Emarking on a home renovation is no mean feat. In fact, for most normal folks, it’s likely going to be a lesson in extreme patience and at a very high cost. The upside is that once the renovation has been completed, you should hopefully be left with what feels like a brand new home and a sense of pride in achieving what is, for all intents and purposes, a pretty monumental undertaking! The thing is that while the renovation is being performed, you will need to remove most of your belongings, including those that you deem to have value, either in terms of monetary value or sentiment. So what can you do to ensure that your most prized possessions remain safe and intact throughout such a long process? We have put together a few tips that anyone in this situation can follow, so that as soon as the work is finished, you can pick up your items and enjoy them in your brand new setting.
Choose The Right Storage Solution
For many in this situation, the best route will inevitably be to spend a bit of money on a self-storage solution where you can keep most of your belongings safely and securely. In fact, according to one self-storage facility on the website https://www.sparefoot.com/storage-101.html, this is a simple and effective solution to storing all of your worldly possessions during the renovation. But, while this might be perfectly fine for things like your sofa, refrigerator, and other white goods, ensuring the security of electronics and valuables can include a different set of parameters you might want to meet before blindly choosing a storage facility. So what options do you have to ensure that anything that might need to be stored remains secure?
Offsite Storage Options
If you think that you will need plenty of space for your renovation or that you are uneasy with the number of contractors working on the project, off-site storage could be your best bet. Some options include:
- Self-storage units: As discussed already, these are an excellent choice for anyone needing lots of space and on-site security.
- Safe deposit boxes at banks: If you have really valuable items such as jewelry or documents, a personal deposit box might be a good idea. After all, what’s safer than a bank?
- Professional art or collectibles storage: If you own a large number of valuable artworks or collectibles, choosing a storage solution that specializes in this sort of thing will absolutely be the way you want to go.
Onsite Storage Solutions
If you still want easy access to your belongings, or don’t want another ongoing expense to deal with, then onsite solutions can still offer a certain level of protection:
- Home safe: If you happen to own a safe, this will be your best option for the safe storage of valuable items. Just make sure that it’s fireproof if you plan on storing documents.
- Temporary storage room: If you have a room with a lockable door, this might be secure enough to store some valuables in.
Lockable cabinets: While not as safe as a safety box or storage solution, most lockable cabinets suffice in stopping those who might engage in crimes of opportunity.
| Storage type | Best for | Pros | Cons |
| Bank safe deposit box | Jewelry, documents | High security | Limited access hours |
| Self-storage unit | Furniture, electronics | Space, price, and flexibility | Ongoing expense |
| Home safe | Small valuables | Convenient | Possible onsite risk, fire risk (if not fire rated) |
| Dedicated art storage | Artwork, collectables | Dedicated solution | Very expensive |
Identify And Prioritise Your Valuables
Once you’ve chosen a solution, you will need to begin to identify your items and prioritize which ones are of the most value. To ensure that you complete this job effectively, you should create an inventory of everything you deem of value, and place it into some sort of digital file, like a spreadsheet. By categorizing items by sentiment, financial value, fragility, and frequency of use, you will be able to fall onto a sotarge option far more easily. Performing this task also enables you to choose which items might ned to head to a secure facility, and which might be able to stay with you in a home safe. For instance, if you have an expensive laptop but use it frequently to work from home, storing it in a facility miles away from your location will obviously be a terrible idea. Conversely, if you have jewelry that you seldom wear, storing it off-site might be prudent.
Protect Valuables Against Damage
Different valuables will require different materials to pack them most effectively. This will involve a little help from a removals company or friends and relatives who might have engaged in this job before.
Use The Correct Packing Materials
The right materials will go a very long way in ensuring that when you come to retrieve your prized possessions, they come back to you in the same condition as when they left. In fact, failing to use the right materials could result in damage even if you pay for expensive storage, and the damage will ultimately come from your own mistakes.
Pack Correctly
Effective packing isn’t just about efficiency; it’s also about ensuring that everything you pack has been placed in that position for a reason. You can pack correctly by:
- Wrapping items individually.
- Use sturdy boxes and label them appropriately.
- Keeping the box weight reasonable to avoid drops.
Consider Climate And Environmental Protection
If you do opt for a self-storage facility, take some time to ensure you choose wisely and based on the things you are storing. If you’re able to, it pays to rent out a unit with climate control since this will keep anything you store safe from damage from humidity and other environmental damage.
There are plenty of actions you can take to keep the items you most love safe from damage or theft during a home renovation. For most, a self-storage facility will offer the most bang for the buck in terms of security and safety, but as you have read, there might be other choices depending on what you need to keep secure.
