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August 22, 2017

Understanding storage options before, during and after your move

  • Storage
Choosing the right storage option is an important part of a move.

While not all moves need storage, it's a major consideration for the ones that do. Depending on your specific circumstances, you might need to store some or all of your belongings before, during or after you take the trip to your new home.

With so many different scenarios that could require the use of storage space, it's best to be prepared. Let's review the different storage options you can use to manage your move and keep your belongings safe.

Self-service storage units

Self-service storage units are a common tool used regularly by both movers and those who have seasonal or other items they don't need to regularly access or use. The prevalence of these storage units is a significant factor for local moves - if you're staying in the same neighborhood or only moving a few towns over, you can use a unit to easily store your belongings. Whether you're staging your old home for sale or waiting for renovations to complete, it's a simple affair to place and retrieve what you need, when you need it.

A major complication with self-service storage units arises when a move takes homeowners further away from their previous house. Unless the entire contents of the unit can be carried during a single car ride, someone will have to make at least two complete trips - or more - to the unit to ensure all belongings are safely removed. That could quickly amount to several hours of time in transit, and additional spending in terms of the gas required to go back and forth.

For moves that take you further away from your original home, returning to a storage unit is a time-consuming and complicated process. That's especially true if multiple trips are involved. In these instances and many others, a different storage option may better suit your needs.

Stack of boxes.Storage is an important consideration for many moves.

Atlas storage

When you move with Atlas, you can also take advantage of a network of more than 300 agents who maintain secure warehouses across the U.S. With an active inspection schedule that focuses on security, cleanliness and organization, you can rest assured your belongings will be safe throughout their time spent in storage. To make sure we can keep everything safe while it's held, we offer storage for large items at many warehouses as well, like boats and cars, as well as outdoor and climate-controlled options.

Atlas offers service similar to self-storage units - with the benefits of added security, thanks to the presence of Atlas agents, and the option to use Storage in Transit.

What's Storage in Transit? This convenient option keeps your belongings inside containers at our warehouse, ready to be delivered when your new home is set up and able to receive your furniture, appliances and anything else you need stored. Whether there's a delay in your family arriving at their new home or you're making some changes to your new property after selling your old home, Storage in Transit is an effective choice for keeping your belongings safe and ready for delivery.

Choosing the right storage option ultimately depends on the many factors that go into a move. Atlas is proud to offer traditional storage and Storage in Transit to make sure every mover has the right option available.