What size storage unit do I need for a 3-bedroom house?

What Size Storage Unit for a 3-Bedroom House?

For a typical 3-bedroom house, a storage unit between 100 sq ft and 150 sq ft is generally required. This range accounts for the furniture, appliances, and personal belongings from multiple rooms, including bedrooms, a living room, dining area, and kitchen.

Key Factors Influencing Storage Unit Size

The exact size of storage unit needed can vary significantly based on several factors:

• Volume of Furniture: Houses with minimalist furnishings will require less space than those with extensive, large items such as multiple sofas, wardrobes, and large dining tables.
• Number of Boxes: The quantity of personal effects, books, and smaller items packed into boxes adds considerable volume.
• Major Appliances: Items like fridge freezers, washing machines, and dishwashers take up substantial floor space and height. Consideration for items such as washing machine transit bolts is important for safe transport and storage.
• Garage or Garden Items: Tools, bicycles, garden furniture, and shed contents can quickly fill available space.
• Dismantling Furniture: Dismantling beds, wardrobes, and tables saves space, allowing for more compact stacking.
• Packing Efficiency: The method of packing boxes and arranging items within the unit significantly impacts how much can fit. Efficient packing and stacking can make a smaller unit viable.

Typical Unit Sizes for a 3-Bedroom House

• 100 sq ft unit: This size is comparable to a single garage. It can typically hold the contents of a two-to-three-bedroom house, including larger furniture such as sofas, dining tables, beds, wardrobes, and major appliances like a fridge freezer and washing machine. It is suitable when some items are being disposed of or if the house contents are not overly extensive.
• 150 sq ft unit: Often referred to as a "double garage" equivalent, this unit provides ample space for a generously furnished three-bedroom house, or potentially a smaller four-bedroom house. It accommodates all major furniture, numerous boxes, and potentially garage contents or garden equipment, allowing for clearer walkways within the unit for easier access to items.

How to Accurately Estimate Your Needs

To determine the most appropriate size, a thorough inventory of all items intended for storage is recommended:

1. Create an Itemised List: Walk through each room and list every piece of furniture, appliance, and an estimate of the number of boxes.
2. Consider Disposal: Decide which items will not be going into storage. Decluttering before moving is a highly effective way to reduce storage costs.
3. Measure Large Items: Note the dimensions of particularly bulky items like large sofas, dining tables, or unique pieces of artwork.
4. Visualise Stacking: Imagine how items will be stacked. Remember that storage units offer vertical space, typically up to 8-10 feet high. Understanding how to maximise space in a storage unit is key.

Preparing Items for Storage

Proper preparation ensures items remain in good condition and fit efficiently:

• Dismantle Furniture: Beds, tables, and wardrobes should be taken apart where possible. Keep all fixings together in clearly labelled bags.
• Pack Boxes Uniformly: Use strong, uniform moving boxes to make stacking easier and more stable. Fill boxes completely to prevent crushing.
• Label Clearly: Label all boxes on multiple sides with their contents and room of origin. This aids organisation and retrieval.
• Protect Fragile Items: Wrap delicate items thoroughly. For valuable or antique pieces, specific protection methods are necessary.
• Long-Term Storage: If items are to be stored for an extended period, specific techniques for how to pack items for long-term storage should be followed, including cleaning appliances and protecting fabrics.

Additional Storage Considerations

• Access Requirements: If frequent access to stored items is needed, opting for a slightly larger unit can provide necessary aisle space, preventing the need to unpack the entire unit to reach a specific box.
• Climate Control: For sensitive items such as wooden furniture, electronics, artwork, or musical instruments, a climate-controlled storage unit protects against extreme temperature fluctuations and humidity.
• Insurance: It is standard practice for storage facilities to require storage insurance. Understanding if storage insurance is mandatory and what it covers is important.
• Prohibited Items: Storage facilities have strict rules on what can be stored. Hazardous materials, perishable goods, living plants, and animals are generally not permitted.