Self-Storage During Difficult Stages Of Life

Two of the most difficult times in life can be going through a divorce and experiencing a death in the family. The emotional strain and impact of both circumstances can be overwhelming for individuals and families. There are lengthy legal elements to navigate and a significant number of personal details to attend to in a relatively short period of time.

In each of these difficult stages of life, the process of going through personal belongings and deciding what to do with them is, many times, a painful and time-consuming effort. Using a self-storage unit can be an asset to give you time to evaluate and sort through the items.

Sorting through a lifetime of possessions can be emotionally overwhelming. A storage unit allows you time to remove these items from the immediate living space, creating a physical and “emotional pause button”; that can reduce stress and help you think more clearly.

Self-storage provides a dedicated space for your belongings during a challenging transition, allowing you to create a fresh start in a new home or separate residence in the case of divorce.

When there has been a loss of life in the family, using a storage unit allows time for family members to take their time in sort through items and decide what to keep, donate, or sell. And, many family members may live a considerable distance away and will need time to assist in that process.

Not everything needs to be sold or donated after a divorce or death. Consider keeping items with sentimental value, such as family heirlooms, old letters, or photographs. When deciding what to sell or donate, ask yourself some simple questions:

• Does this item bring me comfort?
• Is it something I will use or display at some point in the future?
• Does it hold significant family or personal history or monetary value?

Having a self-storage unit gives you the peace of mind of “time”….time to take a breath and collect your thoughts and emotions before making big decisions about belongings.

Here are some helpful tips for individuals and families to consider when going through emotional life stages and need storage space on an interim basis:

1. Create a detailed inventory of the belongings and clearly label each box. In the case of storing items following a divorce, be sure to address legal aspects, such as ensuring your name is on the lease and updating the agreement to protect your property. Do not dispose of any contents without a written agreement or court order if storing after a divorce.

2. Organize items in the storage unit by room or season. This will make it easier to unpack later when you are ready to collect the items.

3. Think about the right size unit, climate control, and security features that will best protect your belongings.

To give you a start in determining just what size storage unit you might need, here are some examples of storage unit sizes we have available at our north Texas locations and some items that could comfortably be stored in those specific size units.

Once you have decided just what you will be taking with you on the road as you travel with your work experiences, it’s time to organize what is going into the storage unit.

• 1. LABELING: Use storage boxes or clear bins and label each box so you will know what is inside.  Group similar items together so you can access them if you need to rotate season clothing and other items.
  2. ACCESSIBILITY: Even though you are traveling for short or extended periods of time, be sure to place items in the storage unit according to when you might next need to access.  This can be determined by seasons or items that would me more or less frequently needed.
  3. STACKING: Carefully stack your boxes or bins to maximize the space in your unit.  But, avoid overloading the containers to prevent collapsing inside the unit.
  4. INVENTORY: It is recommended to create a spreadsheet listing all the items you have stored in the unit.  Photos of significant items is helpful when remembering just what you have in the unit.

To give you a start in determining just what size storage unit you might need, here are some examples of storage unit sizes we have available at our north Texas locations and some items that could comfortably be stored in those specific size units.

QUICK GUIDE TO STORAGE UNIT SIZE NEEDED:

Studio or one-bedroom apartment: 5×10 to 5×15
Two-bedroom apartment: 10×10 to 10×15
Two-bedroom house: 10×20
Four-bedroom house: 10×30
Car: 10×20
Motorcycle: 5×10

Sorting through a loved one’s belongings after a death takes time. And, it is an emotional time. This should not be rushed, and the comfort of having a self-storage unit can also provide the opportunity for family members to participate in the process as their time allows.

If you have belongings to split up among family members, it also gives you time for everyone to make accommodations to visit and have the proper vehicles to haul larger items from storage.

At Macho Self Storage, we want to try and ease some of that stress with our FREE moving truck offer when you move items into one of our convenient north Texas Macho Self Storage locations (some restrictions apply).

Having a self-storage unit can also help keep the belongings in a secure environment while you adjust after a divorce or while there may be plans for an estate sale. This ensures everything remains organized and protected. In addition, renting a climate-controlled storage unit helps protect delicate items like documents and furniture against damage due to outdoor weather conditions.

Need packing supplies? All of our locations have everything from boxes, non-slip gloves for moving, tie-down ropes, tape, and more! When you reserve a storage unit with Macho Self Storage, don’t worry about buying a lock for your storage unit. We’ll supply one for you, free of charge!

When emotions are raw, it is common to make hasty decisions you may later regret, such as donating or throwing away an item that had sentimental value. A storage unit provides a secure place for items until you are emotionally ready to make thoughtful choices.

When life feels chaotic, taking a concrete step like organizing and moving belongings into storage can be an empowering action. It creates a temporary sense of order during an uncertain time.