Guest Post....

How to Handle Downsizing to a Smaller Home

If you are like most people, you probably have thought that storage rental was just for people who had too much stuff and didn't know how to part it with it. In fact, there is actually a wide range of reasons why you should consider renting a self-storage unit

Living in a smaller home will almost always save you money, and many people say that it also saves them time in maintenance and general upkeep. Self-storage companies let people live in smaller spaces while still being able to store their larger possessions. Here are some other reasons that illustrate the value, convenience, and advantages of storage rental:

• It keeps your most valuable possessions safe. Cheap self-storage doesn't just provide extra space, it also offers top notch security for your most prized possessions. Family heirlooms and other valuables are kept under lock and key at well-lit facilities with extensive security systems.
• You can make room for the items you actually use. In your new, smaller home, your closets and cupboards are probably overflowing with items you only use occasionally. Moving seasonal items into cheap storage units gives you easier access to the everyday items you actually use. This might not save you money, but not having to hunt through piles of clutter is sure to save you time.
• There are multiple size options. Spaces are usually available for large, medium, or even small personal amounts of items at a moment’s notice. The multitude of self-storage companies to choose from pretty much ensures that if you can’t find any available units at one location, there’ll be others close by with vacancies.
• Sometimes you get a rental truck too. Having fast access to both a storage space and a rental truck (which sometimes comes as a courtesy of the first move-in) can facilitate a quick move, which is best in especially volatile situations.

Storage Prices can vary greatly, depending on numerous different factors. How do you know you’re getting the best rate on your storage unit? Use these tips to make sure you’re getting the best price:

• Decide how much space you'll need. You can't do an accurate comparison of self-storage prices if you don't know how much space you'll need. One company might offer great self-storage rates on really large units, but charge more than the local competition on the smaller unit that would meet your needs.
• Decide if you can downsize further. As a general rule, storage prices will be lower for smaller units. Once you've decided how much space you'll need, take a second look at your belongings and see if there is anything you can sell or give away.
• Compare storage prices online. The Internet makes comparing self-storage prices fast and easy. Use a service like SpareFoot to select the specific sizes and features you need.
• Calculate the actual savings of short-term promotions. Many storage companies will offer a free month or long-term discounts on their regular self-storage rates. Consider how long you plan to rent the unit to decide which promotions will save you the most money in the long run.

Tough decisions to move out are often preceded by months—and in some cases, years—of planning. The personal storage options offered by self-storage facilities can actually help to make a hard situation easier to deal with.

Putting your unused items in cheap storage units can help make room in your new home and give you an opportunity to take a mental break from the stress. If you're looking to simplify your daily life, cheap storage units can provide an inexpensive solution for the overflow that you don't use every day but aren't quite ready to get rid of.

This article was written by Matt Schexnayder. Matt is on the SpareFoot marketing team and writes for the SpareFoot blog. SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage with more than 5,000 self-storage facilities listed nationwide.