The Growing Trend of Using Self-Storage: When Might You Need It?

What does a cafe racer motorcycle in the picture have to do with a mini storage unit? Quite a lot, actually. The roots of both reach back to the early 1960s – one to England, the other to the USA. The connection also lies in the fact that mini storage units are, among other things, suitable for motorcycle enthusiasts to store their bikes and other hobby equipment. What else are mini storage units used for and why is this a growing market?

"Indeed, mini storage units originated in the USA and have been successfully spreading throughout Europe for the last two decades or more. Notably, they've been particularly popular in England, the birthplace of the cafe racer," begins Everaus Real Estate CEO Janar Muttik, starting a conversation about mini storage units.

"Demand for mini storage units has been on an upward trend in Estonia in recent years. The demand is driven by the need for flexibility and additional space in a situation where living space is becoming increasingly expensive. In new developments, storage spaces are often small or completely absent. However, people own more and more things, while at the same time valuing open space and order in their homes," says Muttik, adding that business owners' interest in mini storage units has also grown. "A mini storage unit is the best solution for an entrepreneur whose need for office space has changed temporarily or permanently, but whose goods and business supplies still need a storage place. It's also ideal for an entrepreneur whose warehouse needs to move out of a home office due to e-commerce development."

"The growth of the market has also been boosted by technological advancement in the sector, which allows mini storage units to be rented and managed without contact using smart devices. Online booking and payment, self-service machines, automated access, and virtual tours are the key terms in the sector," says Muttik. "A modern storage complex is clean, warm, and ventilated, and is located in a place where it's convenient and safe to go even in the dark. All of this also encourages the use of mini storage units," adds Muttik.

Everaus mini storage units

• Everaus mini storage units are open in Peetri (Reti tee 5) and now also in Haaberstis (Tasandi tn 2)

• In Peetri, mini storage units are available for rent in sizes 2–7.5m². In Haaberstis, you can rent mini storage units in sizes 1.5–9m² and garage-storage units in sizes 19–25m².

• Renting a mini storage unit in a contactless mini storage complex is convenient and quick, as the rental process takes place via the website in just a few minutes without leaving your home or office, or even on-site with a smart device at the storage building.

• Learn more at www.everausminilaod.ee

7 main situations when it's worth considering renting a mini storage unit

Home renovation

Painting ceilings, sanding floors, wallpapering walls requires space and creates quite a bit of dust. A mini storage unit provides temporary shelter for your furniture and interior items during renovation. Once the renovation work is complete, your furniture and interior items can return home clean and intact.

Moving to a new home

Moving out of your old home and into a new one doesn't always go smoothly. The completion or furnishing of a new home can be delayed, and your belongings may need an interim storage place, which a mini storage unit provides perfectly.

Changed relationship status

When a relationship ends, one partner must move out of the former shared home and find a new one. However, the new home may not be large enough or may already be furnished, and therefore it is essential to quickly find a storage place for personal items. A mini storage unit solves this problem. A mini storage unit is also a solution in the opposite case – when people find each other and move in together, but the shared home is not large enough or is already furnished.

Seasonal items are cluttering up your home

You don't need ski equipment, skates, sleds in summer or garden tools, bicycles and motorcycles, hiking gear in winter, so seasonal items are taking up space at home during the off-season. Mini storage units allow you to store seasonal items when they are not in active use.

Hobbies don't fit at home

We all have hobbies and often more than one – someone plays golf, someone surfs, someone collects model cars, someone collects dolls. What do you do when at some point there's no more room at home for your hobby? You certainly don't have to give up your hobby due to lack of space, as hobby items can be stored in a mini storage unit.

Space simply runs out

To put it simply: your home is worth more than being a storage space! Often we simply don't have room for all the things we cherish or need, which we don't actually need at any given moment, but don't want to give up either. Want to keep baby items for the next baby? Constantly moving a steam cleaner from one place to another, which you really only need once or twice a year? Don't let your home turn into a storage space, but put your items in a mini storage unit instead.

Storing business items and inventory

Business activities are often accompanied by product samples and promotional items, trade show and presentation supplies, and other inventory (including Christmas decorations) that are not used daily. Storing them in the office takes up too much valuable space, but it's also not reasonable to rent additional office space just for these items. Mini storage units are the perfect solution in this case. Mini storage units are also indispensable if a large shipment of goods needs to arrive at once that doesn't fit in the regular warehouse. Also, when you need to move your warehouse out of a home office because you're running an e-shop.

"For those who don't have experience using a mini storage unit, it may seem that mini storage units are too small. However, a 2-3 square meter mini storage unit can hold surprisingly much, and more than one skeptic has had to admit that this size is just right. The service price may also seem high at first glance. If you store only one motorcycle in a mini storage unit, then perhaps, but as a rule, we have more things that need storage. If you use a reasonably sized storage unit efficiently and take into account the fact that you have access to a warm and secure storage unit open 24/7, which leaves more space in your home/office for living/working, then the price is well balanced with what you get," explains Muttik when discussing misconceptions.

Get to know Everaus mini storage units on their website and find the solution that works for you.

Everaus mini storage units are now open in Haaberstis in addition to Peetri