Adorned in the noise of busy docklands and home to the most mesmerizing flower shops, East London is that part of the UK tourists often find themselves raving about. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most coveted places within the capital.
So, if you’re tired of hearing about Big Ben or staring at high rises, try venturing the Eastern terrain to get a much-needed breath of fresh air. To top it off, this part of London offers plenty of amenities, making it a great place to live. At the same time, you’ll also get to see quaint office buildings where ambitious employees work their magic.
However, something that you might not be able to catch at first glance is the compactness of most areas in East London. Real estate here is pricey, and owning a home is nothing less than a mind-blowing achievement.
In fact, those who do manage to afford a house in the suburbs don’t necessarily have a lot of space. Following the same pattern, a majority of offices are knit together in structure, with little room for spare storage.
So, whether you’re a business owner tired of their cluttered office or a homeowner desperately seeking viable solutions for extra storage in East London, don’t lose hope just yet! You’re bound to get a long list of results for your ‘storage companies near me’ query.
While some options are a bit pricey, others are flat-out cheap. Regardless, your decision shouldn’t be based on the price factor alone. Rather, you should be able to select the best alternative according to your specific needs.
We all want to save money wherever we can, and with these tips for cost-effective storage in East London, your spending will be limited to a minimum.
1, Hire a company that offers free collections
You’ve been typing ‘I on Google for the past week, and luckily, you’ve found plenty that seems cheap. But are they? Chances are, the costs will pile up, and that ‘starting from’ value you saw will only be a chunk of the total price you pay.
Besides, within the actual cost of renting a storage unit, the biggest expense is transportation. After all, taking your stuff from one corner of the city to the other consumes a lot of fuel. Verily, you should only choose a company that offers free collections. This will limit the damage to your wallet by a large margin.
One of the most notable storage companies serving Londoners, STORED, provides free collections to all its clients. Instead of hassling you with the grunt work or the expense, they send their two-man team to your location who load the truck and drive it back to the facility. Now, THAT’s a solution for storage East London done right!
However, the free part only applies to the first collection. If clients wish to add more stuff to their existing unit and request a second collection, it will be paid.
2, Book for 6 months or longer
Did you know that most storage companies in the UK offer long-term renting discounts? Yes, you read that right! To entice clients into buying their plans, various service providers in the industry have slashed prices for durations spanning 6 months or longer.
You can literally search for ‘the best storage companies near me’ right now and we bet you’ll find at least some of the links flaunting a discount of some sort.
Needless to say, you may not always need extra storage for that long, in which case, it makes no sense to book so far in the future. However, people relocating to a new home that’s still not completely constructed and foreign students booking a return ticket due to COVID or the holidays can definitely avail of this benefit.
3, Split the cost of your storage East London package with a friend
Unless you need all the space to yourself, why not get your friends on board? Rest assured, if you are an international student living in East London, it won’t be hard to find someone who complains about lack of space just as much as you.
So, put up an ad in your university group or ask around in your social circle, and opportunities will come knocking on your door. The best thing about uplifting storage rent is that you can even get a bigger unit to place your valuables.
Therefore, even as your need for extra storage expands down the line, managing the expense won’t be a problem.
4, Avail student and veteran discounts
Companies like STORED offer compelling discounts to students and veterans. So, if you still have an active student card or proof of being a military member, don’t be shy to leverage it. You can even save up as much as 15 to 20 % on the total price according to the industry average.
Don’t forget, however, that these discounts are not perpetual and might only be applicable for first-time renters. Simply put, you might have to pay full price for all months except for the first few. Regardless, this totally depends on the company you’re choosing.
5, Declutter, recycle, and donate
Thinking about renting the best storage East London has to offer? Wait! Don’t put your money in a package before decluttering your space.
Let’s be honest, we’re all hoarders in one way or another. Some of the things you own might not even be remotely useful. And if they don’t hold any sentimental value either, it’s time to give them away.
Therefore, you must conduct an in-depth declutter session first and foremost. Donate what you can and recycle the rest to do your part for the environment. While this excursion isn’t the most fun, it will certainly pay off.
It is no secret that storage companies charge more for larger units but when you rid yourself of the unnecessary burden, you won’t need to pay a higher price. In that, when you just have to stow away truly important belongings, you might be able to make do with the smallest, and hence, the cheapest option.
6, Forgo tempting add-ons
Even if the base price of your storage unit isn’t extravagant, tempting additional services have the power to skyrocket it. These add-ons include everything from packaging supplies to packing assistance – things and tasks you can manage yourself so why rely on a storage company for them?
Instead, you can ask a friend for help during packing and purchase cheap cardboard boxes from the nearest store, or better yet, find some old ones catching dust bunnies in the garage.
