Behind the Storage Unit Door.

Cindy Murphy
6 days ago
6 min read

Episode #13: Pros and Cons of Rented Storage Units.

This week's "Living Smaller & Loving It!" downsizing blog post explores the advantages and disadvantages of using rented storage space.

ANNOUNCEMENTS. Please be sure to check out our announcements at the bottom of the page. We've added a new webpage, Testimonials, and more information about our "Front Door" Program for Senior Living Communities — linking site visitors directly to your doorstep (launch, March 2026).

Orange metal door of storage locker unit.

Should you rent a storage unit?

A question often asked when downsizing. The answer will, of course, differ for each person/family, depending on their situation.

-Think short-term when renting a storage unit.

-Weigh the rental cost vs. the value of the stored contents.

-Know what your monthly fee covers.

In this post, you'll find Pros and Cons, along with other considerations.

POSITIVES.

When downsizing moves so quickly, or when there isn't enough time for sorting and paring down in the schedule, there needs to be an option: moving items to a storage unit for future sorting and dispersal may be one. And often, better decisions can be made without pressure.

Other scenarios can also occur, such as a deadline, like a closing date for the sale of the home, or an out-of-town family member who wasn't available during the sorting and decision-making process. Also, if there's been a reluctance to "let go", moving some things to storage can take the pressure off, at least temporarily.

Taping a packed box shut for storage. — Pack items for storage securely. Mark boxes and tubs for contents.

NEGATIVES.

Racking up monthly storage unit expenses is an issue, especially without a clear plan in place—how long to rent, the right size unit, and who will be paying the monthly bill—all considerations to keep in mind. A storage unit can quickly go from a good, temporary solution to a financial burden before you know it.

And remember, when things are stored in a unit, it's different from taking up space in a family member's garage or basement, where the items are "seen" regularly. Storage items that are out of sight, out of mind, can quickly become a problem, especially when there's no plan in place to finish sorting, paring down, and dispersing—keep, gift, donate, recycle, trash.

A storage unit. — Storage units can be a great short-term solution OR a long-term money pit.

Storage Unit Tips and Considerations.

The unit should be treated as a short-term storage solution, lasting 3-12 months, to avoid becoming a long-term financial burden.
Select the storage facility and your unit carefully. Do you want drive-up access or a climate-controlled interior unit? A non-climate-controlled unit will experience fluctuating temperatures and humidity, as well as potentially extreme weather conditions, which can affect stored items such as wood furniture, art, and electronics. And drive-up exterior units may be more prone to pests, such as bugs and rodents. Climate-controlled units cost more but are not affected by weather, which may make them a better storage solution.
Make certain the unit's size is appropriate for your storage needs. Many storage facility sites provide online information on unit sizes, how to calculate what will fit in each unit, and pricing. Public Storage is one facility to investigate.
Common Storage Unit Sizes. SMALL: 5 x 5' or 5' x 10'. MEDIUM: 5 x 15' or 10 x 10'. LARGE: 10 x 15', 10 x 20', 10' x 25' or 10 x 30'
Read the contract carefully. Know what you're paying for. Fees typically cover deposits, administrative fees, locks, climate control (if applicable), security, insurance through the facility (you may also want your own insurance), and facility maintenance.
Assign someone to be your "backup" for the unit. They will serve as a contact for the facility and will also have access to your storage unit.
Pay your monthly fees online to avoid late fees, which can add up quickly.
Pre-move to the storage unit. Carefully pack and label all boxes and tubs. As items are being packed, take photos and/or make a list of the contents. This can be as simple as BOX 1 (labelled or handwritten on the box) with a corresponding written list of its contents.
Pack the unit with a plan. Determine which boxes or tubs should be opened first. If you will be setting up a sorting table, leave room to work. Put tubs on the bottom and stack boxes on top to keep them off the floor and avoid damage.
Break down large items like kitchen and dining room tables (remove the legs) when possible, to maximize space.
Inspect your unit at least once a month. Check for signs of pests, such as droppings, chew marks, or nests.
NEVER STORE personal documents, passports, birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, medical records, bank statements, tax returns, wills, money/coins, firearms/ammunition, jewelry, irreplaceable family heirlooms, artwork, wine, or food.

We'll wrap up this post by saying: yes, a storage unit can be a positive alternative during a time of transition, but it can also serve as an emotional procrastination crutch. Make every effort to sort through the unit as soon as possible. Get help processing everything stored. Make immediate decisions about the contents — keep, gift, donate, recycle, or trash.

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"Living Smaller & Loving It!"

Announcements

A NEW WEBSITE PAGE: Testimonials. We wanted to share some of the feedback our customers have given us about our services. Thanks for taking a look.

COMING UP Spring 2026: We are very excited about our NEW "Front Door" Program, which will be a main feature of our newest "Senior Living in Kansas City" web page. The page will list all independent, assisted living, and memory care communities within the Greater Kansas City Metro. (Our feature list is now at 136 communities in the Greater Metro.) The communities will appear alphabetically by state, region (North of the River, Central, South, etc.), and city.

For participating "Front Door" Program communities, the page visitor will select the Metro area where they prefer to live, then choose the community within that area they would like to learn more about — a link will take the visitor directly to the community's homepage.

For marketing managers or executive directors of communities: if you would like a feature link to your community, please contact us via the CONTACT page for pricing details. The "Front Door" Program is an affordable way to link potential new residents to your doorstep!

Also on the page, we will feature one to two participating communities from different parts of the Metro. The page visitor can read a short "ABOUT" section, then explore the community further via a link. These featured listings will rotate.

COMING UP in February: We'll have a guest blog post from a local realtor with tips on selling your home. Be sure to check back mid-to-late February for this informative post!

COMING UP: A downsizing housing poll. We'll be conducting a poll to determine which types of living environments our readers/subscribers prefer for their retirement years. Poll participation will be greatly appreciated! Here's a "did you know?" There is a relatively new movement among senior women who are co-housing with other senior women. The movement is gaining momentum across the U.S. Check out their "Senior Women Cohousing" Facebook page.

COMING UP: A new RESOURCES page. This page will feature both not-for-profit and for-profit business resources for seniors. All listings will have direct links to the company's website for immediate contact. If you are a for-profit business and would like more information on listing costs, please use the CONTACT link.

Listed below are some of the for-profit businesses that conduct business with Seniors:

In-Home Health Care
Adult Daycare
Elder Law & Estate Planning
Dentist
Physician
Hearing/Audiology
Optometry/Ophthalmology
Podiatrist
Hospital/Clinic
Housekeeping
Insurance
Transportation
Moving
Personal Chef
Personal Shopper
Veterinarian
Realtor/Real Estate Services
Automotive
Junk Hauler
Home Improvement
Plumber
HVAC
Electrician
Estate Sales/Auction

... and more!

COMING UP: "The Anatomy of a Junk Drawer" post. I need photos of your junk drawers for this lighthearted look at why we have junk drawers and what can be found in them. Send your photos as an email attachment to info@downsizingsimplified.com OR attach your photo to a text message to (816) 358-6338. Tell us a little about the contents of your drawer. Thanks for participating!

Let's have some fun with this assignment!

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STORIES, SNIPPETS, & SHARES

Our newest web page, "Stories, Snippets, & Shares" debuted on Wed, December 3, 2025.

Be sure to check out the page update featuring an interview with a daughter about her recent downsizing journey for her soon-to-be 93-year-old mother from a 2-bedroom independent living apartment to a much smaller assisted living unit.

Great personal insights shared for both adult children and their parent(s).

Please like, comment, share, and subscribe; we appreciate your support.

Downsizing Simplified

Simplifying Lifestyles Since 2007