How an Affordable Storage Solution Will Help Your 2020 Budget

The holiday season has come and gone, but the bills will linger on.

Perhaps your New Year’s resolutions included rethinking your spending, maybe even following a budget.

There are ways to reduce your household costs, one of which is to think about affordable storage in Ottawa versus the potential costs of storing at home.  

When You’ve Got to Cut Costs…Consider Storage

Smart and strategic uses of affordable storage will save you money in specific cases: cutting the extra costs of storing specialty items in your home, reducing insurance costs, making better use of your own space (instead of renovating), protecting your costly investments, saving you money when moving or downsizing, and allowing your business to grow without needing to renovate or move.

Some Ottawa storage options that are away from home are more expensive than necessary, while keeping all your possessions at home is not necessarily without some costs.

Only pay for the Ottawa storage you need

You might be paying for more features or space than you need. That “free” truck and driver that you only used on move in is built into the everyday cost of the facility. You are even paying for a share of that service, or others, when you do not need them (or when someone else is using them).

Paying to store everything in a large climate-controlled space, with 24-hour surveillance and controlled access, is not economical if all you need is a small secure seasonal shelter for most of it.

You may be paying for insurance on items stored at home, for example, trailers and watercraft, that you only use once in awhile, unless you live next to camp sites and water. Check your insurance policy and the Ottawa storage facility policy for additional premiums and limitations for these items.

Free up space in your home

Using storage facilities can help you make better use of your garage, basement, or other spaces in your home. There can be other costs to storing valuables in your home, items that could be carefully and properly looked after in storage.

If you are giving up the use of your garage, basement, or other rooms because they are your storage facilities, there is an extra cost of time and money, traveling to and from and using alternate spaces elsewhere for family activities and projects.

There can be an extra cost if you are heating or cooling your garage, or any other building, because some stored items need to avoid temperature extremes (when most do not). If you are securing and lighting areas inside or outside your home to provide protection for stored items, that can be a hidden cost.

If you are considering buying a storage shed or portable vehicle shelter for your property, consider the purchase price (plus taxes), and how it will affect the appearance of your property.  Are they even allowed by local bylaws? Again, check your insurance policy for additional premiums and limitations for these items.

Protect your investments

When your (probably) second-biggest investment (your vehicle) is sitting outside in the elements because your garage is your storage facility, there is extra depreciation on it from winter snow, ice, and cold starting, the heat and blazing sun of summer, and the dirt and debris that falls on it.

Items stored outdoors risk damage from heat and cold, and mold and mildew on items that have been set aside for a season or two. They might not be ready for use when needed, or need cleaning or repair. They can also be at risk from loss, theft, rodents and other pests. Mice or insects can set up their home in your patio furniture,  summer vehicle, or watercraft.

Organize and declutter to save time and money

You might find yourself driving to some store to buy yet another small item that you are sure you already have , but that is misplaced somewhere around the house.

It can be frustrating when accomplishing any project usually involves seeking and sorting, before preparing for doing.

It can be time-consuming having to rearrange all the objects that occupy space in and around your home.

Ottawa storage for the short term when moving or downsizing

Perhaps you only need short-term storage in Ottawa for most of your contents, so that your current home can be staged for sale with just the minimal best few items. Longer-term storage for some seasonal and/or larger items might allow you to move to a more economical or desirable space. Affordable storage might allow you to move sooner, while taking your time to decide about items such as family heirlooms.

Secure storage in Ottawa will protect some valuable items before and while moving, and thereafter. You might only need a small storage unit, perhaps only for a short time, for the possessions you will be keeping. Affordable storage could provide big savings compared to keeping your current residence until you are ready to move to your next residence.

Save Time & Money with Affordable Storage in Ottawa

If you have a home business or are a small business owner who thinks that it is time to get a bigger space to operate, you might want to consider storage as a more economical solution.

You might only need an Ottawa storage location to store seasonal supplies, equipment, and records, rather than moving to a more expensive house or commercial location. You could just use a storage location for more space for supplies, to benefit from bulk purchases, cheaper shipping, and faster restocking. Having more supplies or equipment available off-site might allow you to better meet customer requests, seasonal demand, and delivery costs.

The right use of affordable storage will save you time and money, if you think long term and strategically.  

For affordable storage in Ottawa, contact us today.