Cheapest 18 month storage option on the East Coast?
September 5, 2010 10:59 AM Subscribe
I live in Manhattan. I'm going away from this month until roughly March 2012. I have a desk, a sofa, a chair, a stool, lots of books, electronics, a bicycle and various other little things that I want to keep, but where to put them? Cheapest storage in New York or the surrounding states?
The only large thing that I absolutely HAVE to hold onto is the desk. Needs roughly 9 x 4 x 4 feet of space. I can store the other stuff in and around it, and will keep the rest as it fits. If I was to try and store everything I think I could get away with keeping all of my stuff in a 10 x 10 x 10 room (perhaps less). The total value of all goods (disregarding some measure of sentimental value) is around the $5,000 mark.
But where's my cheapest option? I will need it for roughly 18 months, so it may be cheaper to ship it to the middle of nowhere and store it for cheap, than to keep it near NYC and pay full fare. What should I expect to pay in shipping costs?
Alternatively, does anyone have experience in renting an apartment, furnishing it, and then getting an agent to sublet the apartment while you're away? Do landlords allow that kind of thing?
The only large thing that I absolutely HAVE to hold onto is the desk. Needs roughly 9 x 4 x 4 feet of space. I can store the other stuff in and around it, and will keep the rest as it fits. If I was to try and store everything I think I could get away with keeping all of my stuff in a 10 x 10 x 10 room (perhaps less). The total value of all goods (disregarding some measure of sentimental value) is around the $5,000 mark.
But where's my cheapest option? I will need it for roughly 18 months, so it may be cheaper to ship it to the middle of nowhere and store it for cheap, than to keep it near NYC and pay full fare. What should I expect to pay in shipping costs?
Alternatively, does anyone have experience in renting an apartment, furnishing it, and then getting an agent to sublet the apartment while you're away? Do landlords allow that kind of thing?
There is no shortage of storage places. Look at any ad on the subway. The prices change with the season. Call them all and get the best price.
It's not going to be cheaper to ship it and then store it. I guarantee that. If you call all the storage places, including the ones in Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan, you will see how the prices adjust with how far they are from the center of things.
You need to check your lease regarding whether or not you're allowed to sublet.
posted by micawber at 1:30 PM on September 5, 2010
It's not going to be cheaper to ship it and then store it. I guarantee that. If you call all the storage places, including the ones in Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan, you will see how the prices adjust with how far they are from the center of things.
You need to check your lease regarding whether or not you're allowed to sublet.
posted by micawber at 1:30 PM on September 5, 2010
There's got to be someone in NYC who would love to rent out a spare room for stuff rather than for people. Put a want ad on Craigslist then compare costs between that kind of arrangement and a storage unit.
posted by Elsie at 2:51 PM on September 5, 2010
posted by Elsie at 2:51 PM on September 5, 2010
I would suggest selling or donating everything you can possibly bear to part with. Sell the sofa, the electronics, the mass market books, and the bicycle.
Do you have a friend or relative with a basement or attic who would be willing to let you store some stuff there while you are away? Even if you have to move it a distance, that's probably the cheapest option. The more you pare down your possessions, the less burdensome a request that is. "Stuff" is fungible. Narrow it down to things that are irreplaceable (or at least difficult to replace) or have real sentimental value.
This is fantastic advice. Up until a few months ago, I had my stuff stored in four locations on two continents. There's very little that I miss, and until my stuff in the US was taken out of storage it was draining money. I moved back to the UK six months ago, paid to take my stuff out of storage, carted it to my new place, and six months later the majority of it was still in boxes completely unused.
I'm now moving to a new country - and am selling, donating and throwing away as much as possible. It's not worth the money or hassle to store something unless it's irreplaceable.
Think of it like this: the cost of storing your stuff for 18 months is most likely more than depreciation. In other words, selling your stuff then re-buying it is probably as cost efficient as storing it.
posted by djgh at 2:59 PM on September 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
Do you have a friend or relative with a basement or attic who would be willing to let you store some stuff there while you are away? Even if you have to move it a distance, that's probably the cheapest option. The more you pare down your possessions, the less burdensome a request that is. "Stuff" is fungible. Narrow it down to things that are irreplaceable (or at least difficult to replace) or have real sentimental value.
This is fantastic advice. Up until a few months ago, I had my stuff stored in four locations on two continents. There's very little that I miss, and until my stuff in the US was taken out of storage it was draining money. I moved back to the UK six months ago, paid to take my stuff out of storage, carted it to my new place, and six months later the majority of it was still in boxes completely unused.
I'm now moving to a new country - and am selling, donating and throwing away as much as possible. It's not worth the money or hassle to store something unless it's irreplaceable.
Think of it like this: the cost of storing your stuff for 18 months is most likely more than depreciation. In other words, selling your stuff then re-buying it is probably as cost efficient as storing it.
posted by djgh at 2:59 PM on September 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone,
I will see how much stuff I can bear to part with!
posted by omnigut at 1:26 PM on September 7, 2010
I will see how much stuff I can bear to part with!
posted by omnigut at 1:26 PM on September 7, 2010
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Do you have a friend or relative with a basement or attic who would be willing to let you store some stuff there while you are away? Even if you have to move it a distance, that's probably the cheapest option. The more you pare down your possessions, the less burdensome a request that is. "Stuff" is fungible. Narrow it down to things that are irreplaceable (or at least difficult to replace) or have real sentimental value.
Subletting a furnished apartment can be a headache, and you have no guarantee that your furniture will be in anything approaching its current condition by the time a sub-lessee is done with it, and that's not even considering the landlord hassle aspect.
posted by ambrosia at 1:20 PM on September 5, 2010