There are many reasons why people decide to move, especially to a new city. Whether it’s to downsize, be closer to friends and family, or just move into a more exciting fast-paced lifestyle. Regardless of the reason, you will probably find that you will need some form of short-term storage space to help you transition into your new place. A storage unit is the perfect go-between if you’re trying to downsize, but still are still deciding on what you want to keep and what you want get rid of. Plus, it will give you some extra time to settle in if you’re moving in the midst of a busy season.

However, the question remains what do you put in storage versus what do you move into your new place right away? Well, here are a few tips to help you decide what would be best to put in storage, and what is best to take with you.

Organize your items by season

If you’re moving into a location that experiences all 4 seasons, you won’t need all of your items year-round. For instance if you are moving during the summer months you will not need your winter coat, boots, snow shoes, snowboarding gear, and so on. Vice versa if you’re moving in the winter months you won’t need your summer gear or things like patio furniture which take up a lot of space and are perfect to store as a whole ensemble in a storage unit.

Just keep in mind that if you are packing away a lot of clothes into cardboard boxes, make sure that your storage unit you choose isn’t subject to a lot of humidity or changes in temperature. And only pack away clean clothes. Otherwise you may find some not so savory items waiting for you when you get back.

Hang on to furniture that you might want later on

As you know moving into a new place is a great time to start over and redecorate. However, you may still decide later on that that coffee table you had or sectional, might actually fit very well into some part of your new apartment. Again, just make sure that when you’re storing furniture pieces you store them correctly in order to keep them from getting damaged during this waiting period.

Don’t throw away keepsakes or mementos

Once you start downsizing it’s very easy to get into a mindset where you no longer think you want to keep old photos or mementos. This is a decision you may regret down the road after you’ve been settled for a time. So, avoid unnecessary loss and opt for a high-quality storage unit where water damage or items getting lost, won’t be an issue. One way to better organize your things is by adding shelves into your storage unit. This way you can easily organize your cardboard boxes and keep them off the ground, further ensuring water will not reach them.

Antiques can also go in storage

Let’s be honest. You love your grandmother’s rocking chair because it’s an heirloom and has sentimental value, but it doesn’t actually fit into the decor of your new apartment. So, consider having your antiques professionally packed and take them to your storage unit for safekeeping. Just make sure that your valuable items are covered by insurance, just in case something was to happen. Once again, make sure that you are keeping your items organized, in order to create less of a headache later on when you are trying to unpack the storage unit. Happy moving!