Switching Storage Units? Read This Before You Do (2026)

Hey. So, you’re thinking about moving your storage unit.

Man, I feel that. I had a unit once for about three years. I forgot what was in the back of it. Every month, $89 just slid out of my account. I’d see the charge and think, “Is that even worth it anymore?”

But the thought of moving it? No thank you. Renting a truck, begging friends for help, spending a whole Saturday in some fluorescent-lit hallway… it sounds awful.

But sometimes you gotta do it. Let’s figure out if you actually should.

The Good Reasons to Make the Jump

• Your stuff doesn’t fit: You started with a few boxes. Now you’re trying to shove a couch in there and you can’t close the door. Or the opposite—you cleaned out a bunch and now you’re paying for a huge empty room. That’s just throwing money away. Get a size that matches your actual life right now.
• The place gives you a bad feeling: You know what I mean. It used to be fine, but now the gate is broken half the time. The lights are flickering. It smells weird. You see sketchy people hanging around. You’re paying for peace of mind. If you don’t have it, what are you paying for?
• You can never get to your things: Their hours are 9-5. You work 8-6. Or your unit is upstairs and the elevator is always busted. If it’s a huge pain to get to your own stuff, the service isn’t serving you.
• Your stuff is getting ruined: This is a big one. If you’ve got wooden furniture, photos, clothes, or anything that hates moisture or wild temperature swings, a regular unit can kill it. If you open a box and it smells musty, or you see a little rust on a tool, your stuff is screaming for a climate-controlled space. It’s not an upgrade; it’s a necessity.

The Reality Check: The Hidden Cost of Moving

• This isn’t just about monthly rent. Let’s add up the hidden bill.
• Truck rental: $70-$150.
• Gas, moving pads, locks: $30.
• Pizza and beer for your friends (mandatory): $50.
• Your entire Saturday: Priceless, but also gone.
• New admin fee and deposit at the new place: Maybe $50-$100.
• Potential “move-out fee” at your old place: Who knows? Maybe another $50.

So even if you save $20 a month, you might spend $300+ and a weekend to move. You wouldn’t break even for over a year. Is a year of hassle worth $20 a month? For me, sometimes no. The new place has to be WAY better in other ways to make it worthwhile.

Your Game Plan: How to Move Without the Meltdown

Okay, you’re still doing it. Here’s how not to hate your life:

1. PURGE FIRST: I’m yelling because it’s important. Do NOT move crap you don’t want. Go there with trash bags. Be ruthless. If you haven’t touched it in two years, you don’t need it. Sell it, donate it, toss it. Moving less is winning.
2. Visit new places: Don’t just call. Go there on a Saturday afternoon. See how busy it is. Is the manager friendly or annoyed? Does it look clean? Trust the vibe.
3. Get the new unit BEFORE you quit the old one: Lock in your new spot. Then give your written notice to the old place. Check your old contract—how much notice do they need? Don’t get stuck paying for two units.
4. Label boxes with REAL descriptions: “Kitchen” is useless. Write “Mixing Bowls & Good Knives” or “Dad’s Old Tax Papers.” You’ll thank yourself later.
5. Take a video when you leave: Film the empty, clean unit. Get a final walk-through if you can. This is your only proof if they try to blame you for old damage.

One Final Thought

I’m not a robot. I work at a place called Storage Plus. My actual job is to walk people around our facility and help them find the right spot. I hear these stories all the time.

The people who are happiest about switching are the ones who did it for a solid reason—their stuff was cramped or at risk, or they were just sick of a dumpy facility. They weren’t just chasing a $5 discount.

If you’re curious what a different option looks like, just come take a look at our place. No pressure. We’ll show you around, give you a real price with no goofy introductory rates that triple later. It might be right for you, it might not. But at least you’ll know.

Think it over. If the reason is good enough, the moving day will be worth it. And just buy the good pizza for your friends. You’ll need the goodwill.