Do I Need Moving Storage in Vancouver?
You need moving storage when your move out date and your move in date do not line up. That gap is common in Vancouver, because completion dates shift and lease starts rarely match lease ends. A moving company can pick your things up, hold them, and deliver them to the new place when it is ready.
Most people do not plan for storage. It shows up two weeks before the move, when a possession date moves or a renovation runs long. So it helps to know what moving storage in Vancouver actually involves before you are in a hurry.
When moving storage in Vancouver makes sense
There are a handful of situations where storage is the obvious answer:
- Your completion date and your possession date are days or weeks apart.
- You are renovating the new place before you live in it.
- You are downsizing and you are not ready to decide on everything yet.
- Your home is being staged for sale and the rooms need to be emptied.
- You are moving a long distance and the new place is not ready when the truck arrives.
- Your office fit-out is running late and the team has to be out of the old space.
Short term or long term changes what you plan for
The length of the stay drives the decisions. Here is how the common situations usually break down.
| Your situation | Usually | Sort this out first |
|---|---|---|
| Gap between completion dates | Short term | The delivery date, and what you keep with you in the meantime |
| Renovating before you move in | Longer | Whether you need access during the work, and what comes out first |
| Downsizing | Longer | What you are keeping and what you want to sell |
| Home staged for sale | Short to medium | Which rooms get emptied, and the date it all comes back |
| Office fit-out delay | Short | Which departments land first, and where the IT gear goes |
How much space will you need
This depends on how much of the home is going into storage, not on the size of the home. A three bedroom where only the furniture is stored takes less room than a two bedroom where everything goes. The honest answer is that we size it at the walkthrough, because we can see the rooms and count what is actually going. [confirm with Ana if you want a rough square footage guide by home size, I will not guess one.]
If you want a sense of the scale of your move before you call, our post on how long a 2 bedroom apartment move takes and the one on a 3 bedroom move in Vancouver both walk through what a typical load looks like.
What to ask before you book storage
Storage is easy to get wrong, because most of it is invisible to you once the truck leaves. So ask these before you commit:
- Is the space climate controlled and pest controlled?
- Who can get into the building, and can you get to your own things?
- Is the facility open to the public, or is it a closed warehouse?
- How is it billed, and is there a minimum term?
- Is what you are storing insured, and for how much?
- Who loads it in and out, the mover or you?
That last one matters more than people expect. If the mover stores it, your things get handled once at pickup and once at delivery. If you rent a unit yourself, they get handled at both ends by you, and then again by whoever moves them afterwards. The Canadian Association of Movers, the national trade association for moving and storage companies, keeps consumer guidance on choosing a mover that is worth a read before you book anything.
How storage works at BBX
We pick up, we store what you are keeping, and we deliver it back when you are ready. Our facility is monitored around the clock and it is not a self-storage building, so it is not open to the public. Access is by appointment. [confirm with Ana]
Because we do the move and the storage, nothing gets handed between two companies. That is usually the difference people notice, especially when a date moves at the last minute.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get to my things while they are in storage?
Yes, by appointment. Our warehouse is not a self-storage building you can walk into, so we set a time and pull what you need. [confirm with Ana]
How much does moving storage cost in Vancouver?
It depends on how much space you need and how long you need it. We quote after a walkthrough, so you get a real number rather than a range that changes later.
Is your storage climate controlled?
Yes. The facility is climate and pest controlled, which matters for wood furniture, artwork, electronics and anything paper.
Can you store things for a business, not a home?
Yes. Offices, warehouses, schools and labs all use storage during a move, usually when a fit-out runs late or a department lands in stages. It is the same warehouse and the same process.
Related reading
Cost to Hire Movers in Vancouver
2-Bedroom Apartment Move in Vancouver: How Long Does It Take?
3-Bedroom Move in Vancouver: How Long Does It Take?
Declutter Before Moving: How to Avoid a Chaotic Move
Not sure whether you need storage?
Book a walkthrough. You get a timeline, a clear scope of work and an accurate budget, including the storage if you need it.
Call 604-323-0020 or visit bbxmoving.com.
BBX Moving serves Metro Vancouver, from Vancouver and Richmond out to Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam and the North Shore.