Storing belongings in a self storage unit can be a terrific way to keep your stuff safe and free up valuable room at home. Over time, though, you might decide it’s no longer worth paying rent for items you barely use.
At HOLD Self Storage, we regularly help London retailers like Tea Shirt and Tuscany & Taste sell from our storage units. Essentially, by selling items from your storage unit you can recoup some money, as well as potentially downsize to a smaller unit or cancel your storage contract altogether.
This approach often feels liberating—you save on monthly costs and declutter your life, all while helping your belongings find new homes.
Why sell from your storage
People use many storage facilities for all sorts of reasons—some need extra space for a growing family, others need a safe place to store stock for their business. When the time comes to re-evaluate what’s actually in your unit, selling can be a perfect solution to lighten the load:
- Saving money – You might pay monthly fees for a unit filled with things you no longer need. Selling items frees up space, and you could downsize to a smaller unit or stop storing altogether.
- Making profit – Perhaps you’ve got branded store items or furniture that still hold decent value. Converting your belongings into cash is a fantastic way to boost your funds.
- Clearing clutter – Sentimental items can sometimes be stored and forgotten. Parting with them can be emotional, but it also feels refreshing to clear out stuff you’ve lost the desire to keep.
- Changing business needs – If you’re a business storing extra inventory, you could free up room for new stock.
Selling your unit’s contents doesn’t have to be complicated. With some effort and careful planning, you’ll reclaim control over your storage costs.
Gather items and do research
Prepare your inventory
Before posting a single ad, gather all your belongings and decide what’s truly worth selling. Create a list—or better yet, a spreadsheet—that includes details like:
- Item name – For example, “mid-century coffee table.”
- Condition – Check if anything needs repairs.
- Brand – Can help determine the price.
- Potential value – A ballpark figure of what you think it’s worth.
Split your items into categories:
- Items to sell – Furniture, clothes, electronics, or store stock that hold enough value.
- Items to keep – Some sentimental items might still warrant a spot in your self storage unit.
- Items to dispose – Broken or unusable stuff, which you should recycle or throw away responsibly.
Research market prices
Next, do a bit of research to ensure you’re setting competitive prices:
- eBay – Check recently sold listings for similar items. Notice final sale amounts to gauge realistic pricing.
- Facebook Marketplace – Browse local sellers to see what they’re charging, especially if you aim for a quick sale.
- Auction possibilities – If you come across anything rare or valuable, you could consider contacting an auction facility to see if an auction might bring in higher bids.
Taking time to research helps you set a fair price point and improves your chances of attracting customers. You can also get a sense of the best platforms to use and how quickly items might sell.
Plan your selling strategy
Choosing your platforms
Various platforms cater to different audiences. Here are some ideas:
- Facebook Marketplace – Great for local sales and eliminates shipping fees for large furniture pieces.
- eBay – Ideal if you’re willing to ship items around the UK or globally. Its auction feature can help you gauge demand.
- Car boot sales – Although old-fashioned, they can still be a fun way to sell bulk items quickly.
- Specialty forums or local shops – Niche products or collectibles might fetch a higher price from dedicated enthusiasts.
Sometimes, businesses and individuals prefer in-person sales for big items like desks, chairs, or office furniture. Decide what method offers the best balance of convenience and profit for each category of your inventory.
Setting a timeline
It’s wise to give yourself a timeframe for listing and selling items. Maybe you’ll decide on three months to sell the majority, then consider dropping prices or switching platforms if you’re left with unsold belongings. This approach keeps you motivated and prevents your storage rent from climbing unnecessarily.
Present your items effectively
Clean, repair, and photograph
Buyers love items that look and work their best. Small touches make a big difference:
- Cleaning – Dust your belongings, wipe surfaces, and check any furniture covers for stains.
- Minor repairs – Tighten screws, patch small holes, or replace missing knobs.
- Professional photos – Shoot in natural light if possible, capture multiple angles, and highlight key features (like a designer brand label or a unique pattern).
Quality photos and a neat presentation can be the difference between a successful sale and an overlooked listing.
Write strong descriptions
When you list items on a site like eBay or Facebook Marketplace:
- Provide accurate measurements – A vital point for buyers looking for furniture or décor.
- Mention the brand – If it’s well-known, it can boost perceived value.
- Highlight notable features – Is it vintage? Limited edition? Part of a set?
- Be honest about flaws – Transparency builds trust and reduces the chance of disputes later.
If you’re looking for a quick sale, mention your reason (“I’m downsizing my self storage unit”) so customers know you’re motivated but not desperate.
Transport, delivery, and safety
Selling items from your self storage unit can require a bit of logistics planning:
- Local pick-up – If buyers need access to your facility, check with your storage company (like us at HOLD Self Storage) about visitor policies. Many storage facilities have rules to keep the site secure.
- Delivery – Offering local delivery for a small fee can persuade more customers to buy large items.
- Courier services – For smaller items, shipping around the UK is straightforward, though it adds packing cost and effort.
- Personal safety – If you’re meeting someone at your self storage facility, do so during staffed hours. That way, there’s a safe place to handle transactions.
Remember to factor in your potential fees for delivery or shipping, so you’re not caught off guard when it comes time to pay.
Keep an eye on your storage costs
When you’re paying monthly rent for your self storage unit, you’ll want to move items promptly:
- Downsize to a smaller unit – As you sell belongings, you can move remaining items into a smaller room. That alone could save you a significant amount of money each month.
- Check insurance details – Storage insurance is often required. Confirm your policy covers items intended for sale, or speak to us at HOLD Self Storage if you need advice on adjusting coverage.
- Climate-secure options – If you’re storing things that can lose value in fluctuating temperatures, we offer climate-secure units. It’s a good idea to store such delicate inventory in the right environment until it sells.
Keeping costs in check is a key step in boosting your final profit.
Tips for a quick sale
- Bundle items – Selling items in sets (like a matching dresser and bedside tables) can entice buyers.
- Offer discounts – Tempt potential customers with a deal if they purchase multiple things in bulk.
- Post widely – List across multiple platforms, and share on your personal social media. More eyes often mean a quicker sale.
- Highlight urgency – If you’re eager to clear your stuff, say so in your listing. Indicating that you need everything gone soon can encourage faster deals.
- Tap into word of mouth – Tell friends, family, and colleagues that you’re selling. Some might have a desire for your items or know someone else who does.
These simple tactics can get your items noticed faster and help you stay ahead of the game.
Handling leftover items
Once you’ve sold as much as possible, you may still be left with some stubborn belongings:
- Relist or reduce – If something didn’t sell, try a lower price or change your listing’s keywords or photos.
- Donate – Charities or community groups often welcome usable items like clothes, toys, or even furniture.
- Dispose responsibly – For damaged or unsalvageable items, use local recycling centres. Make sure you don’t just dump them in a garage or skip without considering environmental impact.
- Keep – If something still holds sentimental value, re-box it and keep it safely. You could also store these items at home once there’s space.
Sorting out leftover belongings ensures you’re not wasting your storage rent on stuff that has no value or purpose.
Example scenarios
Example 1 – Selling household clutter
A family decided to rent a self storage unit while renovating. Over time, they left a few too many boxes and furniture items there. Hoping to save money, they decided to sell. They started by listing a dining table and chairs on Facebook Marketplace, then tackled smaller décor on eBay. With a sensible price point and decent photos, most items sold within a month, and they were able to switch to a smaller unit for their remaining sentimental items.
Example 2 – Business store stock
A small business had a surplus of brand merchandise stored in a climate-secure area at HOLD Self Storage. They listed the items at a modest discount online, appealing to bargain-hunters and loyal customers. Thanks to the bulk listing strategy, they cleared out old inventory in just a few weeks. By reducing what they had to store, they cut their monthly rent and freed up the unit for new product lines.
Example 3 – Auction for valuable collectibles
Some people think of TV shows like “Storage Wars” when they imagine auctions. In reality, a woman who inherited vintage porcelain figures stored them in a safe place for years. Unsure of their value, she consulted a local auction house. They advised her on a suitable reserve price, and the figures fetched a respectable sum—more than she might’ve expected by listing them on general platforms.
Plan for the future
Selling items from your self storage unit is a great way to generate money and declutter, but it’s also a chance to rethink your approach to storage:
- Avoid hoarding – Try to store only what you’ll genuinely use again. Regularly review your belongings so you’re not holding onto items out of habit.
- Use a smaller unit – If your new motto is “less stuff, less cost,” you might only need a small space to keep critical belongings or essential office inventory.
- Use climate-secure storage for delicate items – If you do hold onto fragile antiques, electronics, or other items that can degrade, a climate-secure unit is a smart long-term investment.
- Stay organised – It’s easier to keep track of items you might want to sell if you have clear labels, an inventory list, or a simple sign system in your facility.
Life changes and your storage needs do too. That’s why we at HOLD Self Storage are always here to advise you on the best unit size and features to suit your budget and situation.
Conclusion
Selling items from your self storage unit can be the perfect solution to multiple challenges—saving money, creating more space, and giving unwanted stuff a second chance at life. To recap: Begin by sorting through your belongings, doing a bit of research, and selecting the right platform to reach your desired customers.
Then, keep a close eye on presentation, pricing, and delivery details, so you stay professional while still making the sale process friendly and straightforward.
Once you’ve shifted enough items, you could easily downsize to a smaller unit or even stop renting altogether. And if you still need that space—perhaps for sentimental items or fresh business inventory—ensure you’re using a reliable storage company like us at HOLD Self Storage, where we can offer climate-secure options and comprehensive support.
Remember, a well-managed approach to selling can turn a cluttered unit into a tidy profit and a fresh start.
Ready to make space and money? HOLD can help
Need extra space or a secure spot for your belongings? Our climate-secure units at our state-of-the-art Kings Cross facility are a cost-effective fix—backed by convenient amenities that keep storage hassle-free.
Our award-winning business storage solutions are used by many London retailers and online sellers.
We’re all about making it simple and secure so that you can declutter with total confidence. Get in touch today for a free quote and discover how our self storage facility offers a stress-free, secure space for your valuables!
Frequently asked questions
How do I contact us at HOLD Self Storage to rent a unit or downsize?
It’s easy. You can reach out through our site or give us a call. Our team will advise on the best unit size for your needs and arrange a seamless transition if you’re looking to move to a smaller unit.
Can HOLD help with packing materials?
Absolutely. We have an online box shop that covers all your packaging needs. You can find boxes in bulk, bubble wrap, and even covers for furniture—great for keeping your belongings secure before you sell them.
Does HOLD storage facilities provide climate-secure options for valuable items?
Yes, we do. We understand that certain possessions or store stock need controlled conditions to retain their value. Our climate-secure units maintain stable temperatures and humidity levels, so you don’t have to worry about damage to electronics, wood furniture, or delicate antiques.
Is there a simple way to figure out what to sell and what to keep?
A good approach is to ask how often you’ve used the item in the last year. If it’s just collecting dust, consider selling. Also, compare its potential resale price to your personal attachment—sentimental items might be worth keeping, but everyday clutter can often be sold or donated without regret.
What should I do if my items aren’t selling online?
Try adjusting your price or improving your listing photos and descriptions. You could also explore different platforms or a local auction for more niche items. If you’ve given it enough time, think about donating or recycling so you can free up space and avoid ongoing storage costs
