Are you intentionally downsizing to a smaller house? Or maybe you are moving across the country or to another part of the world for a year or more. Whatever the reason for your move, chances are you will have some personal belongings that you can't take with you to your new location. If this sounds like your situation, you might be looking at putting things into a long-term storage facility. While this is a good idea, you'll want to be smart about how you go about it. Here are some tips to keep in mind when putting your personal belongings into long-term storage.

This Is the Time to Get Rid of Things You Don't Need

Making a major move to a new location but having to leave some things behind is the perfect time to really take stock of what is important to you. About three months out from your move or relocation, start donating or selling off old personal belongings that you don't use anymore. You can hold onto items if they have nostalgic value, but otherwise, don't keep anything that you don't think you will use anymore when you return to retrieve your things. This will make the packing process and the actual moving of the items so much easier.

Be Smart About Packing and Stacking

Ensure that any breakable belongings are packed securely. When it's time to actually move items into the storage unit, be smart about how you are stacking items, being sure to put the heaviest or largest boxes at the bottom. Try to give fragile items their own personal spot on the ground and don't put anything on top of them. Improperly packing or storing an item for the long term could lead to permanent damage by the time you return to grab the item.

Consider Adding Someone Local to Your Unit

When you set up a storage unit for yourself, you can usually put more than one person on the list of people that are allowed to access the unit. Get an additional key made and give it to someone who will remain behind while you are traveling or temporarily relocating. This person can grab an item for you and send it in the mail if something comes up and you decide you suddenly need it. 

Contact a local long-term storage facility, like Glaser and Sons Moving, to get started, and be sure to also inquire about any insurance or climate control options that are available.

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