The Benefits of Hiring Professional Storage Unit Movers

Moving houses can be stressful. In fact, moving ranks as the most stressful life event for British men and women at over 50%. It’s even more stressful than having a baby, divorce, breakup, and job interview. The good thing is that there are ways to make moving less stressful, and one of them is using storage units.

Ideally, you have the option of DIY storage units, otherwise known as self-storage units, which are cheaper and offer easy access. However, DIY storage unit move challenges exist. That includes packing, loading, and delivering the items to a storage facility, often in a remote location.

You also have to consider the hidden costs of self-moving, such as packing and transportation costs, which can be high. So, consider a professional storage unit mover instead of moving storage unit items yourself. This guide lets you understand the benefits of hiring professional storage unit movers.

Key Benefits of Hiring Professional Storage Unit Movers

Hiring professional movers is beneficial. It’s the key to overcoming the challenges of self-storage units. So many customers we’ve served as Joshua’s Moving can testify to that.

Here are the key benefits of professional movers.  

1.      Expertise and Experience in Handling Valuables

Professional movers know how to handle the most delicate possessions, which include heavy appliances, glassware, and musical instruments. They carefully pack and load the items and deliver them in one piece to a designated location.

Here’s a testimonial by a customer about hiring professional movers from Joshua’s Moving:

“Very professional. Moved a large 500-pound piano with no damage to the piano or the house.”

2.      Efficiency and Time-Saving Benefits

Expert storage unit movers are efficient. As one of the experts, we use the most efficient means of loading and transporting your storage units to the warehouse. We prioritize using the minimum effort and resources and, more importantly, saving time.

In her testimonial about the level of service at Joshua’s Moving, a customer had this to say:

“The movers at Joshua’s Moving were efficient, speedy, and careful.” “These are the qualities you want in a mover”.

Moving storage unit service providers understand what to do and can do it fast but cautiously. From packing and loading to delivery, we strive to beat time and ensure your items get to the next destination safely.

3.      Access to Equipment and Vehicles

Self-storage units do not offer a lot in terms of specialized equipment. That is unlike professional moving services. Professional movers provide climate-controlled storage that protects the most sensitive belongings.  

• Important documents
• Furniture
• Instruments
• Antique

Professional movers also offer specialized storage units for special equipment and vehicles such as cars, boats, and ATVs. Others even have wine storage units. The best bit is that these storage facilities enjoy real-time trackers and video surveillance to boost the security of your precious belongings.

4.      Reduced Stress and Physical Effort

Other storage unit movers’ advantages are that they offer peace of mind and save you from working too much during the move. Unlike self-storage units, professional storage units are full-service. That means they handle everything from picking, delivering, and storing the items until you need them.

While describing his experience with Joshua Moving, Christian S. testified:

“Wow! They moved everything out of my old apartment, transported and moved everything into my new apartment in 45 minutes.”

With self-storage units, you deliver the items to the storage containers. If you need access, you’ve got to go there. That’s quite the contrary when it comes to professional storage units. The movers deliver the storage units, handle the packing and loading, and deliver the units for storage. Thus, you don’t have to lift a finger, which gives you peace of mind.

How to Choose the Right Storage Unit Moving Company

Wondering about the ‘best storage movers near me?’ Well, so much goes into choosing a storage unit moving company to work with. There are individual factors you’ve to prioritize that we’ll look at next.

Top Factors to Consider When Hiring Movers

Consider the factors below when choosing professional movers.

1.      Storage Needs

Storage units come in different sizes. Thus, it’s essential to find a professional mover that offers storage units that match the content you intend to keep. 

The smallest storage unit is about 5 by 5 feet. It’s ideal for storage boxes. The biggest is about 10 by 30 feet, enough to accommodate the content of a 3-5-bedroom house. Below is a table of the most typical storage unit sizes and descriptions.

Storage Unit Size (ft.)	Description
5 by 5 and 5 by 10	Smallest of the batch. It’s ideal for storage boxes but not furniture.
10 by 10	May accommodate some furniture. Ideal for the content of a small 2-bedroom house.
10 by 15	It suits the contents of a 2-bedroom house more, including the furniture and musical instruments. However, it is not suitable for heavy appliances.
10 by 20	Large enough for heavy appliances such as washers, fridges, and dryers.
10 by 25	Enough for a 2-garage content.
10 by 30	Large enough for the content of a 3-5 bedroom.

Generally, you can ask about the available storage units to see what suits your needs.

2.      Level of Service

The level of service distinguishes exceptional storage unit movers from average movers. It’s what separates our San Carlos storage unit movers from others. Overall, you should look for movers that offer you more than supply you with storage units. Focus on moving companies that provide full-service, and that includes the following.

• Inventory taking 
• Packing and loading content
• Delivery to designated locations
• Unloading and unpacking services
• Storage services

3.      Features

Consider a professional mover that offers the best package. Go for climate-control units if you want to keep documents, electronics, delicate furniture, or anything else sensitive to heat or moisture.

Security-wise, you should consider a storage unit mover with the best security features. That includes video surveillance, real-time trackers, and gated access. Don’t forget about fire alarms and smoke detectors, as they are equally important.

4.      Location

While you don’t necessarily have to physically access the storage unit during the storage period, you want a mover within reach. This makes it easy for them to drive to the items you wish to use.

Suppose you intend to move to a specific location. In that case, you may need to hire a professional mover that serves the area. Storage units are generally not ideal for long-distance storage, as with storage containers.

5.      Reputation

The best storage unit mover’s reputation should precede it. That’s possible with good reviews. Thus, consider the testimonials to see what other customers think about the mover. If the reviews are good, the storage unit mover likely has a good reputation and is thus reliable.

6.      Customer Support

The storage unit mover you work with should communicate, respond to inquiries, and update you on the moving process. If the communication is poor, the level of service is likely to be poor. At Joshua’s Moving, for example, the customer desk is easy to reach, supportive, and professional. That makes the moving process seamless.

7.      Cost

It’s important to choose a storage unit move you can afford. This largely depends on your storage needs and the volume of the content you want to store. It also depends on whether you have special requirements, such as a preference for outdoor storage for cars or boats.

You can expect to spend about $50 monthly on the smallest storage unit (5 by 5 ft.) and up to $330 on the largest unit (10 by 30 ft.). Here are storage cost estimates for different unit sizes you can use as a guide to determine your budget:

Storage Unit Size (ft.)	Monthly Storage Rent
5 by 5	$70
5 by 10	$110
10 by 10	$150
10 by 15	$245
10 by 30	$330

Note that you may have to spend more on additional perks. That includes:

• Packing ($200 – $1,000)
• Transportation ($500 – $3,000)
• Specialty items like antiques, pianos, and other fragile items ($100 – $400)

Why San Carlos Moving Company is a Top Choice

There are different reasons why San Carlos Moving Company (Joshua’s Moving) is your go-to storage unit mover. For starters, Joshua’s Moving offers full service. We handle everything from packing and loading to transportation and storage. That saves you time and energy and ensures peace of mind during the move.

Joshua’s Moving boasts an impressive reputation. Apart from that, we have supportive and reliable customer support. Our staff are diligent and professional, and the moving process is quick and efficient. The staff understands how to move delicate and valuable items carefully. Even better, there are no hidden charges. You know what you’ll be paying at the beginning.

Tips for Preparing Your Storage Unit for a Move

Preparation is key when moving a storage unit. You may need a checklist to ensure you don’t miss an important step when preparing for professional movers. Let’s see what should be in your checklist.

How to Organize Your Items Before Movers Arrive

You’ll need to do some things days before the movers arrive. It’s also important to free up your schedule before the date of moving. As far as moving storage unit preparation goes, here’s what should be on your checklist:

• Declutter items you no longer need or aren’t using anymore
• Take inventory of the things you plan to move
• Prepare the packing supplies (packing boxes, bubble wrap, duct tape, and markers)
• Prepare boxes for essential supplies (toiletries, chargers, clean bedding, change of clothes, personal documents, medicine, and others)
• Pre-package smaller items in smaller boxes
• Label all boxes correctly
• Empty the drawers and keep the particulars in separate boxes
• Empty the fridge, freezer, and pantry
• Unplug heavy appliances (fridge, washer, dryer, microwave, oven, and others)
• Preferably use the original boxes to keep the items
• Drain the gas mower as the fuel is flammable
• Clear heavy furniture and other stuff from the pathways to allow the movers to have a seamless experience
• Clean up the belongings and the house before the move date

Shared above are the most important storage unit moving tips to include in your checklist. Another important tip is to arrange for the kids and pets—they shouldn’t be running around while the movers work.

What to Expect on Moving Day with Movers

When dealing with professional storage unit movers, you should understand what happens on the moving day. It starts with a service booking, which you do online, and schedule a pick-up date. Here’s what to expect on the pick-up date.

1.      Movers Arrival

Expect the professional movers to arrive on time with the storage units. To ensure there are no delays, you’ll need to be close to your phone in case they call to ask for directions. The movers will then ask you to walk them through everything you want done and if you have any special requests.

2.      Inventory Taking

The movers will take inventory of everything you want to move. In most cases, they’ll take images and records, which they’ll upload to the system so you can access them online. This ensures they don’t miss anything.

3.      Home Pick-up

This step involves first helping with the packing. Packing is an additional service that professional movers offer, but it’s usually not part of the standard storage unit package.

The movers will label everything correctly upon packing before loading it into the trucks. The packing is careful and deliberate to prevent breakages and losses. Once everything is okay, the movers will deliver the storage units to your new destination.

4.      Safe Storage  

The movers will help unload the boxes into the storage units. Here, sensitive items like documents, electronics, and clothes are put into climate-controlled units to protect them from spoilage or damage. They then stay there for as long as you want– up to several months.

FAQs

How much does it cost to hire storage unit movers?

For a moving container, the cost is between $50 to $330 depending on its size, but you would spend around $200-$3,000 on transport depending on the distance the container needs to be shipped. Packing service costs around $200 – $1,500, excluding packing material costs.

How do professional movers protect fragile items?

Professional movers protect fragile items by using bubble wrap, packaging peanuts, and soft packing papers to cushion fragile items against breakage. Others make use of furniture pads, corrugated fireboards, and original packaging. Sturdy boxes keep items from moving about during transit and are correctly labeled ‘fragile.’

Does a storage unit mover provide packing materials?

Most moving storage units do not sell packing materials. However, we can source the materials from our reliable suppliers. The packing supplies cost $200 – $2,200, depending on load volume.

Can movers access my storage unit in my absence?

Professional movers can access the storage unit without your presence if you grant them access. In the full-service package, movers can take care of everything that extends from home pick-up to the delivery of items and their loading into climate-controlled storage units. Otherwise, they can access your storage unit and deliver the items to the storage facility.

What is the difference between self-storage and full-service storage?

Self-storage entails picking up the storage unit, loading it, and delivering it to the storage facility. On the other hand, full-service storage refers to when professional storage unit companies take the whole process from picking up items to transporting them to a climate-controlled storage unit.