People with property on the market sometimes copy a certain interior design not only because it fits their space for sale but also because of how it can entice possible buyers. This practice is sometimes called ‘staging.’ Staging property is meant to not only help potential buyers imagine what the place will look like when the place is furnished, but also to sell a specific lifestyle.

If you are in the process of selling the home that you are currently living in, you may want to use fewer pieces or a different set of furniture, appliances, and decor. But what do you do with the pieces you won’t be featuring inside the staged home? This is where storage comes into play.

Available storage options vary depending on the facilities available. There are companies that can offer self-storage, mobile storage pods, onsite storage, and even options for small and medium-sized businesses that need space for inventory.

Benefits of self-storage

Is renting a storage space to stage your home for potential buyers necessary? Here are a few reasons why you should consider one.

Declutter your home

Home staging gives potential buyers a more accurate perception of the size of the space inside a house. However, this can be difficult when there are so many items that the visitor would consider unnecessary (i.e. family pictures, personal belongings). Renting a storage space offers current homeowners the opportunity to remove any clutter and make the home more presentable for viewers.

Increase value

Garden tools, excess furniture, and knick-knacks may give the house a more homey feel, but they do little to improve it’s curb appeal or value. By keeping the interior and exterior areas of the home neat, clean and organized, sellers and real estate agents are in a better position to ask for a higher price from potential buyers.

Storage during renovation

Some homeowners choose to make repairs and repaint walls prior to putting their home on sale. To prevent furniture and other possessions from getting stained, they can be temporarily placed in storage. This gives construction workers, painters and general laborers more elbow room to work without having to worry about damaging any appliances, furniture and decorations.

What to store away

If you are selling your house, any item that can make your home look cluttered should be removed and placed in storage. This includes:

• Personal items such as family albums and photographs
• Collections such as family videos, movies or your bug collection
• Christmas decorations and travel souvenirs
• Food containers on the counter
• Items that can make the room appear geared toward a specific gender
• Excess furniture pieces such as a second couch
• Large garden tools such as a lawnmower
• Repair tools and items being repaired such as an exposed car engine and leftover paint cans

How to use your storage unit

Follow these steps to ensure that you make the most of your rented storage space.

1. Categorize your belongings

Make an inventory of all of your possessions and place them into categories. Determine which ones need to be thrown out, donated or given away, sold, stored, or should remain for the home staging.

By doing some spring cleaning, you can remove some of the items that you no longer need, make a list of what you plan to put into storage and have an idea of how much storage space you need.

2. Rent storage space

See what storage options are available for your needs. Some self-storage companies may offer storage spaces at their facility that you can access and utilize at your disposal.

If you don’t need a lot of storage space, consider Mini Pods. Mini Pods are convenient for homeowners as the storage company can collect and deliver the box to their storage facility.

3. Pack items for storage

Much like when you decide to move, it is important to pack the items you plan to put into storage carefully. Buy the right type of boxes, tape and bubble wrap (or other protective packing material) — whatever you need to protect your items while they are being transported and stored.

Increase the appeal of your home inside and out, and get more offers by removing any clutter and placing excess items inside a storage unit.

By following the tips in this guide, you are on your way to maximizing the use of your storage unit and making your home more presentable for potential buyers.

Author Bio: Chris Humphrey is the General Manager of Easytruck Moving & Storage. In 2013, the company combined their expertise in professional moving services and storage to create an entirely new approach to the business – and mobile storage was born! Easytruck now operates over 30,000 sq.ft. of air-conditioned facilities in three convenient locations in Dubai and is the only Mobile Storage operator in the UAE.