When you are getting your home renovated, the discussion usually starts with the work itself. You decide what needs changing, speak to the contractor and work out how the family will manage while the work is going on. There is another thing to arrange as well - where you will keep the furniture and appliances during this time.
Some things can stay with you, but the sofa, wardrobe or washing machine may need to be moved out of the way. This is where temporary storage during home renovation can help.
Before booking it, you should know how those belongings will be packed, where they will be kept and how you can get them back. Let’s discuss these things properly, so that you can make the arrangements before the workers arrive.
Can you keep the furniture at home during renovation?
First of all, ask the contractor which parts of the house will be used during the work. This includes the rooms being renovated and the passages through which workers and materials will move.
If the work is limited to one area, a clean, dry spare room may be enough for some of your belongings. Check whether that room can remain separate from the work and whether the contractor will need to enter it later.
For example, you may plan to keep the dining table in a spare bedroom. But if the bedroom floor is also due to be replaced, the table will have to be moved again. It is better to know this before the work begins.
Outside storage is worth considering when the renovation covers several rooms, involves demolition or flooring, or leaves very little space for the family and workers to move around.
A cover can help protect furniture from surface dust. However, you still need to think about water, dampness, falling materials and people carrying things past it. Decide where the belongings can stay safely for the full period, rather than only where they can fit on the first day.
Separate what you will store from what you will keep using
Go through each room and decide what the family will need while the renovation is happening. This matters whether you are staying in part of the house or moving somewhere else for a while.
You can sort the belongings in this way:
- First, keep the daily-use things with you. Put aside medicines, important documents, valuables, clothes, chargers and the kitchen items you will actually use. Keep them somewhere suitable and separate from the goods going into storage.
- Then identify the larger items that can stay out of use. These may include a sofa, bed frame, dining table, spare mattress or an appliance that is being disconnected for the renovation. Make a list, so that the storage team can understand what needs to be accommodated.
- Also think about anything you might need before the work ends. Label those cartons clearly and discuss access with the provider. Writing “Kitchen - utensils” with a carton number will help you identify it more easily than a box marked only “Miscellaneous”.
Suppose you need a particular kitchen carton halfway through the renovation. The label will help identify it, but you also need to know how the storage team handles such requests. We’ll discuss that in the next section.
Ask the provider which items it accepts before finalising the list. Keep renovation paints, solvents and other chemicals out of the household goods you are sending, and discuss any unusual item separately.
Check the storage arrangement before booking
Find out where and how the goods will be kept
When comparing temporary furniture storage options, ask where your belongings will actually go. Find out whether you are booking a private unit or space in a managed facility where other customers’ goods are also stored separately.
Ask for a visit or a current walkthrough where possible. Look at how the place is maintained, and ask what the team does about leaks, floor moisture, dust and pests.
Also ask how the furniture will be placed. You should understand how a sofa or mattress will be supported, where the appliances will stand and how the goods will be kept away from damp floors.
If an item needs particular temperature or humidity conditions, ask whether the facility provides climate-controlled storage that meets those needs. Get the actual conditions explained before booking.
Ask how you can collect an item or extend the booking
A private unit you can visit and a managed storage facility can have different access arrangements. Ask the team how you would get something back while the rest of the goods remain stored.
Find out how much notice they need, when collection is possible and whether retrieval or delivery carries an extra charge. If you expect to need certain belongings midway, tell them before those goods are placed in storage.
Then ask about the storage period. Check the minimum booking, how the rent is calculated and what happens if you need another week or month.
Renovation dates can change. If the work gets delayed, you should already know whom to call and how an extension will be confirmed.
Confirm the cost of collection, storage and delivery back
Suppose your furniture needs to go out next week and come back after three weeks. The quotation should explain what you will pay for packing and collection, which storage period is being charged, and what the return journey will cost.
If the bed needs dismantling or an AC needs a technician, ask whether those jobs are included also. The same applies to unloading, assembly and bringing only part of the goods back first.
For insurance, explain that your belongings will be travelling to storage, staying there and then travelling home again. Ask which parts of this arrangement are covered, and request the policy details for the relevant location and dates. Also confirm whom you should contact if something is damaged or missing.
When discussing BOXnMOVE’s storage services, share your item list, city and likely dates. Ask the team to explain the available arrangement and write down the services and charges agreed for your booking.
Prepare furniture and appliances before they are packed
The packing team needs to know that the goods are going into storage. Along with protecting them during the journey, the arrangement must suit the time they will remain packed and unused.
Tell the team about loose fittings, delicate finishes or any existing problem before they start. Furniture and appliances need different preparation, so let’s look at the main items separately.
| Item | Preparation before pickup | What needs attention during storage |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden furniture | Empty cabinets, remove suitable detachable parts and protect the corners and finish. Put tape and labels on the outer packing. | Keep the pieces securely supported, using padding and covers suited to the finish. |
| Sofas and cushions | Clean them according to their care instructions and let the fabric dry thoroughly before covering. | Support the furniture properly and avoid placing loads that crush the cushions or upholstery. |
| Mattresses | Make sure the mattress is clean and dry, then use a suitable protective cover. | Keep it in the position recommended by its maker. Fold or vacuum-seal it only if the maker allows this. |
| Refrigerator | Empty it, defrost where needed, and arrange disconnection and draining of any water connections. Dry the interior thoroughly. | Arrange the ventilation recommended for the unused appliance, and keep shelves and loose parts protected. |
| Washing machine | Have it disconnected and drained according to the model. Arrange the correct transport bolts or restraints where required. | Keep the drained machine dry and its hoses identified. Any transport bolts must be removed before it is operated again. |
| TV | Switch it off, disconnect and label the cables, and use suitable packaging with screen and corner protection. | Keep it in the position recommended by the manufacturer, with no pressure on the screen. |
| AC, if it needs removal | Arrange a qualified technician to disconnect it and identify the units and accessories. | Protect the units and pipe connections as advised by the technician, and plan the later installation. |
There is an important difference between securing a refrigerator for transport and looking after it during storage. Its doors may be secured for the journey, but the storage team should also have a plan for ventilating the unused appliance as its manufacturer advises. Discuss this before it is packed.
Also check that the belongings are dry before they are wrapped. If a cushion smells musty or a carton is damp, bring it to the team’s attention and find out what needs cleaning or drying first. If there is visible mold or you are unsure how to treat a material, get suitable professional advice before storing it.
Also ask the team how they keep the storage space dry and what they do if they find a leak. Your belongings need a clean, dry place to stay throughout the renovation, even after they have been packed. So before sending them, ask how the team will protect them from damp floors or water entering the storage area.
Record the condition of your belongings at pickup
Before the team starts loading, keep a record of what is leaving the house and its condition. You will use the same record when the goods come back.
Here is how you can do it:
- Take clear photographs before the items are covered. Photograph the whole piece and any existing scratches, dents or fabric marks. Where practical, record appliances working before they are disconnected.
- Then check the item list with the collection team. Make sure the furniture and appliances are listed along with the numbered cartons. Make sure to check what is recorded inside the cartons too, especially when accessories or the smaller appliances have been packed separately.
- Match the loose parts with the correct item. For example, label the bed’s hardware bag so that the team knows which bed it belongs to. Do the same for detached shelves, remotes, hoses and other accessories.
- Keep a copy of the handover record. Save the checked list, photographs, booking details and any agreed condition notes together. If the provider carries out another check when the goods enter storage, ask how that confirmation will be shared with you.
These records give you something specific to compare when you inspect the returning goods. If you later need to raise a damage claim, the guide explains how to report the problem and keep the relevant evidence.
Bring the goods back when the rooms are ready
Speak to the contractor before fixing the return date. Confirm that the dusty or wet work is finished in the rooms receiving the goods, that cleaning has been done and that the carrying route is clear.
Also ask about any instructions for the new floor, paint or other finishes. There is no single waiting period that suits every material, so the contractor and product instructions should guide when the furniture can be placed back.
Once you have a suitable date, contact the storage team with the notice agreed in your booking. Arrange the delivery slot, unloading help and any society permissions or lift timings.
If only part of the house is ready, ask whether selected goods can return first. For example, you may be able to set up the living room while the bedroom work continues. Confirm the arrangement and any additional delivery or handling cost before deciding.
When the goods arrive, check the carton numbers and separate items against the pickup list. Inspect accessible furniture surfaces and the condition of the packaging while the team is there. If something looks damaged or cannot be found, record it and report it promptly.
Then arrange the assembly and appliance work needed to use the rooms again. A washing machine needs its connections checked and any transport bolts removed before operation. A refrigerator should be restarted according to its model’s instructions after transport. AC installation should be handled by a qualified technician.
BOXnMOVE’s guide to appliance installation explains the work you may need to arrange. Confirm which jobs are included in your own booking, so that the required people are available when the appliances come back.
FAQs about storage during home renovation
1. Can I keep furniture in another room instead of renting storage?
You can keep furniture in another room if that room is clean, dry and separate from the renovation work. Ask the contractor whether the room and its entrance will remain available throughout the work, so that you will not have to shift everything again.
2. Can a refrigerator and washing machine stay in storage for a few weeks?
A refrigerator and washing machine can be stored for a few weeks when they are properly prepared and the storage conditions suit them. Arrange draining and drying before packing, and ask how the refrigerator will be ventilated while unused. Follow the instructions for the particular models.
3. Can I collect one item while the rest of my belongings stay in storage?
You can collect an individual item if your storage arrangement allows it. Ask the team how much notice it needs, when collection can happen and what it will cost. Give them the item or carton number, so that they can identify what you need.
4. What happens if the renovation takes longer than expected?
If the renovation is delayed, tell the storage team before your booked period ends. Ask whether the goods can stay longer and what the extra time will cost. Get their confirmation in writing, so that you have the revised dates and amount with you.
5. Does transit insurance also cover belongings while they are in storage?
Ask the insurer whether your policy covers the time your goods will spend in storage also. Tell them where the goods will be kept and for how long. Then ask them to show you where this cover is included in the policy.
6. Should I arrange the return delivery when I book the storage?
Yes, please discuss the return arrangements when you book storage, even if the final date is not yet certain. Ask how much notice is needed, what delivery will cost and whether selected items can come back first. Confirm the actual date when the rooms are ready.
