It is not easy to find a self-storage facility for a short period of time. Traditional self-storage companies usually require you to rent the space for at least a few months.
But what if you only need to store your items temporarily?
Countless students, rental property owners, and businesses have been in the same place you are now.
Fortunately, there's more than one solution to your problem. With short-term storage, you can rent a space for as long as you want and pay a reasonable amount for it. In this guide, we'll take a look at what exactly short-term storage is and who it's for.
By the end of this read, you'll also know which of the available options is the best for you, based on various factors like cost, flexibility, and location.
What is Short Term Storage: Definition and Benefits
In a few words, short-term storage is a storage model for those who need to rent a space for a short period of time. It can range from a few days to 2-3 months. For example, short-term storage is the best choice if you are currently moving to a different location and you need to store your belongings for a few weeks.
It is clear that this is quite a flexible storage model. Of course, not all storage facilities offer such customizable and flexible plans. But if you find a company that offers short-term storage options, you will enjoy certain benefits.
With that in mind, let us take a look at the main advantages of short-term storage compared to traditional storage models:
- Flexible: Shorter lease terms (if any) - on-demand services
- Cost-effective: You only need to pay for the period you’ll need the storage
- Adjustable: Based on your needs (amount of space, location, access, extra amenities)
If you are not sure whether a short-term storage model is the best choice for you or not, you can read on. In the following section, we will discuss the most common uses for this type of storage rental.
Common Uses for Short Term Storage
There are multiple occasions when a short-term storage model could be exactly what you need. In other words, renting a storage space for a few weeks or months can be beneficial for many people.
The most common uses for short-term storage are:
- Storage During Fumigation and Pest Control: If you have a pest company fumigating your home, you need to store your belongings elsewhere for a few days.
- People in Transition: If you’re moving from one location to another and need a place to temporarily store your items, short-term storage is the best way to go.
- Vacation Rental Property Owners: If you have a property listed on websites like Airbnb, Vrbo, HomeAway, etc. and want your private belongings off-premise while your home is being rented.
- College Students: If you are about to move or have your summer break.
- Businesses: If you need a temporary storage solution in advance of an office move, an event, etc.
These are just some of the cases where short-term storage can prove useful. As of 2023, there are 3 different options for short-term storage that you can choose from depending on your needs and preferences.
Where To Find Short-Term Storage: The 3 Best Options
Even though there are more ways to store your items temporarily, the 3 short-term options we will analyze below are by far the most popular and reliable ones. Finding the best one for you depends on your storage needs and preferences.
With that in mind, let’s explore the pros and cons of the best short-term storage options:
Juujbox Storage
Juujbox is by far the most flexible solution when it comes to short-term storage. The company has developed a unique storage model in San Diego that is perfect for smaller items that fit in storage bins. In other words: If you want to store a few boxes or bins temporarily, there's no easier way to do it.
Juujbox offers a free pickup and delivery service and provides storage bins to its customers. This way, you only pay for the space you need and you don’t have to worry about finding a truck to transport your things into the storage unit..
The process is very simple:
- Identify the number of Juujbox storage bins you will need OR use your own boxes/bins.
- Pack and label your belongings.
- Get in touch with the Juujbox team and arrange a time for the pickup.
- Let the Juujbox team securely store your items for as long as you need them tucked away.
- When you need your items back, get in touch with the Juujbox team and arrange a time for the delivery.
Sounds pretty easy, right? Well, it is. And that’s not just it. At the same time, the Juujbox team is available during extended opening hours and can accommodate special requests.
For example, if you already know when you need your items again, you can set up a delivery service from day one. This way, short-term storage becomes as easy as it can be.
The pricing plans are also very affordable (from as low as $14.95 per storage bin). All Juujbox units are climate controlled and 100% secured.
The only downside of this solution is that Juujbox is not the ideal option if you want to store large items. So, if you want to find a temporary space for appliances, furniture and other oversized items, you will probably need to opt for a local self-storage unit.
Local Self-Storage Units
As mentioned earlier, the flexible Juujbox storage plan has only one flaw: it is not the best option for storing large items. Fortunately, if you want to store your furniture for a few weeks or months, you can always rent a self-storage unit.
The good news is that most self-storage facilities allow you to rent a unit for a specific period of time. All you need to do is choose the storage size you need. You can then go back to your storage unit whenever you want during operating hours.
Of course, this option also comes with some disadvantages. First of all, the business hours of a storage company are usually the same as the usual business hours of most people. So, if you want to visit your storage facility, you'll have to take a day or two off work. Also, most self-storage facilities do not offer a pickup and delivery service like Juujbox.
So if you do not have your own truck, you'll probably have to borrow a friend's truck or rent one for the day, which requires additional coordination. The last disadvantage has to do with the price.
Even though storage facilities usually offer special rates for the first month, prices are then slowly raised. Of course, if you need a storage space only for a few weeks, this offer can prove to be a good thing.
Moving Companies
Our last option may be a smart solution for those of you who are going through a move. If you are moving to another location, it is likely that you are already doing business with a moving company. In this regard, they are already familiar with your situation and know exactly what you need for storage.
This usually makes the process easier. But before you hire your moving company for short-term storage, there are a few factors you should consider. For example, moving companies usually do not have climate-controlled, secure storage facilities. Therefore, such facilities are not the best option for items like electronics, clothing, old items, and artwork.
At the same time, moving companies usually cannot handle many clients and rarely have proper policies and procedures in place. Finally, you can expect moving companies to be the most expensive of the three options we examined.
Choosing the Best Short-Term Storage Model: Questions You Should Answer
If you are not sure which of the above short-term storage solutions is the best one for you, you can always answer the following questions:
- How much space do I need?
- Do I need to store small or large items?
- Do I know the exact period I’m going to need an extra space for?
- Do I have the transportation means required to visit and organize a storage unit?
- What’s the budget I can allocate for short-term storage?
- Do I need a climate-controlled storage unit for my items?
- Is storage security a priority for me (valuable items)?
By answering these questions, you can decide which storage model is best for you. For example, if you need a relatively small storage space that is climate controlled and secured, Juujbox is definitely the best solution for you. The same is true if your budget is limited or if you need a pickup/delivery service.
On the other hand, local self-storage units are the best option if you need a lot of space for large items, and moving companies might be a good alternative if you are in a hurry.
Wrap Up
The truth is that it can be difficult to find the best place for short-term storage. That's why planning is very important when it comes to temporarily storing your items. Of the options we have explored above, Juujbox is definitely the most flexible.
Therefore, we recommend it for students, businesses, and individuals who have certain short-term storage needs and require a worry-free process. On the other hand, self-storage units are probably the only way to store oversized items for a limited period of time.
Either way, the good news is that you can now safely store your items, even if you only need a facility for a few weeks.
