Guests Arriving and a Full House: Why Storage Units Make More Sense Than a Bigger Home |StowNest

Furniture and other household items can be stored for a few weeks instead of buying or renting a bigger home when guests are expected and your current home is not big enough to accommodate everyone. The commitments that a larger home involves is for a long term need, and the situation that calls for storing household items for a short term is for a short term need. Self storage units in India address this problem. You store items for as long as your guests stay and retrieve them once your guests have left.

The Guest List Is Longer Than The House

The various ceremonies in India that bring extended family together and require hosting multiple guests at home over a short period of time necessitate the need for self storage units.

The members of the family for which the home is designed and set up for, are not always the guests that need to be accommodated. The furniture in each room serves a specific function. There is a bed in a bedroom, a sofa and a center table in the living room, a study table and a cupboard in a bedroom, and perhaps some boxes and clutter on top of them.

It is not always that a home is small. Sometimes a home is already full. This post explains the reasons for making this statement, and the most practical ways of dealing with it.

Why a Larger Home is a Poor Solution for Temporary Housing Needs

More space is the first thing we think of when we feel confined. More space sounds like a logical solution to a space problem, but only if the extra space is needed for a significant period of time.

Usually committing to a larger home means a longer commitment. Longer commitments can be a larger lease and a bigger deposit for renting, or a bigger loan, longer process and bigger commitment for buying. Not to mention, you're also moving your whole family. Moving, and especially moving into a larger home, increases the chance that you'll have to move again.

Now think about the actual need. People only stay as guests for a short period of time. So at most, you might need the extra space for a few months. Using a long-term solution for a short-term problem is as silly as buying a car to take a single, long trip.

Four Options Families Usually Consider

Usually when families think about this logically, they consider four main options.

Moving to a bigger home. This makes the most sense when you're going to be upsizing anyway, like if you're planning a bigger family.

Putting guests somewhere else. Some families make arrangements for guests to stay at a nearby guest house or hotel. This works for some guests, but not all. Older guests in particular, would rather stay at your house, and it can feel really awkward to send relatives to stay elsewhere.

Rearranging furniture inside the house. Most families go with this option. It is the cheapest option. It provides some relief. But the house ends up being really crowded and hard to move around in.

Storing extra furniture and household items. This option is the most expensive, and it requires the use of a storage unit. It can be used for the duration of the visit, and provides a number of benefits. You keep what you need and get rid of what you don’t. It costs less than a bigger house, and it is better for guests who wish to stay with you. In the end it gives you usable floor space, as opposed to shifting clutter around.

Of all the options, storage is the only one that fits the length of time you need the space for.

Why Storage is Best

Storage is the most flexible option. You can use it for however long you want, and then get rid of it. You don't need to move your stuff twice.

Storage at StowNest is priced by the item. So a family moving out three big pieces probably shouldn’t pay for storage as though they were moving out an entire house. If you need storage, call customer support with a list of items, and when you need it. They’ll give you a quote based on that.

How Much Room Guests Actually Need

You don’t need a lot of space for guests. For most, a good floor plan is all you need. Usually, all guests need is a clear path to the bathroom and kitchen and a good place to sit and eat. Many visits don’t even require a bed.

You can try a mental floor plan by envisioning a stay and thinking about what each room needs to do. A study may need to do double duty as a sleeping room if the books and desk get moved. A living room may need to do double duty with mattresses if the second sofa is moved.

You may be surprised to find that removing just a few large pieces changes the flow of the room.

What to Move Out First

The best pieces to get rid of are bulky items that are the least used and the most replaceable during the stay.

• Extra beds, cots, and mattresses

• Study tables and bookshelves in rooms you want to use for guests

• An extra sofa, diwan, or armchair

• Bulky wardrobes and almirahs

• Extra dining room furniture if you want an open space for family meals

What Else Can You Store?

There are a few other things lying around that take up space like extra bedding, rarely used appliances, and decorations. By storing these items, you make space for your guests’ belongings. Contact customer support for assistance if you are not sure of what you can store before you reserve space.

 

Preparing Your Items for Storage

To help protect your items and make moving them easier, prepare your items this way before storage.

• Empty cupboards and drawers.

• Take apart items that can be disassembled without tools, and put the screws in a labeled bag.

• Wipe surfaces clean to prevent dirt and dust from collecting during storage.

• If a valuable item is stored, take a picture to show its condition.

• Label boxes to show the room and to give a brief description of the contents.

 

How StowNest Works

You don't need a big truck to use StowNest. The process is simple.

To get a price quote, call customer support and tell them roughly what you want to store and for how long. Your furniture gets picked up from your home. You can bring it in yourself if you want to, you just have to set it up through customer support first. Each and every item in the warehouse is barcode tracked. There is a record of everything that’s stored. You can view photographs and videos of your items. You can request to have your items delivered to you at any time.

Keeping Your Things Safe

The warehouse has 24/7 CCTV. Pest control is done regularly. Stored items are insured by StowNest for up to 2.5 lakhs against theft, fire and natural calamities. Should an item get physically damaged while in storage or in transit, StowNest is liable to repair or replace it.

A Festival Visit Timeline

About two weeks before the guests arrive is a good time to start. Call customer support, share your list and set a pickup date. A couple days before the visit, your furniture gets picked up and the rooms are ready for guests. With your furniture and other items out of the way, you can host your guests! After your guests leave, you can request for your items to be delivered back to you. This is also a good time to store your bedding and other items until next year.

Who Benefits Most

This method helps families in flats where every room already has a purpose, households that host guests only a few times a year and don’t want to pay for permanent extra space, and people who are expecting guests only for a short time, for instance, when a member of the family is getting married or for a festival.

The Right Fix for The Right Length of Time

The right way to think about temporary guests is to consider the right length of time for which the guests will be staying with you. For a few days of additional guests in the home, you don’t need a bigger home. You need a temporary solution to create some additional space in your home. Storing furniture and household items in self storage in India gives you that additional space, and helps you get your home back when the guests leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it cheaper to store furniture than to buy or rent a bigger home to house guests?

For short visits, yes. A bigger home means a new lease or mortgage and a move, twice, while storage means you only pay for what you store and bring it back when you want it. Call for a quote based on what you want to store.

2. How do self storage facilities in India help when guests arrive?

They clear bulky furniture, household items, etc., from your house to give your guests space to sleep and the family to gather. Your items are returned when the guests leave.

3. How long can I use temporary storage in India for a festival visit?

As long as you want. It is meant for short term storage, like during festivals and family functions. Call for a booking based on the dates you want storage.

4. Can I store household items too?

Yes. Boxes of clothes and books, bedding, appliances and decorations. You can check with customer support first to confirm.

5. How is short-term storage unit pricing determined?

At StowNest, the cost is determined by the number of items you plan to store, not the size of the unit. Contact customer support to provide your list and schedule to receive a quote.

6.  Is a truck needed to move large items into household storage?

No, we provide pickup and delivery services. You can also arrange to go to the warehouse to check on your items, this requires advance notice to customer support.

7. Is my furniture safe at StowNest storage units?

Yes. The warehouse has 24/7 CCTV, regular pest control, and items are barcode tracked. Items stored are insured up to ₹2.5 lakhs. StowNest will replace or repair items if damaged during transportation or storage.

 

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