Selling the house and storage options

[HatchetMatt]

Hi everyone,
We are selling the house and will be trying to get rid of most of the contents.
But I will still want to keep some stuff for when and if we find a place to retire.
Tools, guns, computer stuff etc..
Any good intel on storage options, security, pricing etc..
We'll be getting out of California and I am thinking of storing in Nevada.

Thanks.

 

[Almost There]

Certainly, a small town in NV will be cheaper than a large city in CA but if it's stuff you need even seasonally, is where you put it going to be within reasonable distance from where you're at, at the time you want it.

The other thing to figure out before you do that - is the replacement value of all the stuff you want to keep (excluding memorabilia) less than, say, the 2 year cost of renting. If it is, you just might want to part with it all and put the rent money aside for 2 years.

I recommend that people look at buying a used cargo trailer to store all their stuff in for a couple of reasons.

In my area, and AFAIK, all over the place, outdoor storage is less than half the price of renting a storage unit. The initial purchase price can be compensated for after only a short time of rental payments. And when it's finally empty, it has a resale value.

A set size of cargo trailer makes you limit the amount of 'stuff' you can load in to it. I've seen the results of people renting a whole garage size storage unit and it ain't pretty!

If you do decide to relocate somewhere, it's as easy as hooking up the trailer and moving it. No trying to figure out how to get everything from Point A to B and still live in your vehicle.

As far as secure, well, most storage units I've seen, you COULD break in to fairly easily. The more security - on site resident etc, the more you're going to pay. How much you want to pay has to be tempered against the value of what you're storing.

 

[wagoneer]

In most cases storage is a waste of time and money.

 

[highdesertranger]

Welcome HatchetMatt to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you. highdesertranger

 

[HatchetMatt]

Certainly, a small town in NV will be cheaper than a large city in CA but if it's stuff you need even seasonally, is where you put it going to be within reasonable distance from where you're at, at the time you want it.

The other thing to figure out before you do that - is the replacement value of all the stuff you want to keep (excluding memorabilia) less than, say, the 2 year cost of renting. If it is, you just might want to part with it all and put the rent money aside for 2 years.

I recommend that people look at buying a used cargo trailer to store all their stuff in for a couple of reasons.

In my area, and AFAIK, all over the place, outdoor storage is less than half the price of renting a storage unit. The initial purchase price can be compensated for after only a short time of rental payments. And when it's finally empty, it has a resale value.

A set size of cargo trailer makes you limit the amount of 'stuff' you can load in to it. I've seen the results of people renting a whole garage size storage unit and it ain't pretty!

If you do decide to relocate somewhere, it's as easy as hooking up the trailer and moving it. No trying to figure out how to get everything from Point A to B and still live in your vehicle.

As far as secure, well, most storage units I've seen, you COULD break in to fairly easily. The more security - on site resident etc, the more you're going to pay. How much you want to pay has to be tempered against the value of what you're storing.

Hi Almost There,
Yep I've look at the prices and definitely cheaper in NV, plus I want to lose all tax attachments to California asap. But a trailer with my rig and where we like to go ain't going to happen. We like to get off road. I don't want to drag it or worry about it elsewhere. We'll be roaming the west for awhile and just have to see where we end up if at all.  One day at a time for awhile. 
What is AFAIK? 
And of course if they want it bad enough they can get it. 
Not a lot of stuff.

 

[Almost There]

Oh, I'm not suggesting that you haul it around with you all the time.

BUT if you can limit yourself to what you can pack in, say, a 6 x 10 cargo trailer (or smaller) and store the loaded trailer in a storage lot, you'd be better off than renting a storage unit anywhere.

If and when you decide to settle down, all you do is pick up the trailer and move the trailer.

The other reason I really don't recommend storage units is that the person next door to you may have invited rodents and other creatures in to THEIR unit! You have no control over stuff like that at all.

I also saw what looked like a perfectly drive storage unit have 3" of water all the way down one side each time it rained. Fortunately friends who were renting it had put everything up off the floor on skids, otherwise there would have been a lot of damage.

AFAIK - as far as I know.

 

[akrvbob]

I'm a resident of Pahrump, NV and storage here is cheaper than anywhere I've ever been. I have a great mail forwarder here and my health insurance is here. So once a year I travel through, see my doctor and camp on BLM land 4 miles from the front doors of the Walmart.

Highly recommended!

 

[HatchetMatt]

Oh, I'm not suggesting that you haul it around with you all the time.

BUT if you can limit yourself to what you can pack in, say, a 6 x 10 cargo trailer (or smaller) and store the loaded trailer in a storage lot, you'd be better off than renting a storage unit anywhere.

If and when you decide to settle down, all you do is pick up the trailer and move the trailer.

The other reason I really don't recommend storage units is that the person next door to you may have invited rodents and other creatures in to THEIR unit! You have no control over stuff like that at all.

I also saw what looked like a perfectly drive storage unit have 3" of water all the way down one side each time it rained. Fortunately friends who were renting it had put everything up off the floor on skids, otherwise there would have been a lot of damage.

AFAIK - as far as I know.

Thank you for your input Almost There.
Those are good points to consider. 
I don't like the possibility of someone breaking into the lot and just hooking up the trailer and driving off though.

 

[HatchetMatt]

I'm a resident of Pahrump, NV and storage here is cheaper than anywhere I've ever been. I have a great mail forwarder here and my health insurance is here. So once a year I travel through, see my doctor and camp on BLM land 4 miles from the front doors of the Walmart.

Highly recommended!

Thanks Bob,
I am aware of your tips etc.. since I am subscribed to your YouTube channel. I was really interested in your series of How to get your domicile, mail forwarding, drivers license etc...
I don't see those on your new channel yet. Do you have links or documents to that info?
I did bookmark your mail forwarder and drove through Pahrump in May. 
Is Kaiser Permanente in Nevada?
I got a lot going on right now just trying to sell the house and all the crap, then retire and kill the bills etc...

 

[akrvbob]

The old videos are coming back two a week, but it is still going to take a long time. I've written about state residence/mail quite a bit:

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/stay-touch/
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/commun...sing-state-residence-getting-drivers-license/
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/how-nomads-get-mail-forwarder/
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/h...al-residence-address-real-id-drivers-license/

I don't believe K-P is here, but I am no expert.

 

[HatchetMatt]

I'm a resident of Pahrump, NV and storage here is cheaper than anywhere I've ever been. I have a great mail forwarder here and my health insurance is here. So once a year I travel through, see my doctor and camp on BLM land 4 miles from the front doors of the Walmart.

Highly recommended!

Wow thanks Bob. The internet is showing some dang good prices on storage for sure.
I think renting a truck, will have to check prices, and hauling it south to Pahrump will be worth the drive.
Any particular storage recommended over others?
I do see Kaiser Hospitals in Nevada also, not that I want to go there, JIC

 

[jimindenver]

Prices are half of what I'm paying in Denver.

 

[akrvbob]

No, particular recommendations here.

 

[DrJean]

I think one thing about storage...if you only plan to travel for less than a year it might be most cost effective to store what you have that you would just repurchase. The monies might balance and it'd save you having to go shopping etc.

The administrative costs up front to storage units is prohibitive so if you can store WHERE you think you will be settling, that would be better imo.

 

[HatchetMatt]

I think one thing about storage...if you only plan to travel for less than a year it might be most cost effective to store what you have that you would just repurchase. The monies might balance and it'd save you having to go shopping etc.

The administrative costs up front to storage units is prohibitive so if you can store WHERE you think you will be settling, that would be better imo.

Don't know where yet, so it is what it is. Some things may never be able to get again.

 

[DrJean]

Exactly. I tried to give so many "irreplaceable" family "heirlooms" to other family who just don't want them. I had to work through being able to part with them anyway. Each of us has to make those decisions. In fact, in the process I had these items in and out of storage twice before I gave them away. Nothing is permanent. We all make the best decisions we can for the situation we are in... you'll be fine.

 

[jimindenver]

Storage isn't cheap but for me it's more than just storing things I don't need. It's having the peace of mind to know I can change my mind if I feel like it in the short term. It's not having to sort through and deal with every last item in a very short time frame. Time that is better spent preparing. It will allow me to keep my RC hobby swapping out a plane every so often and having something to build while I'm bored. Even the chance to sell the collection right would mean thousands over dumping it now to avoid storage fees. In the end it's breathing room.

 

[DrJean]

I hear ya! Believe me I do. Sitting with a $3k teddy bear collection (my cost, collection worth much more now)..in my living room! doh. Gotta decide.