You have been talking for ages about the need to de-clutter. You look around you and see that living would be much more comfortable if you got rid of all the things that you don’t use regularly and made space for the things that you do use. What about that running machine that stands in the middle of the room? How often do you use it? Now that you’ve turned the spare bedroom into an office, there’s even more junk that you have to find a place for. And how about the piano that you were sure the kids would use but in fact no-one has touched in years? Shouldn’t you find an alternative home for it? Yes, you know you should but how? There are of course several options and it’s worth taking a few minutes to consider your alternatives and then made a decision, the right decision.
So, what are the options?
BUILD A SHED IN THE GARDEN?
You could build a shed in your garden. What are the plusses and minuses of doing that? Well first of all of course, the major question is, do you have the space? If you placed it in the front garden, would it be an eyesore every time you came in to the house, or would it spoil your view of the back garden if it’s situated in the back of the house? Have you considered that you might actually need to apply for planning permission from the local council? That can take forever and is also expensive as you need to employ architects and surveyors to draw up and submit plans.
Who’s going to build it? Do you know someone reliable who can undertake this job? Not to be undertaken by an amateur or an odd job man.
How much money is it going to cost? You could buy a ready-made shed which is likely to be more expensive but there are still lots of aspects that you need to take into consideration. What size should it be? You may be limited by the actual space you have, but regardless of that, how do you calculate what size it needs to be? It would be a disaster if you went to all the trouble and expense only to discover that the Victorian chaise longue that Aunt Sally left you, didn’t fit in the storage hut!
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED TO STORE FOR?
If you are looking at short-term storage then clearly a storage unit makes much more sense. You don’t need to go to all the hassle of buying or building your own storage hut if you only need to use it for a few months. Storage units are perfect for short-term storage where you might need access to some of your items and you may not know exactly when. If you need to put items in store for a couple of years, then you need to consider several other aspects, like security, maintenance, pest-control, climate control – all of these you will be responsible for if you have your own shed. If you can answer all of these questions efficiently, and you’re sure you can get the job done, then consider your own shed in the garden. If not, even for the long-term, a storage centre takes away all the headache.
WHAT ABOUT SECURITY?
So. the main consideration is what are you going to put in your shed? Are you considering items of value? Are you storing antiques or paintings or objects d’art which could be desirable? How can you protect these items if they are on your property? Well of course you would need to make sure that the shed had strong locks and you may possibly need to install a 24 hour burglar alarm system. Another cost factor that you need to put into your calculations when making the decision. On the other hand if you have items that are just taking up space but don’t have intrinsic value, like plastic and ceramic garden pots, hoses, garden equipment, then you clearly don’t need to spend a lot of money on protecting these items.
WHAT ABOUT MAINTENANCE?
If you buy a shed or build one on your property, then you have to think about the costs of maintaining it. What material are you going to use to build it? Is wood a good option? What are the advantages of plastic? Each are generally readily available but have different advantages and disadvantages. Wood is a much sturdier material than plastic to build your shed, but it needs to be maintained. It may need to be varnished every year. If you decide to paint your shed then it will certainly need a fresh coat of paint every two years. Remember you also need to maintain metal parts, like locks. You must make sure that all metal parts that you buy, like locks and bolts are rust-proof. There is a great discrepancy between the cost of wood as a natural material discrepancy and plastic, which isn’t! Plastic is of course much cheaper but it won’t give you the long-term service that wood will. Again, something that you need to weigh up when making your decision. Of course, if you decide to put your items into a storage unit, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY OF THESE ITEMS. IT’S ALL TAKEN CARE OF FOR YOU.
DO YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT PESTS?
Yes you certainly do. If you have a shed on your premises, it is very difficult to make it completely hermetically sealed against pests. Mice, and rats, and every possible creeping insect could be attracted to your storage hut because of the warmth and shelter it provides, to say nothing of the possible banquet that your stored items may offer! Heavy rain is another potential problem, as it is so difficult to completely seal the shed. This creates damp, and all the problems that that causes.
TEMPERATURE-CONTROL?
If you live in a hot country then you certainly have to consider temperature control. Almost whatever you store needs to be kept in an environment that is not humid, not damp and not too dry. Therefore, air-conditioning is really essential. So much of what you put in store could be completely ruined if not kept at the right temperature. Consider what would happen to precious photographs and books if the atmosphere was too humid. Even clothes could get ruined by being in a damp environment and they can quickly grow mold. If you build a storage hut or build a shed in your garden, you are going to have to think about how you are going to keep it at an acceptable temperature. More expense.
If you read these paragraphs carefully, it will become evident to you that if you have items to store, short or long-term, the very best solution is to choose a professional Storage centre. A Centre that will provide you with a unit that is the right size (they will tell you exactly what you need when you show them what you want to store), they will provide maintenance for your unit, 24 hour CCTV with a constant view of what is going on ensuring that your items are safe, making sure that your storage unit is free of pests that can eat your precious belongings, and keeping everything at an acceptable temperature.
Just pick up the phone to Ribua who have 4 professional units in the centre of the country, and all of these considerations will be taken care of, with one phone call.
Hassle-free, headache free, call Ribua.