Moving comes with enough decisions to fill a moving truck on its own. One of the most overlooked is storage. Whether you are caught between closing dates, waiting on a new build, or simply need a place to keep your belongings safe during the transition, choosing the right storage solution can mean the difference between a smooth move and a costly headache.

At Eyring Movers, we have helped Cleveland-area families navigate this decision for over a century. Here is everything you need to know to choose the right storage option when moving.

Why Storage Often Becomes Part of the Moving Process

Most people do not plan on needing storage until the situation demands it. A closing date shifts. A renovation runs long. A new home is not ready when the old one needs to be vacated. These scenarios are far more common than most movers expect, and having a clear storage plan before they happen puts you in a much stronger position.

Storage is not a sign that a move went wrong. It is a smart buffer that professional movers recommend building into your relocation plan from the start. If you are still in the early stages of planning, our comprehensive moving timeline from planning to settling in is a great place to begin before storage even becomes a factor.

Step One: Figure Out How Much Space You Actually Need

The most common storage mistake people make is either renting too much space and paying for square footage they never use, or underestimating what they have and cramming belongings in ways that cause damage.

Use this as a general size guide:

Small unit (5×5 to 5×10): Ideal for boxes, small furniture pieces, seasonal items, or the contents of a single room. Think of it as a large walk-in closet.

Medium unit (10×10 to 10×15): Works well for the contents of a one or two bedroom home, including furniture, appliances, and boxes. This is the most commonly rented size for people in transition between homes.

Large unit (10×20 and above): Suited for the full contents of a three bedroom home or larger, including large furniture sets, multiple appliances, and significant box volume.

Before you rent, take a room-by-room inventory of everything that needs to go into storage. A reputable moving company can help you estimate space requirements based on what you are storing and for how long. For a visual breakdown of what fits in each unit size, the storage unit size guide from Extra Space Storage is a helpful reference before you commit to a unit.

Step Two: Decide Whether You Need Climate Control

This is where many people cut corners and later regret it, especially in Northeast Ohio where temperature swings between seasons are significant.

Climate-controlled storage maintains a consistent temperature and humidity level year-round, typically between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Standard units have no temperature regulation and are subject to whatever conditions exist outside.

You need climate control if you are storing any of the following:
Wood furniture is highly sensitive to moisture and temperature changes. Repeated expansion and contraction caused by humidity swings can cause warping, cracking, and joint separation over time. Electronics including televisions, computers, gaming systems, and audio equipment are vulnerable to condensation and extreme cold, both of which can cause permanent damage to circuit boards and screens. If you are also relocating a home office with sensitive equipment, our guide on how to move a home office without losing a work day covers exactly how to protect and transport that equipment safely. Artwork, photographs, and documents deteriorate rapidly when exposed to moisture. Adhesives weaken, paper yellows, and images fade. Musical instruments, particularly pianos, guitars, and string instruments, require stable humidity to maintain their structure and tuning. Antiques and heirlooms often feature materials that degrade under temperature stress, including leather, fabric, and aged wood.

If your belongings are going into storage for more than a few weeks, or if your move spans a Cleveland winter, climate control is not a luxury. It is a necessary protection for anything with real monetary or sentimental value.

Step Three: Understand the Difference Between Self-Storage and Full-Service Storage

This is the decision most people do not fully think through until they are already committed to one option.

Self-Storage

With self-storage, you rent a unit at a facility and handle everything yourself. You transport your belongings, load the unit, organize the space, purchase your own packing materials, and check on the unit periodically to ensure there are no leaks, pests, or security issues.
Self-storage gives you direct access to your belongings at any time, which can be convenient if you need to retrieve items during your move. However, it places the full burden of protection, organization, and logistics on you at a time when you already have more than enough to manage.

Full-Service Storage

Full-service storage through a professional moving company is a fundamentally different experience. Your trusted movers handle every step. They pack your items with professional-grade materials, wrap and pad furniture, document your inventory, transport everything to a secure facility, and load your belongings into protective vaults designed specifically for long-term storage.

At Eyring Movers, our full-service storage solutions in the Cleveland area include professional padding, wrapping, and inventory documentation before your belongings ever leave your home. Everything is loaded into large wooden vaults and stored in our secure, temperature-controlled warehouse. Our team are the only ones authorized to move anything in or out, which means your belongings are never accessible to strangers.

The difference in peace of mind is significant. With self-storage, you carry all the responsibility. With full-service storage through a trusted moving company, you hand that responsibility to professionals who have been doing this since 1897.

Which Option Is Right for You?

Choose self-storage if you need frequent access to your items, have a very limited budget, and are comfortable managing the logistics yourself.
Choose full-service storage if you are storing high-value or fragile items, need a hands-off solution during a complex move, want professional inventory management, or are storing belongings for an extended period while traveling, renovating, or waiting on a new build.

For most families going through a residential move in the Cleveland area, full-service storage is the smarter and safer choice. The cost difference is smaller than most people expect, and the protection is incomparably better. If you are also in the process of deciding where to put down roots, our guide to the best suburbs near Cleveland can help you narrow down your options before committing to a new address.

How Long Will You Need Storage?

Storage duration affects which option makes the most financial sense. Short-term storage of a few weeks or months is common during gap periods between homes and is a standard part of many residential moves. Long-term storage spanning several months to years is more common for people relocating overseas, renovating, downsizing into a fresh start, or managing an inherited estate.

Professional moving companies that offer full-service storage can accommodate both timelines without requiring you to change facilities or re-handle your belongings. Your items stay in the same vaults from the day they are stored until the day they are delivered to your new home. For a helpful external reference on what to consider when evaluating storage duration and unit types, Consumer Affairs’ guide to self-storage units offers an independent, in-depth breakdown of storage options worth reviewing before you sign any rental agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what size storage unit I need for a three bedroom home?

A three bedroom home typically requires a 10×20 unit or larger depending on the volume of furniture and boxes involved. The best approach is to do a detailed room-by-room inventory before committing to a size. If you are working with a full-service moving company, your movers can assess your belongings during the quoting process and recommend the right storage capacity based on what you have.

Is climate-controlled storage worth the extra cost?

For most households, yes. The cost difference between standard and climate-controlled storage is modest, but the protection it provides for wood furniture, electronics, artwork, and instruments is significant. In a region like Northeast Ohio where winters are cold and summers are humid, standard storage exposes your belongings to conditions that cause real damage over time. If anything you are storing has meaningful value, climate control is worth every dollar.

What is the difference between storing with a moving company versus a self-storage facility?

The core difference is who handles the work and who carries the responsibility. With a self-storage facility, you manage everything from transport to organization to security checks. With a full-service moving company like Eyring Movers, your professional movers handle packing, transport, inventory, and secure vault storage in a monitored, temperature-controlled warehouse. Your belongings are protected by trained professionals rather than a padlock on a roll-up door.