How Self Storage Can Help When You Inherit a Home

Before you start sorting through the belongings in an inherited home, you’ll need to take inventory of all the items in your possession. If your parent or loved one who passed along the home is still with you, they might have suggestions or wishes regarding some of the items in the home. Either way, start by walking through the property and making a general assessment of its contents. Create a preliminary inventory list, noting valuable items and those that may hold sentimental value.

You’ll also want to get any important documents such as wills, financial statements and insurance policies in one place, as well as valuables like jewelry and artwork. Keep these in a secure place to ensure they aren’t misplaced during the sorting process.

Once you’ve taken inventory of everything, it's time to start going through all the items and sorting them into categories. This is often the most arduous stage, both practically and emotionally, so make sure you’re taking plenty of breaks as well as bringing in other family members or friends for help and support.

Categorize Belongings

As you go through each room, sort items into four main categories: keep, donate, sell and throw away. (In the same way you would if you were organizing your own home.) To make things easier to spot, use labels and color-coded stickers to mark items according to their category. For example, red stickers should be used for items to keep, blue stickers should be used for donations, green should be used for items to sell and yellow should be used for trash.

Deal With Sentimental Items

Dealing with sentimental items can be one of the toughest parts of this process. Here are some strategies to help:

• Create memory boxes, which are designated boxes for items that hold sentimental value but may not be practical to keep in daily use. This way, you can preserve memories without cluttering your living space.
• Take pictures of items that you’re finding hard to part with but may not have any physical use for. Keep these organized in a folder on your phone or laptop, and consider printing them out and storing them in a physical album (which will take up much less space than the objects themselves!).
• Acknowledge the feelings that come up as you’re sorting through your loved one’s belongings and allow yourself to process them. Give yourself permission to take breaks whenever needed, especially if you’re starting to feel emotionally burned out.
• Don’t hesitate to ask family members or friends for help. Sharing the task can make it less overwhelming and give you the emotional support you need.

After you’ve categorized the items in the home, it’s time to organize the estate. Start by updating your initial inventory list, so you have a detailed catalog of all items in the home you’re planning on keeping, donating, selling or throwing away.

• Keep: Carefully pack and store items you plan on keeping. If you have additional space, use sturdy boxes and label them clearly before storing them in your attic, garage, or basement. Remember that some items, especially furniture and documents, may be sensitive to temperature and humidity, so you may want to invest in a climate-controlled storage unit.
• Donate: For items in good condition that you don’t need, consider donating to local charities or shelters. You’ll need to contact these organizations to see what items they accept and schedule pickups if necessary. If you have a lot on your plate and aren’t in a rush to donate these items, you can also store them in a storage unit while you deal with all the estate logistics.
• Sell: If you’ve inherited items that are valuable (nice furniture, clothes, electronics, art, etc.) and in good condition, but you personally don’t need them, consider listing them for sale. You can organize a garage sale, use online marketplaces or work with estate sale companies to sell these items. Estate sale companies can handle the entire process, from pricing items to managing the sale, which can be helpful if you’re strapped for time or feeling overwhelmed.
• Throw Away: Get rid of any broken, damaged, or no longer usable items. Rent a dumpster if there’s a large volume of trash, or check with local waste management services for bulk item disposal. If you live in a city, items out on your curb or stoop may get picked up pretty quickly by thrifty neighbors and passersby.

Self storage can be a valuable tool in various stages of managing an inherited home, from organizing the estate to preparing the home for sale.

Organizing Your Estate

With all the chaos of organizing an estate, self storage is a great way to give yourself extra time to figure out what to do with specific belongings or allow other family members to chime in on a group decision. In the short term, you can use self storage for items you’re undecided about, which gives you more time to decide whether you want to keep, donate, sell or toss without cluttering your space. It’s also convenient for anything you plan on selling in the future but need a safe place to store until you’re ready.

Similarly, self storage is a good option if you’re looking for a place to store items long-term, especially keepsakes, documents, and other sentimental items you may want to keep but don’t need to access every day. 

Remodeling or Renovating

If you’re upgrading your home, storing valuable and fragile items in a self-storage unit can help protect them from accidental damage, dust and debris. It’s also a great way to keep larger items, like furniture and bulky appliances, out of the way during remodeling and renovations, allowing your contractors to work more efficiently. 

Setting Up Your Home for Sale or Staging

If you’re selling the home, you can use a storage unit to temporarily hold personal belongings, excess furniture and any other items that might make the space look crowded. This will help your space look cleaner and provide more space, or it will allow you to stage the empty rooms with neutral furniture that may be more appealing to buyers. 

Storing Items During Estate Sales

If you’re hosting an estate sale, self storage can help safeguard any valuable or sentimental items you don’t want damaged or accidentally mixed up with the items for sale. It also creates a less cluttered space, which makes it easier to display the items you want to sell and for buyers to browse and purchase them.

When you’re ready to move items into a storage unit, it’s a good idea to consider the following factors so you choose the best option for your needs:

• Size: Determine the size of the unit based on the volume of items you need to store. Storage units come in various sizes, from small lockers to large units, so assess what you plan on storing and use a size guide to find the right one for your needs. (Don’t stress out — it’s easy to upgrade to a larger unit or downsize to a storage unit in the same facility, depending on availability.)
• Climate Control: Consider whether you need a climate-controlled unit. Climate control is essential for items that are sensitive to temperature and humidity, such as furniture, mattresses, artwork and important documents. If your item is only sensitive to temperature, you can opt for an air-cooled unit.
• Security: Make sure the storage facility has robust security measures, including 24/7 surveillance cameras, secure access gates and on-site staff.
• Accessibility: Choose a storage facility that offers convenient access hours that fit your schedule. Some facilities provide 24/7 access, while others have specific operating hours.
• Drive-Up Units: If you’re loading and unloading a lot of large, heavy items, consider getting a drive-up, ground-floor unit that allows you to park your vehicle directly in front of the unit.