Safeguarding your valued possessions in storage containers provides peace of mind while you're travelling in foreign countries.
You've finally booked the trip you've been dreaming of since you were a 20-something. It involves a backpack, passport and many months of touring multiple countries by planes, trains and automobiles. But before you leave, you need to decide whether to use storage containers or find some other solution for safeguarding your possessions while you're gone.
Seasoned travellers have devised a number of different ways to secure their belongings while they're abroad. Many of them depend on your level of comfort in dealing with strangers, while others are only possible if you have small number of items to store. Here are some of the more popular choices.
1. Renting the House
For homeowners who intend to be away for months at a time, having the ability to generate income (or at least pay the mortgage) by renting their home is a handy option. The problem is, unless you're going to be travelling for half a year or more, it can be a challenge to find trustworthy renters whose need for temporary accommodation coincides with your travel itinerary.
In some cases, travellers will have to pay a house sitter to mind the fort, or call in a favour from a family member.
In either situation, using portable storage containers to lock away your more valuable and cherished possessions is a prudent decision.
If you're going to be travelling for a year or more, you could pack all of your home's contents into a self storage unit and rent your place as "unfurnished."
2. House Swap
Depending on where you're travelling, and for how long, it's possible to arrange a house swap with people from the area you're visiting. It requires a fair bit of faith to let a complete stranger live in your home, but you also get free lodging while you'e away.
Again, a portable storage container is a great way to safeguard your stuff. Best of all, you can choose to leave the storage unit at your Kelowna property, or have it transported to a secure facility.
3. Annoy your Family
If there's one set of people you can usually count on to help you out with storing your personal belongings, it's your family. You might have to placate them with souvenirs of your trip (cases of beer can sometimes work too) in exchange for some temporary garage space, but they'll usually do it. Just don't tell them how long you'll be gone for.
It also helps if you downsize before you ask so you take up less space. You can achieve this by:
- Giving away unused/unwanted belongings
- Auctioning items on eBay, Craigslist, or Kijiji
- Donating quality used items to a local charity
- Holding a garage sale
If after purging your possessions you realize you still have way too much stuff, you should read: How Storage Units Help Organize Your Inner Packrat.
Looking for temporary storage solutions while you're travelling abroad? Space Centre Storage in Kelowna has a number of convenient options, including portable storage containers and self storage units. Come and take a tour of our facility on our electric cart to see which option is best for you.