Our remote apartment rental in the Seattle area recently had a major fire. Landlord is terminating all leases effective immediately. We only visit the rental about 5 months each year, so we’ve decided to try mid-term rentals going forward – for at least a year or two. To do that, we will need to store our apartment “stuff” during that time.
We thought it might be fun trying different neighborhoods going forward. Mid-term furnished apartment rental costs appear to fall between short term (AirBnB/VRBO) and full year leases (for empty apartments), so ultimately it would cost about the same over a year’s time.
If we don’t like the additional hassle, we’ll want to move our stored items back to a full-time apartment. If we do like it, we’ll purge even more, find the smallest rental unit possible to store only clothes, and a few essentials (espresso machine ), so we can more easily fly between home and apartment.
Has anyone ever used Furnished Finders to rent on 1-3 month intervals? Listings focus on traveling health professionals, visiting professors, short-term business commitments, etc. The website obviously is not updated, or landlords simply do not reply. Summer vacationers, the World Cup, and an immediate need have all made the hunt much more difficult. In the future, with more notice, we’re hoping it will not be as difficult.
I re-read the storage unit thread (now closed). Sounds like the business model is to bring you in, and then significantly raise rates. We assume the initial “sales” won’t last, but many posters indicate even the standard rates skyrocket quickly.
Any other ideas for long-term storage? OR Mid-term aparment rental resources?
Anyone in the Seattle area have an empty MIL suite
There is a company called silver door, that we looked at when we considered renting an apt in CA. There is another called blueground but its reviews ar not positive.
For my small nonprofit’s storage needs (a 5’x5’ space), I plead that we are a poor nonprofit & pay for 2 years rent at a time. I helps reduce the rate increases.
We found a two month rental near ski slopes in 2027 via Furnished Finder. So far, so good.
Agree that some landlords just don’t reply but a few did. Significantly cheaper than Air BnB. And VRBO was exceptionally higher than both.
I will check out silver door.
Also curious about storage options - prices seemed exceptionally low. One option I’ve considered is asking a family friend with lots of property to store at least some of our stuff. Not sure if that will work (could likely be too big an ask) but we keep getting rid of stuff to prepare!
One thing to consider is temperature control and bugs. Both can ruin items. I am willing to pay for A/C storage unit that has concrete floor and pretty generous hours of operation where you can access items. A friend offered some space above her commercial kitchen but she said it’s very hot and that also damages things. I rather pay and have peace of mind and not have it in my living room or over her hot kitchen.
I was just going to suggest Furnished Finder! I also use Facebook and Craigslist temporaries. Recently discovered Furnished Finder and landlords are very responsive, nice units, better than aitbnb.
I know people have various reasons why they need long term storage…I personally think long term storage is like saving left over food until it’s spoiled and then end up throwing it way. People tend to forget what they have in storage and end up paying for storage because they don’t want to bother to clean it out.
I had long term storages in NYC and Nj when I moved overseas. When I came out I told my kids to take what they wanted, I sold most of them, and closed out both storages.
I need long term storage because I live in small places. It is just a 5 by 5 and has photo albums, CD’s of kids’ music and dance (professional level), taxes, medical records, and in the summer, quilts. I have gone through the stuff again and again and know exactly what is in there and all of it needs storage. If you downsize, it comes in handy versus moldy basement storage.
I might need to do that for items such as old tax files, photo albums, etc when I downsize into an apartment within the next few years.
But I agree with @oldfort that there are a lot of people who have a lot of space and are filling units with “ stuff”. Doesn’t hurt me, but I just don’t see it.
Just adding that Furnished Finder in my area generally requires a few months advance notice, at least. Facebook and Craiglist work better for more urgent needs though you can sometimes get lucky on FF.
I had a large storage unit that I initially got for a very reasonable price. I had an office table/desk (ultimately gave it to a cc’er) and lots of files. DH also had bulky stuff for one of his volunteer organizations. One colleague wanted to store her old files in my unit but for a variety of reasons I declined that, and another friend was going to get divorced and wanted a place to store some furniture. She ultimately worked things out with her husband so that didn’t happen, and DH and I ultimately moved our stuff to a smaller unit and ultimately didn’t need it any more. The manager of that storage place was really nice (I gave her some furniture too) and she worked out whatever deals she could for us (good price, good location). Was glad when we no longer needed it and files could be shredded.
Oldfort - I have had the same position re: storage. The reason I’m thinking of it now is our plan is to sell our largish, suburban home in high-tax, mid/high COL state and move somewhere else for next stage.
But I don’t want to jump into another house/location if we haven’t checked out various options (and everyone says “rent before you buy”).
So the storage unit would be for that interim period - after selling current house/before buying next house.
I’m not attached to any furniture but H has a garage full of tools/equipment/etc. that he will definitely want to keep.
I have a friend who rents her place on Furnished Finder, so checked it out for my son’s internship. I did not get a response from any of the three landlords I contacted, so I think YMMV on responses. Airbnb had a few reasonable longer term rentals in the area we were looking, but overall the prices on Furnished Finder seemed lower. I didn’t find a lot of great other options; even when the website said short-term, it really ended up being >=6 months.(This was in the Los Angeles area.)
I have been doing short term for some time. Anywhere from 3 to 9 months. Between owned homes. Right now, Facebook has been the most helpful. I got rid of furniture entirely and rent furnished places.
We have never had a storage unit for ourselves. We did have one for about a year when DD moved in with a friend and didn’t need a lot of her stuff. We knew we would be moving her, and all of her belongings at the end of that academic year…so we put her stuff in a climate controlled storage unit. It was right across the street from her apartment complex and the boxes were labeled very well…so if needed, she could find things.
We have friends who sold the very large house where they raised their family. They bought a great property with a house and a guest house both needing renovations. They put a LOT from the big house into storage. They renovated the guest house first, and decided nothing they had in storage really was the right size or style so they bought all new things. The main house is now all done, and they have gotten everything out of storage, and they really want almost nothing they paid to store for about 8 years! So…they are little by little getting rid of this stuff, and replacing it! They told us that it was a huge waste of money.
We HAVE to store nonprofit financial records for the Attorney General. We got tired of having it clutter our living room and decided having it in storage was preferable, so that’s what we’re doing. Yes, it is $250/month, but we are happy with not having it in our home.
@thumper1 I could see that happening to us (storing furniture and then not using it).
I have zero attachment to our furniture and would never store it for more than a year (if that). Would like to jettison the dining room and formal living room before we go.
On the other hand, my H has a treasured snow blow, grass-cutting tractor, and all the many tools of someone who does advanced woodworking and the occasional plumbing, electric, and car repair.
I would be happy to see that stored for a year or two so we could nimbly travel about. Don’t want all the gear to drive a house purchase!
You need to check the storage facility. Many do NOT allow any things that have gas or oil in them. Your husband might have trouble finding storage for the tractor, etc.
Yes, for something with a motor, it would be good to be sure facility is OK with it. Otherwise, I’d try to find a good friend or family member that can be trusted to store it (maybe with borrowing privileges).
We rented a storage unit, small 5x5, when we downsized to an apartment. It serves as storage for our stuff as well as our daughter’s stuff. Since we both live in small apartments. We keep our holiday decorations in it, so we do use that stuff once a year.
Storage unit pricing is very seasonal, prices for the same unit vary tremendously based upon the time of year and demand. Also, it is like cell plans, you get a great deal for your first year and then not so good after (all the web specials are for “new customers’“).
The place we chose is very close to our apartment (15 minutes), climate controlled, very clean, and the manager is wonderful.
), so we can more easily fly between home and apartment.