To Rent a Storage Unit or Not…That is the Question!

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The comfort of consumption leads many of us to buy a lot of things; things we need, use, and love, along with plenty of things we don’t need, use, or care for.  Which means we end up accumulating a lot in our homes.

So, what do we do when there is more stuff than we can handle or store in our homes? Rent a storage unit!

Why You Should Rent a Storage Unit

Now, there are several good reasons to rent a storage unit, namely when you are moving from one home to another and the latter isn’t yet ready; you live in a city where living space is extremely costly and storing items makes better financial sense (think New York City), or you have seasonal equipment, large vehicles, etc.

Renting a storage unit for a few months can be a good temporary solution for many people. However, once you leave items in a storage unit for more than a year, the rental is no longer temporary and may not make financial or practical sense.

According to the Self Storage Association, more than half of rental units are kept for more than a year, so, what is really driving the self-storage industry, and why?

In most scenarios, it is simply a case of owning too much stuff and having a hard time letting go of it.  According to the Self Storage Association (SSA), in 1995, only one in 17 households rented a self-storage unit, whereas in 2008, one in 10 households rented a unit. We can guess why – just look at how many people are shopping at Walmart, IKEA, Costco, and online merchants every single day!

How Much Does a Storage Unit Cost?

Reports indicate that the average national monthly cost of a climate-controlled rental space ranges from $1.00 to $1.63 per square foot, which translates to about $1,300 – $2,000 a year for a 10’ x 10’ unit.

However, a storage unit’s price will greatly depend on a variety of factors, including the size of the unit, where you’re renting the unit and how long you’re renting the unit. Other special features that can be purchased include climate control, indoor unit versus an outdoor unit, items stored (RV vs. boxes), level of service (self-service vs. full service), add-ons such as packing bins and supplies, labour, and insurance (many storage items can be covered by “off-premises home insurance coverage”),

So why are People Paying These Hefty Fees?

Here’s how we are justifying the rental of all these storage units:

  1. Attachment to Stuff

For many people, getting rid of things is extremely difficult – it’s emotional and carries great weight.  A person might find it necessary to rent storage unit in order to house all this “necessary” stuff.

  1. Future Needs

If you are storing things that no longer fit or “work” in your new home, thinking that you may use these things in the future or “just in case,” you’re paying a hefty price to hold onto them. Unless your downsizing project is temporary, it’s time to sell or donate your items, and live in the here and now.

  1. Too Busy to Sell My Things

Having a yard sale or selling items on eBay or Facebook is a good way to deal with too much stuff.  Planning ahead and thinking through options before a move and subsequent rental of a storage unit makes good sense. If it is too much, hire someone to help.

  1. Too Busy to Get Rid of My Things

By leaving items in a storage unit indefinitely, you are paying a lot month after month. As the years go by, a storage unit can turn into a huge financial loss. Feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to deal with stuff is one reason people procrastinate, according to Psychology Today. Therefore, if it is too hard to do it yourself, hire a professional and just do it.

According to Simply Home Downsizing’s Pauline Duhart, “Indecision about what to do with extra items comes down to procrastination. People end up spending money on storage units because it is hard to make a decision.

A few questions to ask yourself as you are looking at your overstuffed garage, attic, closets and basements, include:

Would You Buy it Today? 

If you’re no longer using clothes that are out of style or furniture you put away to make room for new items in your re-modelled home, why save them?

Is it Easily Replaceable? 

Consider the 20/20 rule. If you have a used possession that you could repurchase for less than $20 or borrow it from a neighbour in 20 minutes or less, time to let it go.

Will One be Enough? 

Memorabilia and family keepsakes are an important part of peoples’ lives for sure. Perhaps choosing one truly memorable item makes sense. One item of value can keep the connection to the person/experience, no need for duplicates.

Can I Make Some Money by Letting go of Things?

Thanks to Kijiji, Craig’s List, Facebook and MaxSold, there are many opportunities to earn money by keeping less.

“We can help people transition away from renting a storage unit by de-cluttering, downsizing and organizing items before a move or transition, so that clients avoid renting a storage unit at all, saving money, time, and resources”, says Duhart.

 

Whether you need to organize your own space, help a loved one move into a smaller home, or manage an estate clearing, our team of experienced professionals will guide you carefully and comfortably to your desired result. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

 

~ The Simply Home Team

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How Döstädning – a.k.a Swedish Death Cleaning – Can Work For You

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Having recently worked with clients who, due to a death of a parent, have had to deal with de-cluttering and organizing the family home, we know how stressful this process can be. Decisions such as: what to keep, what to let go of, who gets to decide, which items can be sold/donated/given to other family members all come into play. These tasks are challenging to complete at the best of times, so when emotions are running high and grieving may be taking place, these tasks can become completely overwhelming.

The good news is there is a solution and it comes from Sweden.

What is Swedish Death Cleaning?

Swedish Death Cleaning, or “Döstädning”, is a process whereby you remove unnecessary things and get your home in order BEFORE you die.

This may sound a bit morbid, but you do this so that your loved ones don’t have to once you pass on. You get to be the designer of your own legacy, making it easier for your loved ones to deal with your life’s belongings, when you no longer can. It’s a de-cluttering approach that asks you to make decisions about your belongings in the present, so that your loved ones don’t have to do it for you once you pass on.

According to Margareta Magnusson, author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, “you won’t be taking any of it with you, so why hold onto it now?”

Only Keep What You Love

Not unlike Marie Kondo and her KonMari method of editing every category in your home, Magnusson suggests we keep only what we love, and what makes us happy in the moment. She goes on to suggest many ways in which to discard, donate or pass on unwanted items to those who can benefit in the present. She is not a minimalist, and does suggest you carefully consider items such as photographs, love letters, and a few of your children’s art projects, a few being the key word here.

If you choose to keep what YOU feel is important, your loved ones will be relieved that you made the decision and now they don’t have to!

If anyone has dealt with the process of “cleaning house” after a loved one has passed on, you know that often many things are left behind. Things you do not always know what to do with. As organizers we often help family members make decisions about the best course of action. The less deciding there is to do, the smoother the process goes, and the easier it is to manage expectations and potential resentments.

Understandably, the concept of death cleaning may be hard for some of us to consider. Who wants to consider their death prematurely?

Magnusson has this to say on the topic. ”Death cleaning isn’t the story of death, but rather the story of life, YOUR life. You choose which memories to keep – expunging the bad ones in favour of keeping the happy ones which will become happy memories for others.

Döstädning principles can be applied whenever you do a thorough cleaning, to make your life easier and more pleasant. It does not necessarily have to do with age or death, although in recent years the practice has become more popular as many people recognize the burden of leaving behind a home full of items.

How We Can Help

Magnusson has one more suggestion. After each “death cleaning” episode, big or small, treat yourself to something you love, because this process is about living life with more ease in the present.

And if you need support, please reach out to us at Simply Home Downsizing, we are here to help!

~ The Simply Home Team

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Preparing for an “Heirloom Avalanche”

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What do families do when one generation wants to pass on their “valuable” family heirlooms to a younger generation, but there are no takers?

As someone in the “sandwich generation” (raising my own child while also caring for my aging parents), I think about the day when my parents (ages 77 and 84) will be moving out from their house of 50+ years. Their decision might be to downsize due to financial concerns, reduced mobility, increased health-care requirements, or social isolation.

Whatever the reason, there will be many decisions to make, including what to do with the many items accumulated over the years. Some will be easier to deal with than others  – furniture can be sold, clothing and household items can be donated, papers can be recycled, but what will my sister and I do with the items that my parents want to “keep in the family”, as family heirlooms, passed down from one generation to the next?

An Aging Population 

Statistics Canada reports that 1,000 Canadians will be turning 65 every day for the next 20 years, which means a significant increase in downsizing, and by extension, an increase in the desire to find new homes for heirloom treasures. The “heirloom avalanche” is happening and will only continue to grow as baby boomers age and try to purge and pass on their heirlooms to their children or someone else.

Learning to Say No  

I wonder how I can I say “no” to the china set? The brass collection? The end tables from Colombia? The crests from Hungary? Don’t get me wrong, my parents have great taste and there are several items I know my sister and I will enjoy keeping in our families (I do love the Colombian dish set and decorative brass wall plate!), but there is simply too much stuff for us to take. We don’t have room for it all – real estate in my house is valuable – and with more focus on decluttering, living with less, and choosing experiences over stuff, many “treasured heirlooms” that would have been passed down through the generations, may have reached the end of their life.

But how to say “thanks, but no thanks” to the items my parents feel are special and valuable, and want to pass down, without hurting their feelings?

How to Prepare

What can families do to prepare for a possible “Heirloom Avalanche”?

  • Protect your relationships. Be honest and open about the process and discuss how you will proceed as a family.
  • Sort through family items together, reminiscing and reflecting on their meaning along the way. Often taking the time to do this eases the process of letting family heirlooms go.
  • Donate special items to charities and organizations you and your family feel strongly about.
  • Sell your special items in an auction, consignment shop or online (i.e. Kijiji, Facebook Buy & Sell groups).
  • Hire someone to coordinate a contents sale, either online (i.e. Maxsold) or onsite. The cost is usually based on a commission split of items sold.
  • Book an antique dealer or appraiser to visit your house, look at your treasures and make you an offer.
  • Hold a garage sale, which is a good way to connect with neighbours and locals, but not always the best way to make money. Successful garage sales require time and energy, not to mention good weather!

How We Can Help

When dealing with family heirlooms, the key is to take it step by step to determine what works best for these special items. Letting go of items that no longer fit your lifestyle, at any age, is a challenge. As professional organizers, we can help support your process, avoiding the stress of an heirloom avalanche down the road.

Whether you need to organize your own space, help a loved one move into a smaller home, or manage an estate clearing, our team of experienced professionals will guide you carefully and comfortably to your desired result. Contact us today  to learn more about our services.

Until Next Time,

~ The Simply Home Downsizing Team

What would you make room for in your re-imagined space?

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I was at IKEA recently and saw an ad that stopped me in my tracks. Imploring me to consider how I might make my living space less cluttered and more organized, the tagline read, “Make Room to Grow, Cultivate Your Creativity & Watch It Bloom”. Seemed simple enough, but when I thought about it further (in the middle of one of those micro efficient spaces created by IKEA experts), I shifted from “cool ad” to “wow, these questions are at the core of any organizing or decluttering project!

Disclaimer: In no way am I promoting IKEA as the key to our organizational needs. However, there is something in the way the ad is phrased that makes one think…what will I do once I reshape/reconfigure/reshape my space? How will my life change?

Boxes of stuff everywhere? Imagine how sorting and decluttering them will feel? What will more space open up for you? Dealing with these aspects of your life allows us to focus on what’s important now. Life isn’t lived in boxes stored away!

When we hold onto too much stuff, not only does our physical space become cluttered, our minds do as well. There are physical, emotional and mental costs associated with having a disorganized space. Potentially, we can gain so much by reimagining our space and the activities that take place in it.

Will a decluttered desk make you more productive? Will your newly organized kitchen encourage you to host more dinner parties? Will your reconfigured home office inspire your next great project? Will a streamlined closet make you feel better about how you present yourself to the world? Will your newly ordered basement make your life more manageable? Clarifying why you want what you want to grow is vital if we are to bloom – as the IKEA ad says.

If we commit and take action towards decluttering, sorting, organizing, and reconfiguring, what are we making room for?

Back to IKEA. I would guess that most of us own an IKEA item…or two. While their items make our lives more comfortable, these items do not in of themselves create our to-do lists, prioritize our goals our make our dreams come true. That’s all us!

So whether you want to enjoy your space, live more simply, grow your business, complete a project, enrich your family life, or gain more control over your belongings, ask yourself – what am I making room for? And then go do it.

Thinking of Downsizing? Consider Hiring a Move Manager

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Are you thinking about downsizing and moving to a smaller space? 

Does this immediately bring up feelings of panic and overwhelm?  

Are you worried about the amount of stuff that has accumulated over time?

If so, don’t panic. Personalized help is readily available!

Reaching Out to a Move Manager is a Great Way to Start.

Move Managers are professionals who help people downsize and move, supporting clients logistically and emotionally every step of the way.

We all know that moving is a stressful life transition. Having an expert lead the entire process is a huge advantage for those transitioning, especially with many decisions needing to be made in a time-sensitive manner.

Often, move management services fall under the professional organizing umbrella and can be accessed through channels such as Home Stars or Simply Home Downsizing

Having Someone Lead Your Downsizing Efforts Minimizes Your Stress and Helps You:

  1. Choose which items you will keep and which ones you will let go of
  2. Determine which items of value to sell (i.e.: online through MaxSold)
  3. Decide which items to pass on to adult children and how they will access them (i.e.: in-person vs. mail)
  4. Choose a charity/s that could benefit from your donated items
  5. Declutter and go through everything in your current home
  6. Plan the layout in your new home
  7. Stage your home for selling
  8. Pack up belongings to move (as well as donate, sell, discard)
  9. Arrange movers to move items
  10. Coordinate storage (short or long-term) if necessary
  11. Transfer utilities and other services to new home
  12. Unpack and organize belongings in the new home

Move managers possess unique skills including expert attention to detail, compassionate listening and creative problem-solving, skills that can help advance your move, minimize your stress and ensure you feel good about the process the whole way through.

With access to all of these resources in one place, a move manager can truly make downsizing and moving a less stressful experience for everyone involved.

And who doesn’t like to feel less stressed in their life?

Author Jessica Tudos:

Having caught the organizational bug early on as an elite gymnast juggling training and school, Jessica is blending her skills as an experiential educator, facilitator and author with her organizing skills to amplify creativity and organization in people’s lives.

Are Downsizing & Decluttering Emotional or Practical?

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A friend recently asked me if the downsizing & decluttering process was more emotional or practical, which really made me think about possible responses. Which is it?

When you look at the actual process of managing your belongings and your space, you can break it down into clear practical steps:

  • unpacking
  • sorting
  • categorizing
  • deciding
  • organizing
  • managing the shift

And yes, clear containers, drawer dividers, and labels help keep belongings organized.

These are all very important steps along the journey to a more stream-lined and simpler way of life; and what we, as professionals, facilitate regularly. The result of this process is an overwhelming, “Wow, I feel relieved and so much lighter” and, “I feel a huge weight has been lifted off” to “I feel like I can manage so much better now.”

The results are emotional – it’s all about feeling transformed in some way. How one feels before and after this process are at the core of what this transformation is all about. Moving clients from feeling overwhelmed, embarrassed, and “heavy” to feeling more organized, in control, and “light” is our goal – and our expertise.

Simply Home Downsizing facilitates emotional shifts through a practical hands-on process.

Attachment to our belongings can be challenging to work through due to familial, financial, timing, health and other issues. These pressures can keep us from doing the very things we say we want to do – live with less, be more in control of our belongings, make more time for things that matter, etc.

Acknowledging that the downsizing/decluttering/organizing process is an emotional one first, and a practical one, second, is crucial. This process is so much more than clearing out closets and drawers, and requires deep reflection, understanding and conviction. It also requires that we suspend judgment and guilt, and recognize our necessary next steps.

This is not always easy to do and where Simply Home Downsizing comes in. Skilled support throughout the downsizing/decluttering/organizing process can be vital to its success. We recognize the need to provide emotional support while simultaneously applying our practical expertise. We ensure our process makes you feel more at home in every way.

Feeling ready to take on the emotional and practical challenge? Contact Us and let’s talk about it.

Author Jessica Tudos:

Having caught the organizational bug early on as an Olympic gymnast juggling training and school, Jessica is blending her skills as an experiential educator, facilitator and author with her organizing skills to amplify creativity and organization in people’s lives.