Summary
Consider storing your belongings during the transition as you prepare for a move. While public storage may seem convenient, using a moving company’s storage can offer many advantages you may not have considered. Below, we break down the key differences in convenience, security, cost, and more to help you decide which option is right for your situation.
Updated for 2026 — this guide reflects the latest moving tips and pricing for the Greater Vancouver area.
Table of Contents
- Summary
- Convenience
- Security
- Customizable Storage Options
- Professional Handling
- Cost Comparison
- When Public Storage Makes Sense
- When Moving Company Storage Makes Sense
- Simple Moves Storage Services
- Choose Simple Moves & Storage for Your Moving and Storage Needs
- Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Storage Solution
- The Hidden Costs of Self-Storage
- How Long Will You Need Storage?
- Inventory and Documentation Best Practices
- Read More
Convenience
One of the most significant advantages of using a moving company’s storage is convenience. With a moving and storage company, you can easily store your belongings at the exact location where your moving truck is parked. This means you will not have to worry about transporting items from a public storage facility to your new home. Instead, you can take care of your moving and storage needs in one convenient location.
With public storage, you are responsible for transporting your items to the facility, unloading them into your unit, and then repeating the process in reverse when you need them back. That means renting a truck or making multiple trips with your own vehicle, which adds time, fuel costs, and physical effort. With a moving company’s storage, your movers load your belongings once, take them directly to the storage facility, and deliver them to your new home when you are ready. You never have to handle the heavy lifting yourself.
Security
When it comes to storing your belongings, security is a top priority. Moving and storage companies typically have advanced security measures to protect your items. This may include surveillance cameras, secure access points, controlling what is allowed to be stored, limited access to employees, and absolutely no access to the public to protect your belongings from damage. Public storage facilities will not always offer the same level of security, leaving your items more vulnerable to theft or damage.
At a typical public storage facility, multiple tenants have access to the building at all hours. Shared hallways and loading areas mean your unit is only as secure as the lock you put on it. Break-ins at public storage facilities are more common than most people realize. With a moving company’s storage, your items are stored in a controlled environment where only company employees have access. There are no random members of the public walking past your belongings, and the company has a direct financial incentive to keep your items safe.
Customizable Storage Options
Moving and storage companies offer various storage options to fit your unique needs. For example, at Simple Moves & Storage, we provide deep storage containers that can be delivered directly to your home or business (space and permit pending) to be loaded and brought back to our yards. These containers are a great option if you need to store your items for an extended time or move long distances. You can also choose from various unit sizes to fit your storage needs, so you are not paying for more space than you actually use.
Public storage facilities typically offer fixed unit sizes, which means you may end up renting a unit that is too large for what you have or cramming your belongings into a space that is too small. Moving companies can often match the storage space to the exact volume of your items, which can result in meaningful savings over time.
Professional Handling
When you choose a moving and storage company, you can trust that trained professionals will handle your belongings. This means that your items will be packed and stored correctly to minimize the risk of damage. Furniture is wrapped and padded, fragile items are protected, and everything is stacked properly to prevent shifting during storage. Additionally, if you need assistance moving your items in or out of storage, a moving and storage company can provide the necessary workforce and equipment to do the job quickly and safely.
With public storage, you and whoever you can recruit are responsible for loading and organizing the unit. Without professional packing and stacking techniques, items are more likely to shift, fall, or get scratched. Bulky furniture is particularly difficult to manoeuvre through narrow hallways and elevators in public storage buildings.
Cost Comparison
Contrary to popular belief, a moving and storage company can be more cost-effective than a public storage facility. Many moving and storage companies offer competitive pricing, and you may even save money by bundling your moving and storage services together. When comparing costs, make sure you factor in the full picture:
- Public storage costs: Monthly unit rental, plus truck rental or gas for transporting items, plus your own time and labour, plus purchasing packing materials and locks, plus potential damage replacement costs
- Moving company storage costs: A single bundled rate that typically includes pickup, delivery, storage, and professional handling
When you add up all the hidden costs of public storage, the price difference often narrows significantly or even tips in favour of the moving company option. Additionally, using a moving and storage company can save you money in the long run by minimizing the risk of damage to your belongings. Replacing a damaged piece of furniture or a broken television can easily cost more than the entire storage bill.
When Public Storage Makes Sense
Public storage is not always the wrong choice. It can work well if you need regular access to your stored items, such as seasonal equipment, business inventory, or hobby gear. If you are storing items long-term and plan to visit the unit frequently to add or retrieve things, the self-service model of public storage is more practical. It can also make sense if you are storing a very small amount of items that fit in your own vehicle and do not require professional handling.
When Moving Company Storage Makes Sense
Moving company storage is the better fit when you are in the middle of a move and need temporary storage between your move-out and move-in dates. It is also ideal when you have large, heavy, or fragile items that benefit from professional handling. If you do not need regular access to your belongings and just want them stored safely until your new home is ready, a moving company’s storage eliminates the hassle of doing it yourself.
Simple Moves Storage Services
At Simple Moves & Storage, we offer flexible storage solutions designed around the way people actually move. Our services include short-term storage for gaps between move-out and move-in dates, long-term storage for items you are not ready to bring to your new home, deep storage containers that can be delivered to your location for convenient loading, and custom-fit space matched to the volume of your belongings so you only pay for what you use. Our storage facilities are monitored, climate-appropriate, and accessible only to our team.
Choose Simple Moves & Storage for Your Moving and Storage Needs
If you are looking for a moving company with storage options, look no further than Simple Moves & Storage. We offer a full range of moving and storage services to fit your unique needs, including deep storage containers, custom-fit space to the volume, and professional handling. As a locally owned and operated business, we are proud to serve as one of the top moving and storage companies in the Metro Vancouver area and beyond. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help make your move successful.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Storage Solution
Not all storage is created equal, and asking the right questions upfront can save you hundreds of dollars and a great deal of frustration. Start by clarifying the access policy: can you visit your unit any day of the week, or are hours restricted? If you need to retrieve seasonal items or important documents on short notice, 24/7 access may be worth a small premium.
Next, ask about insurance. Public storage facilities typically require you to purchase separate renter’s insurance or provide proof of your own policy. A moving company’s storage service often bundles basic coverage with your agreement, meaning one fewer bill to manage and no gaps between your move-out and move-in dates.
Climate control is another factor that deserves attention. In British Columbia’s damp winters, unheated units can expose wooden furniture, electronics, and documents to moisture damage. Climate-controlled units maintain steady temperature and humidity levels, protecting items you would otherwise need to replace.
The Hidden Costs of Self-Storage
Public storage rates often look attractive at first glance, but the total cost climbs quickly once you add transportation. You will need to rent a truck or make multiple car trips to move items into the unit, then repeat the process when it is time to move them out. Those rental fees, fuel costs, and hours of personal labour add up—sometimes exceeding the price of a moving company’s integrated storage service.
There are also administrative fees to watch for: key deposits, mandatory lock purchases, late-payment penalties, and annual rate increases that may not be disclosed at sign-up. With a full-service provider like Simple Moves, pricing is transparent and your belongings travel directly from your home into secure storage and back again without extra vehicle costs. Get a free quote or call (604) 398-4680 to learn more about our integrated moving and storage options.
How Long Will You Need Storage?
One of the most important decisions when choosing a storage solution is estimating how long you will actually need it. Short-term storage—typically less than three months—is common during home renovations, staging a property for sale, or bridging a gap between your move-out and move-in dates. For short-term needs, a moving company’s storage is almost always more cost-effective because your items are loaded onto the truck once and delivered directly to storage without extra handling.
Long-term storage lasting six months or more requires a different calculation. Compare monthly rates carefully, but also factor in the condition of the facility. Older public storage buildings may have inconsistent temperature control, pest issues, or water intrusion risks that newer purpose-built facilities avoid. Visit any facility in person before signing a contract—online photos do not always reflect current conditions.
Inventory and Documentation Best Practices
Regardless of which storage option you choose, create a detailed inventory before your items go into the unit. Photograph valuable pieces from multiple angles and keep the images in a cloud folder along with a spreadsheet listing each item, its estimated value, and which box or area of the unit it is stored in. This documentation is invaluable if you ever need to file an insurance claim, and it makes retrieval far more efficient when you need to locate a specific item months later. Number your boxes sequentially and note the contents on both the box itself and your digital inventory for quick cross-referencing.