For a plethora of reasons, a record families are going through a process known as 'downsizing.' In another context, the term also refers to a business when it reduces its physical size.
Now, a large measure of this process is compromised of the fifty to sixty five year old couple, wishing to sell their home now too large for them, and buy something smaller and more functional. But, certainly, the new place has to have a lot of storage.
To solve this issue usually involves the renting of one or two self storage units. After all, we tend to collect things as humans. Extra couches. Uncle Harry's huge toolbox which takes two people to push. And all those dishes. Where did they all come from?
So, the choices to handle the dilemma of too much stuff for the new house are pretty clear. Put it in self storage, sell it at a garage sale, dump it (literally) or maybe foist it upon your neighbor. Or, donating some things to a local charity is always a good gesture.
After all of this happens, you are still left with too much. It happens to everybody. You just cannot bring yourself to part with all those memories.
And your new smaller house, even with a standard garage and an eight by ten shed, still means you will likely need at least another 250 square feet to put the things you wish to keep-- just not to be used right now. Perhaps you will need to bring out those fifty boxes of long play records left by your mother. Anything can happen, and it is always best to be prepared.
Or thus goes the logic of the typical consumer, bred to collect and have things.
Therefore, despite recent downturns, the number of storage units in the United States has grown by staggering proportions in the last twenty five years, truly reflecting our cultural necessity for possessions.
As with many things, the quality of these rental properties varies tremendously. Always look for good, sturdy construction, security, and acceptable accessibility. And good reputation. If you are moving to the suburbs in Georgia, Atlanta Storage will more than meet your needs, and is a quality run organization. They are located in 17 states.
Total self storage rent able space in the US is now 2.22 billion square feet (as of Q4-2009) This is approximately 210 million square meters, and represents more than 78 square miles of rent able self storage space, under roof – or an area well more than 3 times the size of Manhattan Island (NY)
Other reasons to rent a high quality storage facility might include the opportunity to sell, say, refinished furniture products right on site. One clever entrepreneur was known to sell new mattresses directly to the public. The showroom? His four hundred square foot storage unit.
It turned out to be a nice, extra eight hundred dollars a month requiring a couple of hours of work per week.
But check with the storage unit company first. Sometimes they encourage business ventures, sometimes not. Stay legal.
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