Long Term Storage for Travelling Abroad

If you’re planning to move overseas, or travel for an extended period, one of the issues you’ll likely face is what to do with all your stuff. Many of us collect a treasure trove of  irreplaceable items throughout our lives; furniture with history, presents from people long gone, clothes we love to wear. Ditching these possessions is not an option. This is where long term storage comes to your rescue.

If you’ve not used long term storage before, you might be a bit uncertain about what’s involved… read on to find out:

• What exactly is long term storage?
• How does long term storage work?
• Will my stuff be safe?
• Are there items I can’t keep in storage?

What is Long Term Storage?

Basically a long term storage facility offers you a secure, affordable place to store furniture, clothes, and other items while you’re away for months or even years. It’s also a great option if you’ve sold your house but are yet to buy a new place.

Long term storage facilities rent containers at secure locations to clients who need the space. As facilities cater for numerous clients each storage space may be individually numbered or coloured so you can find yours easily.

At Caboolture Container Hire & Sales we offer secure offsite caravan and boat storage as well as container storage. 

How does Long Term Storage Work?

The beauty of long term storage is you don’t need to buy the space, you simply rent it. Most storage facilities offer long term and short term hire. Once you’ve signed the paperwork and made a deposit and the required rental payment, you’re free to bring your vehicle to your storage space and start unpacking. You can drop off items in as many trips as you need. You should be able to drive right up to your storage space and easily transfer stuff. Many storage facilities provide extended hours of access to their clients, while others offer access hours during business hours.

If you’ve just come back from a stint overseas, you can grab what you most need from your shipping container storage and leave the rest until you’ve sorted out where you’ll be living. In this way long term storage offers you, options and flexibility.

Will My Stuff be Safe in Storage?

Have you ever tried storing stuff in your parents’ or friend’s garage and come back to find rats have infiltrated, or rainwater has flooded the floor and soaked into your boxes? When you opt for long term storage, you bypass these problems completely, meaning you can travel with peace of mind.

At Caboolture Container Hire and Sales we provide clean durable steel shipping containers, even the most battle hardened rat cannot chew its way into them! Shipping containers are built tough and provide complete protection from the elements. All you need to do is install a quality padlock; we recommend choosing one that has high tensile resistance for extra security.

Are there Any Items I Can’t Keep in Long Term Storage?

You can store almost anything you like in long term storage; from crockery to furniture to gardening equipment, to boats and caravans, as mentioned previously. However for safety reasons there are a few items that you cannot store. When you enquire about storage it’s a good idea to ask the facility what these prohibited items are, but as a general guide a list of prohibited items is likely to include: 

• Perishable items (foodstuffs)
• Flammable items (tins of paint and other chemicals, fireworks, fertilisers…)
• Firearms 
• Animals – this one seems pretty obvious, but people have been known to use storage facilities as dog kennels. For animal welfare and cleanliness reasons this is strictly not allowed 
• Illegal substances and items 

If you’re planning to live or travel overseas, and want to keep your possessions safe and clean, long term storage may well be the best option for you.