The logistics of moving to a new home can be stressful. But don't let a feeling of impending doom slow you down. Planning ahead and renting a temporary storage unit can help keep the process as simple as possible. You might think, how would adding a third piece to the puzzle between my old and new home simplify things? But self-storage complements moving perfectly, making your experience more convenient, safe, organized and manageable overall.

Perhaps your old apartment lease expired, and now you're briefly crashing with a friend or at a hotel. Or maybe your home is being staged for selling, so you have to keep it clean and de-cluttered as potential buyers visit. There are countless situations that might keep you from moving directly from one place to the other, and self-storage conveniently fills that gap. Even if you can technically dump a huge pile containing the entirety of your earthly possessions on the new living room floor in one trip, you shouldn't. Here's why.

Convenience

Think of your storage unit as a remote closet for your belongings in flux. With an easy self-storage locating tool like SpareFoot, you can find a great local storage facility en route from your old home to your new one. The facility can even be your one-stop shop for moving and packing supplies, which are usually available for sale in the office.

Storage facilities staff expert managers who are there to dispense advice and answer any of your questions. For example, they can help ensure you rent the right size storage unit for your needs. Most facilities offer affordable pricing and straightforward month-to-month leases.

When choosing a facility, look for one with great amenities. A unit with drive-up access will make it a lot easier to transport bulky items from your car or truck to the unit. If you are storing sensitive items such as wood furniture, electronics or artwork, definitely consider a climate-controlled unit. This prevents damage associated with extreme outdoor temperatures. Another useful amenity is 24-hour access, which allows you to visit your unit any time.

Security

There are a few alternatives to a traditional storage unit—you could always store belongings in a friend's garage or your car. But no space is designed around security like a storage facility. It's easy to find a great facility with surveillance cameras, gated access and fences around the perimeter. Furthermore, individual unit doors and locks are specially built to be tamper-proof and keep out burglars.

Organization

Using a storage unit to support your move is an opportunity to get things organized. Generally, your most underused belongings will go into storage first. As you go through your stuff, think about what you can get rid of now to cut down on clutter in your new home. Keep storage boxes organized and clearly labeled for easy identification of contents.

Your storage unit can make the overall process of moving much more manageable. Use this extra closet to move things into your new home one room or section at a time. Unpack as you go to enjoy a clear head, a clear view of your new space and the momentum to get it all done. This is an amazing alternative to the standard one-time transfer-and-dump. Giant piles have the unfortunate tendency of staying giant piles for far too long after a move.

Self-storage gives you the time and space you need to complete your move at your own pace, putting your convenience first.