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They say moving house is a stressful as divorce – and probably takes twice as long. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Anything that takes time and planning, and has elements that one cannot control is perhaps almost bound to be stressful, but a dose of realism, some planning and a little PMA [positive mental attitude] can go a long way when moving home.

1. Be realistic

Work on the basis that things WON’T go exactly to plan and you won’t be disappointed. Don’t think anything is ‘a done deal’ until contracts are signed and dates agreed. When thinking of dates for exchange or completion, be realistic around timescales and work around a number of options – planning everything around only one date is almost certainly going to lead to disappointments so give yourself as many options as you can.

Although moving house is an emotional time, don’t let it be too emotional. Don’t fall in love with your new home until it is your new home; don’t put all your emotional energy into one location until you are living in that location. View any setbacks rationally as you then have a chance of getting the best out of a situation.

2. Plan, plan and plan again

Don’t let anything go wrong simply because you didn’t think the plan for it to go right. From choosing which estate agent to use to make sure your removal van arrives on the right day, planning is essential. There is lots of online help but nothing beats a simple diary/calendar so you can see what, who, when and where. Try to remember [as if you could forget] what went wrong with the last movie, and ask advice from family and friends. Use your estate agent: next to you they most want to see a successful sale and they will have great contacts and insider information.

3. Declutter and do storage

It’s unlikely you will take everything from your old home to your new even if you are upsizing. It’s even less likely you will want or need everything else from day 1. So firstly declutter – and I would advise doing this even before you market your own home as it will make the home look neater, tidier and ultimately easier to sell.

Once you have exchanged contracts, start to move stuff that you don’t use daily into self-storage. It will mean you don’t have to move everything in one go and gives you a chance to adjust to your new home without cardboard boxes filling every bit of floor space. As and when [or if] you need it, you can take it out of storage.

4. Make it easy on yourself

There are some practical steps to make the move easier, but they are often difficult to stick to as they seem almost counter-intuitive. So, for example, don’t view any houses until you have sold your own. Look on the internet to make sure you there are houses which meet your requirements at the price you can pay but leave it at that until you have an offer on your home. Your heart, your partner and the estate agent will tell you otherwise but you risk falling in love with properties you then see sold before your very eyes. This puts pressure on you emotionally –and may make you reduce your asking price without any real need to.

Likewise, your solicitor will ask you to pay for searches BEFORE you have received your mortgage offer. That seems to make sense as you want everything to be done as quickly as possible but rationally it makes no sense – you could just be wasting money if the offer doesn’t come through.

5. Take time out…

Or carry on regardless. Don’t put your life on hold during the whole process, as that will also add to the pressure. Make time during the sale for some enjoyment – perhaps try to take yourself off for a at least a day so you are not always thinking about mortgages, removal vans and fixtures and fittings. It’s important to continue to maintain the house in the usual way. If you usually paint the exterior in the summer, then paint it even if the house is on the market; it’s a false economy to stop and will be one of those things that maintain a sense of normality.

Few of us would move house for fun, but the above may help lower stress levels – and perhaps avoid a real divorce. A lot of planning, a little self-storage and a cool head at all times could be the three things that make all the difference.

Whilst every parent loves their children dearly, sometimes the thought of them returning from university for the summer can raise a few issues. As well as the extra food and laundry, most students will bring the contents of their ‘digs’ with them as they move from between university years. Whereas they left home with a suitcase, a laptop and a George Foreman grill they seem to return with a half the contents of the IKEA catalogue.

This is where modern storage facilities offer an alternative to the prospect of a summer trying to find room in your home for all this extra stuff, and trying to access it when required. The benefits are clear, the cost low and the advantages all too easy to see:

No Long Term Contracts

The minimum period for renting space is just 1 week – so you only need to pay for the time you are using the facilities. If a change of plan means your student son or daughter needs to move into new accommodation unexpectedly, you have not spent money on wasted fees and are not tied into a contract

Only the space you need

Another advantage of modern storage units is their sheer flexibility in terms of size – whether you need 8ft or 80ft there is usually a unit to accommodate. You may find you need more storage – or even less – than you imagined but that’s often no problem as there will be a unit to match your exact needs

Access all areas

It’s likely your young genius will suddenly need something that’s stored away. Perhaps a book for some study, but more likely a must-have dress for tonight’s party or that crucial dubstep CD that needs to be listened to straight away. The good news is that, no matter what the need is, modern storage offers 24/7 access

The Price is Right

Perhaps the biggest surprise is what great value the units are, especially if you have used storage facilities in the past. Of course, prices vary and you need to make sure there are no hidden extras. Even within the same area, prices can differ a lot so ring around to some quotes first. Renting self-storage space will keep your home tidy, and allow your son or daughters possessions to be kept clean, tidy and all in one place for easy access. But the advantages don’t stop there. Renting property is expensive so when your son or daughter is looking for accommodation, self-storage will help them rent a smaller – and cheaper property. Put all the stuff they don’t use every day into store locally – they can get to it whenever they want – and they will soon find they need less space and therefore can look to save money on rent. They’ll put all the money they save into the bank of course and will not be tempted to buy more booze or takeaways. Seriously, with the cost of higher education today any saving will help so make self-storage a priority.

There are probably as many reasons for using self-storage as there are self-storage facilities, but below are some of the most popular:

1.    Renting is cheaper than… renting

Even in straightened times, commercial rents are high – particularly the closer to City and town centres the premises are located. Self-storage is much cheaper to rent per square foot so it makes sense store as much as possible. Archived material, marketing material and stationery supplies, temporarily unused furniture and computer equipment can all be stored in dry and secure conditions, accessed 24/7 and offer considerable cost savings. If you are looking for first premises or moving offices, decide what is essential to have on a daily basis – get the rest into storage. If commercial rents are high, then residential rent is off the scale. Again, it makes sense only to rent the absolute minimum space needed – it makes no sense to rent, say, a second bedroom only to fill it up with stuff. Put that stuff into storage and save the difference between one bed and two bed flat – every month.

2.    Loft ladders anyone?

Most houses end up with a loft full of stuff that is too good to throw away but not needed on a daily basis. Accessing it becomes a bit of a chore:  getting up the loft for starters, then trying to find what you need amongst the mess and then trying to get it down from the loft. Dusty attics are often not the best place for storage either in terms of temperature and dampness. Self-storage offer dry, clean condensation-free units that you simply walk straight into.

3.    Give yourself a little extra room

Modern homes are brilliant and are increasingly designed for energy efficiency and low running costs. However, storage space is often limited – and we seem to own more and more ‘stuff’ – electrical items, clothes, etc. Again, most new homes have a parking space rather than a garage and smaller gardens mean there may be no room for even a small shed. Self-storage offers a practical and low-cost way to get a little extra room for all those extra items. They are not only kept safe and secure but can be accessed at any time

4.    Study time

Student accommodation is always difficult to find and one way to make it easier – and cheaper – is to reduce the amount of space needed. Living, studying and often eating in one room can become more pain but the more free space the easier it becomes. Self-storage can offer some things that student accommodation often lacks – they are clean, dry and easy to get to! Use them to store everything you don’t need on a daily basis and free yourself – and your room.

5.    You’re a flexible friend

You don’t need to be Trotters Independent Traders to spot a bargain, but sudden unexpected stock needs to be stored. It makes no business sense to rent lock-ups for six or twelve months at a time when you hope to turn stock over in a matter of days or weeks. Not only is self-storage secure, but it is also usually available on a week-to-week basis so you rent the space you need when you need it. ‘Lovely Jubbly’ as someone might say. There are plenty of great reasons why self-storage units can save space as well as costs for almost any business.

Most people would admit to owning and keeping lots of unwanted items that end up taking up valuable space in their homes. Before your spring clean have a spring clear-out and get those unwanted items out of the house once and for all. Follow our 6 point plan to minimise the disruption and maximise the effectiveness:

1.    Make a date

Set a date to start and stick to it. Check the weather forecast – a bit of sunshine makes the whole task seem easier and will allow you to spill outside if needed. If it feels like spring, you will want to start the spring clear-out and are more likely to stick to the task.

2.    Make a plan

You know when but who and what? The clutter is unlikely to be one person’s fault so get spouses and kids involved if they have their own piles of stuff filling wardrobes, cupboards, bedrooms, studies, garages and sheds! Perhaps assign someone to a particular room. Set some guidelines on what stays and what goes. If it hasn’t been used/worn/switched on in, say, 12 months then it is probably surplus to requirement. Stick to the rules no matter how painful.

3.    Make a charity happy

Charities always require good quality items either to resell or use for their causes. Clothes, housewares, books, media are ideal to donate. Electrical items and large furniture often need to go to more specialist centres. As a family, select a charity [you could support it all year round with other activities] and call their local shop/branch to tell them what you are planning on doing – they may be able to help with collecting items. If you have a lot to dispose of why not plan a charity ‘garage sale’? Again the charity could help with publicity and you could offer refreshments to raise even more money.

4.    Make some money

You may want to raise some cash for yourself – perhaps to buy new things in time for next years clearance! Family, friends and work colleagues may be interested so give them the opportunity to go through your unwanted items on the day of your clearance otherwise they will be left to clutter up the place for even longer. If you think there is anything of value your local auction house will provide a free valuation. Finally, locally-based internet sites such as Gumtree allow you to sell stuff for free. Even if you don’t value it, somebody else may and the internet will provide a good guide to what price to ask.

5. Make some room

After you have cleared out/given away/sold plenty, you may find you haven’t quite decluttered as you hoped. There are probably lots of items you don’t use regularly but are not ready to get rid of just yet. Putting them into self-storage might be the best idea for these items. Unlike putting them in the loft [even if you have one] you can access them easily and they will be kept in a clean, dry environment. You will free up space in the house, leaving it decluttered and ready for that spring clean.

5.    Make a commitment

Getting into a cycle of buying things you don’t need only to get rid of the twelve months later makes no sense financially or environmentally. After the declutter, think through your real needs and perhaps real reasons for buying more and more. Spending less on things you don’t need will allow you to buy the things you really want, add to your savings or help reduce debt. It’s a good example for your children, family and friends to follow as reducing overproduction will help lower our carbon footprint and protect precious resources. Time, effort, planning and a little self-storage can go a long way to making your home seem like new with a thorough declutter.

Shifting from one location to another might give you a headache. However, there are many movers and packers that offer self-storage facilities and take care of your need for storage units. Before using the units for self-storage, do keep in mind the following useful tips that will ensure that your valuables and family heirloom are kept safely:

Plan the way you wish to use the self-storage units. Proper planning will make your self-storage efficient and profitable. Check if the self-storage boxes are uniform in size and in accordance with your storage needs. Plan your self-storage unit space. If you wish to use a large space, avoid filling it completely. A larger and free self-storage space is always an added benefit as it provides ample room to store more stuff if the need arises. Store the heavier items at the bottom and the lighter ones at the top of the self-storage box. Fill empty spaces with bubble wrap or sheets to avoid friction between stored items. Determine what you can store and whatnot. Label all boxes in order to make them easily identifiable. Seal the boxes with masking tape for proper storage. Leave a small gap between the material and the wall to facilitate ventilation. Lock the self-storage unit with a good quality lock, preferably a disc lock, as it is much difficult to break. Prepare an inventory of stored items to keep a track of all the items in the self-storage units. Pack brittle dishes and glassware in bubble wrap individually and place them in their original boxes if possible. Label them as fragile and do not put heavy items on these boxes. Hang clothing, curtains and curtain rods on hangers and in the absence of hangers, fold and store them in drawers or boxes. Wrap ornaments, crockery, cutlery and small in tablecloths, towels, or blankets to prevent breakage. Dry out refrigerators or freezers before storing in self-storage units. Ensure that stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before storage. Store shovels and hoses in empty trash cans.

Always make a foolproof plan before shifting so that you do not experience last moment chaos. These self-storage tips may consume a little time and effort, but will definitely provide proper care to your staff and add to their life.

The space that people have in their homes for storage has been shrinking with the increasing number of household items, hence has forced the people to switch to self-storage as a solution to cluttered personal and business lives.

The use of self-storage units gives you the freedom to store all types of goods, valuable items, household stuff, archived records and belongings in specialist facilities. These self-storage units provide you with an option to have:

Your own private space Individually alarmed storage rooms 24/7 Access Sole right to own its key Video surveillance inside and outside

To have more idea on these types of self-storage units, you can check for the solutions online, where you can find a number of companies offering self-storage units. You can now select the unit according to your choice and need, within your budget. Before buying any of those storage units, you should check for service coverage, warranties and benefits that are being offered by each company and compare them, so as to have more profit and convenience.

The companies also provide the best offers and discounts to suit your budget and get the maximum value out of your money. You can ask your service provider for the insurance of your stored stuff. Monitor the condition of the self-storage units, make sure that they are clean, dry and secure.

Even if you are looking for options to store your vehicle, there are companies that provide storage for vehicles and their accessories. However, it is advised that you should avoid repair or maintenance of the vehicle inside the storage containers, and remove the gas tank to prevent leaks and fires in the storage container. You must also possess all the legal documents to certify that the vehicle belongs to you, as the self-storage unit owners always check the documents for security reasons. Summary: The space that people have in their homes for storage has been shrinking with the increasing number of household items, hence has forced the people to switch to low-cost self-storage, as a solution to cluttered personal and business lives. The use of self-storage units gives you the freedom to store all types of goods, valuable items, household stuff, archived records and belongings in specialist facilities.