How Moving Companies Handle Storage When Your New Place Isn’t Ready
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When your new place is not ready and you are stuck between homes, understanding how moving companies handle storage can save you stress and money. Congratulations on your move, but sometimes your new home isn’t quite ready yet (maybe the previous tenant needs more time, or repairs are delayed). At that moment, many questions pop up: what do you do with your furniture? How will the mover deal with “storage while moving”? Let’s walk through exactly how moving companies handle storage, what you should ask, and how to stay in control of the process.
Why Does This Situation Happen
It is more common than you think, like you book your move because you found a great new place, you pack up your current home, but when you arrive, the keys aren’t handed over yet, or the unit needs cleaning/repairs. When your new home is not ready, many movers will offer or coordinate temporary storage so that your belongings are safe and you’re not paying for long-term rent on two homes. This part is important because the “moving and storage services” side of the business kicks in.
How Moving Companies Handle Storage
Here is what typically happens when your new place isn’t ready and you are relying on your moving company’s storage solutions:
1. On-site or off-site storage facility
Many movers either have their own warehouse/storage facility or partner with one. They’ll load your items into the moving truck, transport them to the storage facility, and keep them there until your new home is ready.
2. Temporary holding period
You’ll negotiate how long your items will be stored. For example, “We’ll keep your furnishings in storage for up to 30 days while your new place is finalised.” After that, you’ll incur extra storage fees.
3. Inventory & tracking
Professional moving companies handle storage by doing a detailed inventory of your items and assigning them a storage location/tracking code. This guarantees that when your new home is ready, they know exactly what to deliver.
4. Delivery when the new home is ready
Storage is not free (unless your mover offers free short-term storage for a limited time). Be clear about how long the storage is included, what the daily/weekly/ monthly storage rate is, and when the billing starts. In this way, you are not surprised.
What to Ask Your Moving Company if Your New Place is Delayed
When you talk to the mover, make sure you ask:
- Does your quote include “storage while moving” if the new home isn’t ready?
- How many days/weeks of storage are included? What is the standard storage rate after that?
- Is the storage facility climate-controlled? Is it secured (locked, monitored)?
- How are items tracked/inventoried while in storage?
- How do you schedule delivery from storage to the new place once ready?
- Are there any additional fees (handling, loading/unloading from storage)?
- What happens if the delay extends further than expected?
- Is insurance included during storage? Are the items covered while in storage and transit?
How to Prepare Your Items for Temporary Storage
Even though your items are going into storage for maybe a short term, you should still prepare them well:
- Label and pack items clearly: “Storage – Room name – Content list”
- Disassemble large furniture if possible (so easier to store and deliver later)
- Wrap/mask fragile surfaces: glass tables, mirrors, electronics
- Keep frequently needed items separately (you may still need them while waiting)
- Make sure your mover’s inventory list is accurate, and you photograph or note any existing damage before storage
- Ask the mover how they stack/organize items in storage, because stacking too high may risk damage.
Timeline & Communication Expectations
It helps to have a clear timeline:
- Day of moving: Items were moved into the truck and into storage
- Storage period: e.g., “Up to 14 days free storage”, after which a monthly/weekly fee applies
- Delivery scheduling: Once the new place is ready, you call the mover and set a delivery date/time
- Follow-up: Confirm inventory, check for damage, sign off on delivery
Transparent communication from the moving company is key. If your new place gets delayed further, keep the mover informed so they can adjust storage scheduling or provide updates on any extra cost.
Common Pitfalls and How to avoid them
- Not reading the storage clause in the contract and making sure the “temporary storage” clause is clear.
- Assuming storage is free: Many movers only include a short storage window; after that, you pay.
- No inventory or tracking if the mover does not track items properly, things may get lost or misplaced.
- Unexpected delivery fees: When retrieving items from storage, you may incur additional handling fees.
- Delay extends too long: longer storage = higher costs; consider alternative storage if needed.
Conclusion
When your new place isn’t ready yet, it doesn’t have to derail your move. By understanding how moving companies handle storage and what you should ask and prepare, you can bridge that gap smoothly, keep your items safe, and avoid unpleasant surprises. Always keep in mind that a good mover will make that “in-between” period almost invisible, so you focus on settling into your new home when it’s ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
The moving company can place your items into temporary storage. You’ll move out of your old place, your mover loads your items, and they go into storage until your new home is ready. Then you schedule delivery. Make sure the storage terms were included in your contract.
Some moving companies include a short-term free storage period (for example, 7–14 days) if your new place isn’t ready. After that, regular storage fees apply. Always ask about how many days are included and what rate kicks in afterwards.
The cost depends on the mover, region, storage facility type (climate-controlled vs standard), and how long the items stay. Always ask for daily/weekly/monthly rate, any minimums, and handling or delivery fees at the end.
Check the storage duration included, cost after that, whether the facility is secure/climate-controlled, how your items are inventoried/tracked, delivery scheduling for when your new home is ready, and insurance coverage for stored items.
Label and pack clearly, disassemble large furniture where possible, wrap fragile surfaces, keep frequently used items accessible, ensure the mover produces an inventory list, and photograph any existing damage before storage.
If the delay is short (a few days or a couple of weeks), using your moving company’s storage is convenient. But if the delay stretches to many weeks/months, compare rates, security, and access from their storage vs a self-storage facility. Ask your mover about long-term storage options, rate increases, and alternative solutions.