Storing your stuff before leaving
 

Ok here is the thing. I'm getting my house sorted to rent and will sell and get rid of lots of stuff. However there are few things ( furniture) I want to remove and get in storage. Well that was the idea, until I found out that the prices I've seen would mean I would have to fork out close to 1000 quids a year! Well most storage for small capacity charge around 15£ a week! Mimimum! That's a lot of money in the long term! Especially considering we're planning to spend a long time away!
What you guys do when you leave? Just rent your place with all in there and pray the tenants won't wreck your precious piece of furniture that you had as a wedding present?!!!
Any recommendation of affordable long term storage in the UK or northern France (I'm ready to travel!)...?
Cheers!

Hi Maria

Doing all that right now! I've sold some stuff on ebay, 'lent' stuff to friends, giving my tv to family, a mate wants to learn guitar so am letting him 'borrow' one of mine (what was I thinking!) plus I've another relative with a bit of attic space to leave what's left of the clothes I haven't already chucked out. As for furniture, well I'm not too sentimental about it so will be renting my flat furnished but unfortunately have to now go and buy a bed for my spare room as it will help get it rented. I'm using a letting agent but will be doing my own inventory and will also prepare a photographic record of condition.

If it's not possible leave furniture of sentimental value with relatives/friends, then I guess the only option is using a commercial storage place but having also looked into the costs (£15/week seems to be about the minimum for something like 5'x5'x7.5'), I'm going with the first option.

Hope you get it all sorted

Cheers

Do you have some where to put up a good garden shed, if not at your place, someone elses ??

wow that was fast !
 

Thanks guys for your suggestions! :clap:
OldBMW: I will rent the entire house. I do have a very big shed I built 3 yrs ago to store the bikes (!) but I will have to leave it for the people who rent the house to use I presume!

I think Mike you're right! It's just too much money to put stuff into storage and I will do like you. Sell, lend, store some boxes into family's attics and basically detach myself from "sentimental" furniture that I cannot put anywhere.
It breaks my heart to think that people will get in my beautiful nicely done house and potentially could wreck the whole place, but that's the game! I have to learn to let go, it's only stuff...
What I'm planning is so much more than that! But believe me it is hard! It just shows I am a sentimental after all, who would have believed that!

Mike, I know you're leaving soon. As I will be heading the same way than you (well I will start from Santiago late April/May) I will be following your blog very closely! Do you mind if I send you few emails with questions?
See you round somewhere around the globe guys!
Maria

Mike,

which letting agency are you using? have they been competent up to now? and are they expensive?

I was fortunate to let my flat to a cousin last time around, so no need for an agency. but this time I'll have to go through an agent.

cheers,
Doug

Hi Doug

Well I'm using Click-Let who were the cheapest @9.7% or something, most were around 15% or so. The flat has been on their books about 2 weeks but no tenant/s as yet however have had a lot of positive feedback. The number of viewings picked up last week and still 2 weeks to go so the agent seems to think it will get let no problem but I'll believe it when I see it! I also know a friend of a friend who works there plus I know the guy who does the viewings.

I think most letting agents are much the same though, i.e. they 'talk the talk' to get your property on their books but the main things they should do is fully check out the tenants references so you don't get total loonies in your property, ensure the rent will be coming in and on time and carry out inspections now and again. Oh and ensure that the deposit isn't just paid back to the tenant without fully inspecting the property at the end of the lease-that's where the inventory and photographic 'record of condition' will come in handy in case of any disputes.

Cheers

I currently let a house witha garage. The letting excludes the garage (which is in the back garden )

If that helps ?

You may have problems with insurance, which is why I asked if maybe you could erect/rent/borrow a shed at a friends,, Wrap stuff in polythene with rodent killer all about.

Good idea. I thought about what you said and I could put lots of stuff in the shed, in the back garden, but indeed it would be difficult to insure.

I will try to negociate with friends and in-laws to see who can store what for us!! And that includes my old cat!!!
And I will do as suggested by Mike, take photos of all the furniture I leave behind so that in case of damage I can have evidence!

Just wondering if anyone is using "professional " storage? I'm amaze at how expensive it is...

One more thing about letting agents
 

I keep finding out after the event that the agent had held viewings in my flat without giving me any prior warning, so the potential tenant yesterday was faced with a weeks worth of washing lying about the living room and a sink full of dishes.

When I called today for an update, they told me about yesterdays viewing plus another one to be held tomorrow so if I hadn't called, I wouldn't have known.

But hey, with a less than two weeks to go and still no tenant lined up, why should I worry...?

Good Agency
 

My agency chage 11% for a fully managed service. They did try and put it up a percent, but a lot of indignation and they changed their mind :)

Anyhow, I've not had any problems with them, the house has always been filled, and everytime they need anything an email is sent promptly.

They are Ashley Charles, not sure if they are nationwide or just local to Berkshire.

Hope this acts as a price guide for others .....