Claire Thompson
October 3, 2020

Six Differences Between Self Storage and Mobile Storage

It’s a question we often get asked: what’s the difference between self-storage and mobile storage? In truth, mobile storage is still a type of self-storage, updated to meet the changing needs of ‘storers’.

Mobile storage is an updated storage space solution, pretty much changing the face of self-storage in the way that cheap airlines revolutionised the airline industry. Here are the major differences:

1. Convenience: Delivery or Collection

Mobile storage firms come and collect things for you and store them safely. Because this saves the self-storage firm space, they are generally able to offer better prices. It also saves users the cost of a van for putting things into storage initially and collecting when the storage is no longer wanted. With traditional self-storage you need to do this yourself.

Mobile storage units are delivered directly to the location where items will be packed. This allows you to pack up your storage unit right from your original destination.

2. Storage space

Self storage with mobile storage like easyStorage is that you know exactly how much space you need and therefore don’t pay for what you’re not using. An additional benefit is knowing how much you can pack in -  with self storage you’ll need to guesstimate whether you have packed too much or not enough.

3. Access

Most mobile storage firms will make a small charge to access your belongings, but bring them to your door. Traditional self-storage firms allow access to storers at will.

easyStorage doesn’t charge for access, all is required a two clear working days notice, this is needed to prepare the storage unit and move it to the inspection area.

Most people need to access their goods a lot less than they imagine, usually once or twice a year if they store long term.  This doesn’t work well for businesses needing constant access, but for the average homeowner offers a huge saving in time, ease and money.

4. Help packing for storage

Mobile storage firms – including easyStorage - help consumers pack their belongings in the most space-efficient way. The easyStorage team, for example, help you pack to make the best of the available space so you don’t end up paying for more than you need. This often happens in traditional self-storage, when people pack units for themselves, tired at the end of a day’s packing and loading/unloading.

Most self-storage firms, mobile or traditional, will be able to sell you good quality materials for packaging.

5. Security

Because mobile storage units don’t advertise where they are (they don’t need to as they collect) they are a lot less visible than traditional self storage units. Mobile storage professionals like easyStorage limit the number of people with access, making theft a lot less likely.

(easyStorage facilities also have 24/7 camera monitoring.)

Traditional self-storage units are constantly accessed, meaning lots of temperature changes and less control over the environment. We don’t want to overstate this, as mobile units also need to enter and exit, but it’s a lot less random and more controlled.

6. Inventory

Good mobile storage companies will make sure that there is an inventory of what they are taking into storage. This makes insurance far simpler, and makes sure you know what’s in storage.  Traditional self-storage leaves this all up to you, meaning that what’s in the storage unit will be a lot more random.

Note: mobile storage should not be confused with portable storage, which is simply a storage box delivered to your home or office.


Claire Thompson

Claire joined the easyStorage family as a blogger in August 2020 and is loving it! Her passions include writing and learning, and with easyStorage she’s learning new things fast. When not tapping at a keyboard she can be found renovating an old cottage, despite having inherited a complete lack of DIY skills from her father. She has two children, now grown up, and a dopey, loving Vizler (dog), Chester, who steadfastly refuses to do the same. She claims he’s her soulmate!

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