The Benefits of Temporary (Month-to-Month) Storage + Where to Find Flexible Storage Options

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Are you caught in the clutter of a transitional phase and desperately seeking a storage solution that will carry you through your two-month garage renovation—or the two-month period it takes to close on your home (Note: According to CNBC, “closing a home can take an average of up to 50 days,” as of late 2023)

Unfortunately, committing to a long-term storage agreement can be a headache, especially when your circumstances are uncertain. 

Thankfully, that’s where temporary storage comes into play. It’s a versatile option that challenges the rigidity and conventional nature of traditional storage leases. Instead of signing a long-term lease, you’ll have the flexibility of a temporary storage option–where you can load up your storage unit in May and vacate in June. 

What is Temporary Storage? 

In general, short-term storage refers to storage options that you can rent for one, two, or three months at a time (depending on your needs). However, the exact amount of time isn’t set in stone, as temporary storage is intended to help people who are making temporary transitions and need extra space at a moment’s notice. 

Note: “Month-to-month” and “temporary ” are generally synonymous in the context of storage options. 

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Benefits of Temporary Storage 

The flexibility of terms for short-term storage options is incredibly helpful. In most cases, people who seek out short-term storage options are looking for storage in a pinch

Either that or they aren’t exactly sure how long they’ll need to rent the storage space. They know that they don’t need storage for a long period of time, but they don’t always know the exact dates of their storage needs. 

For example, say you bought a house, and you’re just waiting on the finishing touches before you can safely (and legally) move into your new home. Temporary storage will fulfill the needs of those who’ve vacated their previous home–but have yet to move-in to their new residence. 

Temporary storage can also fulfill the needs of those who’ve just sold their homes and still need to get their new place of living lined up. For those up-in-the-air periods in life, temporary storage units with month-to-month rental leases are invaluable

Thanks to term flexibility, you can continue to rent a short-term storage unit until you no longer need it–rather than staying committed to a lease with a predetermined time frame attached. Once you no longer need the storage unit, you’ll need to notify the landlord (if you’re renting from a private storage provider) or the self storage facility you are renting from, at which point you can end the contract. 

While facilities require standard contract holders to give between 3 to 30 days of advanced notice before canceling a contract, month-month storage allows renters to cancel at any time (yet another perk). 

Who Needs Temporary Storage?

Are you an out-of-state college student who doesn’t want to lug all of your valuable items and personal belongings back home with you for the summer? Maybe you’re in the process of a home renovation, and you need somewhere to store your belongings while you finish revamping your house. 

You might even be someone who’s officially downsizing and looking for storage as you transition from your 2000-square-foot home to your 1000-square-foot home. 

These are just a handful of circumstances where short-term storage would save the day. Whether you’re waiting to close on a new home or letting time pass before your next lease takes effect, month-to-month storage options can be a tremendous help. 

Temporary Storage Options

Whether you’ve decided you need temporary storage, or you’re still on the fence about whether month-to-month storage is right for you, it’s helpful to hear about the types of storage available for short-term use. 

These are the most common sizing options for short-term storage units: 

Let’s explore three temporary storage options: 

  • Portable On-Demand Storage (PODS)
  • Temporary Sheds 
  • Storage Units With Month-To-Month Leases

Portable On-Demand Storage (PODS) 

An abbreviation for Portable On-Demand Storage, PODS is a popular short-term storage option. Available in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, PODS can assist you with temporary storage both locally and during long-distance moving. 

Essentially, after you select which size of portable storage units you need, the company will drop off the weather-resistant steel containers at the property address or location you provide. From there, you can load your belongings into the portable storage container and schedule a pick-up time. 

PODS will deliver the container holding your belongings to your location, and you can unload the contents of the container at your leisure. When you have fully emptied the containers, the company will remove them from your property on your behalf. 

Temporary Sheds

Another option for short-term storage is to rent a temporary shed. Designed to serve as a self storage option, these sheds provide extra storage space, typically for seasonal items needing to be stored for a limited duration. Sheds like these are easy to set up and disassemble on your property. Plus, these temporary sheds come in a wide array of sizes. That way, there’s a temporary shed option for just about every situation. 

Temporary sheds are ideal for people who need to store outdoor machinery, gardening tools, or other pieces of equipment. Note: It’s advised that you NOT store temperature-sensitive items, such as cosmetics, collectibles, paperwork, musical instruments, or linens, in these temporary sheds. 

Storage Units With Month-To-Month Leases

Arguably, the most hands-off option for short-term storage is a traditional storage unit with a month-to-month lease. Instead of having to order a container that arrives at your residence or rent a shed that you can place on your property, units with month-to-month leases are available from self storage facilities or temporary storage buildings. 

Essentially, you will enter into a rental agreement with the storage facility or temporary storage buildings, at which point you will agree to pay a certain amount of money every month for as long as you need the storage unit. However, it’s a short-term agreement, meaning you don’t have to be locked into a fixed term. Instead, you can end your contract at your convenience when you no longer need the storage unit.

When selecting a temporary storage unit, make sure you keep your priorities in mind. Consider the amount of space you’ll need and what you can afford to spend on a monthly basis, even if it’s only for a month or two. 

Cost of Temporary Storage 

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Once you’ve determined your preferred type of short-term storage unit, make sure you look at the costs. Instead of renting from the first temporary storage option you come across, take some time to compare prices to find the most cost-effective option. 

On average, temporary storage unit pricing per month is as follows: 

  • Small storage units: $90 
  • Medium storage units: $160 
  • Large storage units: $290

Now, how does the price of temporary storage compare to the cost of a storage unit with standard terms? 

According to Forbes, here are the average monthly costs of regular storage units in 2024: 

  • 5×5 feet: $75 
  • 5×10 feet: $75 
  • 5×15 feet: $150
  • 10×10 feet: $150
  • 10×15 feet: $150
  • 10×20 feet: $300
  • 10×25 feet: $300 
  • 10×30 feet: $300

As you can see, it’s not uncommon for temporary storage units to cost more than long-term options. This comes down to the short-term nature of the rental lease. 

It’s similar to what happens when you rent an apartment: if you sign a month-to-month lease, you reap the benefits of being able to out of your apartment whenever you choose to rather than having to stay for a set period of time (whether that’s three months, six months, or one year). This lack of commitment grants you greater flexibility, but you quite literally pay for it by agreeing to a higher monthly rate. 

Where To Find Self Storage Solutions in Your Area 

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Whether you need temporary storage during spring break or a long-term spot due to a major life transition, a safe and close-to-home storage unit can keep your prized possessions protected for as long as you need. For the most convenient solution, check out Neighbor

Neighbor is a peer-to-peer storage marketplace that can help you locate temporary storage units in your area. You can also make sure the units are affordably priced and perfectly sized according to your specific storage needs. 

 

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