need moving storage, how long you might need it, and the type of storage you’ll need.
Reasons You May Need Storage During a Long-Distance Move
One big difference between moving locally and moving across the country is that a long-distance move is more of a one-shot deal. You won’t have the option of running back and forth to move items from the old house to the new house—once you’re gone, you’re gone. Although temporary storage might be necessary with any move, the complicated situations that can come along with the typical long-distance move can result in an even greater need for storage services. Read our guide to a successful long-distance move.
Here are some of the most common reasons customers ask cross-country movers to store their belongings temporarily:
- You have to be out of your old house before your new home is ready. Flexible storage options are a must in this all-too-common situation.
- Your move isn’t permanent. This can be the situation with cross-country moves when the plan is to first rent a home in the new area and then look for a house to buy after getting to know the various neighborhoods.
- You have remodeling projects to complete on your new home. When possible, it’s always easier to complete any renovations before bringing in your furniture.
- You need to stage your home for resale. Selling your current home can be a big part of the moving process. Homes that are staged appeal more to prospective buyers, which is why you may need to remove some of your own items ahead of time to make room for professional staging props.
Do You Really Need Storage?
With a long-distance move, it may take up to two weeks to receive your load, depending on several variables, including how far you are moving and the time of year. If the time between leaving your old house and getting the keys to your new house is only a few days, you may not need storage at all. It all depends on when the moving truck is scheduled to arrive at your new home.
Length of Storage
An important question to ask when interviewing moving and storage companies is whether they are able to store your items in the event that there’s a delay and your new home isn’t ready. Knowing there’s a little wiggle room with the time frame will give you peace of mind during a potentially complicated relocation.
Remember that some smaller moving companies may not have long-term storage capabilities, so be sure mention any storage needs when getting quotes from movers. Also, the length of time the moving company will be able to store your belongings could depend on where and when you are moving.
Traditional Storage
For typical household goods and short-term storage needs, traditional storage often works well. This is especially true in geographical areas where the climate is mild to moderate. Even if the weather is less than optimum, a regular unit will provide some protection from weather extremes. In the winter, the facility’s temperature will be a few degrees warmer than the temperature outside. Whereas, in the summer, the temperature inside the unit will be a few degrees cooler than the external temperature.
Temperature Controlled Storage
The next level of moving storage is a temperature-controlled option. If you’ll need your belongings stored for an extended period or you’re concerned about temperature extremes, upgrading to a temperature-controlled option is a great solution.
The industry standard for temperature-controlled storage is to keep the temperature inside the facility somewhere between 55 and 80 degrees. The more radically different this ideal range will be from the weather outside, the more important temperature control will be for your items. Here are a few examples of items that may benefit from temperature-controlled storage:
- Appliances
- Electronics
- Photos and artwork
- Collectibles
Climate-Controlled Storage
If you’re looking for the maximum level of protection for your items, climate-controlled storage is for you. Keep in mind when you’re discussing moving and storage with long-distance moving companies that some movers use the terms “temperature controlled” and “climate controlled” interchangeably. However, a truly climate-controlled environment is one in which the humidity is also regulated.
The great thing about a climate-controlled facility is that the environment fluctuates very little as far as humidity and temperature. Typically, the temperature range in a climate-controlled facility is narrowed to a more exacting standard than the broad range considered acceptable with temperature-controlled storage.
The stricter requirements with a climate-controlled facility are ideal for preserving your most fragile items. Knowing the difference between temperature control and climate control can help you make the right choice for protecting your goods. The following items do best in a climate-controlled unit:
- Musical instruments
- Wine collections
- Fine art
- Important documents
- High-end decór
- Antique wood furniture
Keep in mind that not all moving companies offer temperature-controlled or climate-controlled storage capabilities, so you will need to ask about that when getting quotes.
Vault Storage
If you’re looking for the highest level of security, vault storage is the way to go. This kind of storage typically involves your belongings being padded and wrapped and placed in an enclosed wooden crate before being stored.
Long-Distance Movers with Flexible Storage Options
When planning your big move, be sure to ask the moving companies you’re considering if they have storage options such as storage in transit, and long-term storage.
Here at Suddath, we offer a variety of long- and short-term storage options. Also, when we say climate control, we mean climate in the strictest sense of the word—we are referring to the regulation of both temperature and humidity.
Suddath offers the following flexible storage options:
- Storage in transit (SIT) in case your new home isn’t ready
- Temperature-controlled storage
- Climate-controlled storage
- Long term and vault storage
Suddath has been handling cross-country moves for more than a century. With access to Atlas Van Line’s top moving partners, our long-distance movers can move you anywhere you need to go in North America. Not only that, but we have more than three million square feet of warehouse space across the country to safely and securely store your household goods until you need them. When you go with us, we’ll provide you with a personal move coordinator who will be dedicated to planning your move’s logistics, including any storage needs.
Note: Please keep in mind that with an interstate move, storage may cap out at around 180 days, depending on the location. If you need storage beyond that time frame, that’s something you can discuss with your move coordinator.
Trust Your Long-Distance Move to Experts
Regardless of the storage option you choose, knowing your items are in good hands can make all the difference during a potentially stressful long-distance move.
Since Suddath also stores the goods of commercial customers in our warehouses, your items will be cared for with the same level of organization, temperature control, and security as our business clients’ merchandise, which often includes sensitive items like medicine and food.
When there’s a lack of flexibility on either end during a cross-country move, it’s vital to go with a moving company that offers flexible storage options. Get a free long-distance moving and storage quote or give us a call today at 888-799-5033.