When you
have too much stuff and not enough space,
sometimes it’s best to get some kind of
storage rental unit. But if you are
looking at storing things long term, it
often pays to buy, or even
build your own storage shed. This is
a very important decision, as it can save
you a lot of money. But before deciding on
your own shed or a rental storage unit, find
out if you really need the extra storage
space? Some people are real pack rats and
keep everything, regardless of its worth. If
you take the time to go through those items,
you may find there are a lot of things that
aren’t important enough to keep. If you
aren’t going to use an item in the next year
or two, it may be something you should
either give away or throw away. There are
some things that have sentimental value that
you will never want to get rid of. But, by
disposing of things you don’t really need,
you may save the need for space and a whole
lot of money.
If you
decided you actually do need additional
space, first determine whether it is best to
rent a storage area or own your storage
container? Having your own storage unit
could potentially save you hundreds of
dollars per year. But, before you buy a shed
or start building one, check out some areas
inside your home that may work for storage.
Sometimes it isn’t too much trouble to build
a storage area in the attic of your home, or
under a stairway. Before looking outside,
first consider all of the areas inside. If
you can’t find enough room inside, then
evaluate your outdoors area.
If you still
need additional storage space, see if you
have a big enough area for a storage shed.
If you do have some extra room for a shed,
then consider owning your own storage unit.
If you don't have a big enough area for a
shed, the answer to your storage need is
definitely a rental storage area. Remember,
storage sheds come in all shapes and sizes.
If you have a long narrow area, it may work
as well to build a
6’ X 12’
shed as an
8’ X 10’
shed,
which will provide almost as much storage
area.
Before you
start building, estimate how much room you
will need. I would allow a little extra
space just to be safe. If you have a nice
open area, you may want to make your storage
shed a little bigger (or even a lot bigger).
You will find when building your own storage
shed, that an extra 10 to 15 square feet
won’t cost that much more.
If your storage need is short term, a
storage rental unit is probably best for
you. But, if you are going to need space for
an extended period, you may want to consider
owning your own storage shed. Some storage
companies offer a special where you get up
to six months free for every month you pay
for up front. So, in reality, you end up
getting the storage space for half price. If
you pay for three months and get six months
of storage, that may be the route to go. But
even then, that rental expense starts adding
up. If you pay $50 per month, you will spend
$600 per year on storage. That money could
be applied towards your own storage
container.
Do you want
to pay rent on a storage unit the rest of
your life? If not, you will probably want to
own your own storage shed. If you are going
to keep something for a long time, but don’t
have room in your home or garage, you may
want to invest in some kind of storage unit.
If you are storing an extra bed that is
worth $100, and the rental cost is $30 per
month, after the first three months, you are
spending more than the bed is worth just to
keep it around. Maybe you should sell the
bed and if you need another one later, buy a
good used one. You can probably buy one for
about the same price you sold that one. Plus
you don’t need to spend anything extra to
keep it.
There are
several different types of sheds. Most are
defined by the roof style. The gambrel roof
has an upside down “V” shape. This is a very
common style. The “shed” roof has one slope
typically with the peak at the front and the
lowest part of the roof in the rear. You may
find that a
loft storage shed will provide just
enough extra storage up above your head. As
a result the shed may not need to be quite
as big. These loft type sheds have a barn
style roof. They add a lot more storage
capacity.
Depending on
what you want, there are a lot of storage
containers for sale that aren’t real
expensive. Some of the big chain stores and
lumber companies offer either a
plastic shed or
metal storage shed that you can assemble on your own in an
afternoon. The problem with this type of
building is it doesn’t always hold up as
well as a
wooden shed. Another option is to buy a
wooden shed that is already constructed.
These sheds are much more expensive, but
they typically are very well built. The
other option is to build your own shed.
Even if you haven’t built anything
before, with the right set of plans, you can
easily build your own storage shed.
Remember, if you are going to store items
for a long period of time,
storage rental units may not be the best
way to go. There are a lot of
storage shed plans available online. In
fact if you want to build a shed, click here
for 12,000 Garden Shed Plans. If you can't
find the one you want here, you aren't
looking. And these plans are great for any
DIY shed builder, regardless of your
experience level. Also check out
storage shed plans guide and
DIY garden shed plans for
more ideas. Good luck building your storage
shed.
