Storage units are often an unavoidable fact of life at some point during a move. Whether you’re downsizing to a small downtown apartment from your house in the ‘burbs or simply don’t want to bring all your stuff as your new employer on the opposite coast puts you up in temporary housing while you get acclimated to your new city, chances are, there’ll be a self-storage unit involved. Here at Moveline, we’ve grown accustomed to factoring them into many of our customers’ moves to keep things manageable.

Whatever the case, there are several key factors to consider when renting a storage unit, and who better than John Egan, editor-in-chief of SpareFoot (a great storage finder and facility comparison tool) to explain what to look for?

Check out John’s top 3 things to consider in selecting a self-storage unit:

1. Size

Before signing on the dotted line and plunking down your rental fees, figure out how little or how much self-storage space you need. If you’re storing items that can comfortably fit into a 5×5 unit, you shouldn’t fork over extra money for a 5×10 unit. On the flip side, you shouldn’t cram so much stuff into a unit that it’s practically overflowing.

2. Location

Think about it: Do you really want to store your belongings 10 miles from where you live? While a self-storage facility 10 miles away might be a great bargain, consider the extra time you’d spend traveling to and from your storage unit. Websites like SpareFoot.com and SelfStorage.com can help you find a self-storage unit close to home.

3. Insurance

Check with your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance company to see whether your belongings will be covered while they’re being stored. If they wouldn’t be covered or if you don’t already have insurance, look into buying a policy from the self-storage facility where you’re storing your possessions.

All in all, storage units can be an efficient, effective way to maintain your belongings safely and securely during a state of transition like a long-distance (or otherwise substantial) move. As with most aspects of relocation, choosing the space wisely and carefully weighing your options can potentially save you money and stress in the long run.

And one more note about insurance: check out our recent post on whether or not to get self-storage insurance depending on your circumstances. Hint: chances are, you might already be covered under your homeowner, renter, or business policy.)

If you’re planning a move — storage unit or no storage unit — let Moveline help you navigate the process of figuring out your inventory and getting the best deal from a reputable moving company. The best part: it’s free. So don’t go it alone. Let Moveline help you #movebetter.

(Many thanks to the fine folks of SpareFoot for helping with this post.)