Q: As I prepare to move, I’m considering renting a storage unit for things I just can’t decide on right now. But friends are telling me that storage units can be “black holes” for junk! Your thoughts? Brenda V., Laurel
A: A black hole, indeed! I have great respect for all our local storage unit companies and the vital service they provide, but too many people do not use them in the most cost-effective, useful way. My rules of thumb for the proper use of storage units include: storing seasonal items like outdoor furniture and bikes in winter, holiday decorations in summer; temporary storage of household items while between homes; and temporary storage of items being picked up by family members, with a time commitment on when they will take possession.
An ill-used storage unit is full of a lifetime of memories (and yes, Brenda, as your friends say … junk) that you just don’t have the energy to sort through. Remember that by using a storage unit this way, you’re paying rent on the space until someone else has to clean it out after you’re gone.
Q: I’ll be moving into assisted living in the coming months and will have limited storage. What do I do with all my old photo albums? There must be 25 of them. Carla P., Delmar
A: Oh, Carla, you’re not the only one with a lifetime of photographs! Here’s what I would recommend: First, look through the albums and remove any pictures that don’t ring a bell – you don’t know who the people are, and/or you don’t remember where you were or why. We all have those photos – just throw them away! Second, for the photos you want to save, look into digitizing services (Shutterfly, Legacybox, ScanCafé and many others) that will save them digitally and, in some cases, allow you to make a book of photos, much smaller than an album, that you can glance through in the future. If you’re not comfortable with technology, enlist someone in your life who is! You are right to think about this now because, as you aptly point out, albums take up a lot of space.
Q: I have a 30-year-old piano in good shape that will not fit in my new home. Plus, I don’t really play it very often anymore. How do I get rid of it? Sam M., Lewes
A: Unless the piano is a Steinway, there’s sadly very little secondhand value. And of course, there’s the complexity and cost of moving such a big item. Check the Steinway website to see if your piano may be one of its lesser-known models. It needn’t say Steinway on the front to be from the Steinway line. If it is one of Steinway’s brands, you can sell it back to the company with no moving fees! If it is not, your best bet is to donate it to an organization that will take the responsibility of moving it. Check with churches, schools, universities, or senior centers and senior communities.
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Stacey Himler is owner of Caring Transitions of Southern Delaware, the region’s professional solution for full relocation services including downsizing, decluttering and estate sales.
To ask Stacey questions, write her at AskStacey@caringtransitions.com.
