When it helps

• Completion dates change. A delayed mortgage offer, a late survey or a chain problem can push a completion back by days or weeks. If you have to be out of your old home, storage bridges the gap.

• There is a gap between homes. Selling and buying rarely line up exactly.

• Renovation. If you are having work done before moving in, your belongings can wait safely.

• A smaller home. If the new place cannot hold everything, you can store the rest while you decide.

• Moving abroad or for work. Some things need to be kept while you settle.

What to check

• Access. Can you get to your things, and with how much notice? Some providers need 24 hours so they can find your container.

• An inventory. You should know exactly what is stored and where.

• Insurance. Home policies often do not cover items in temporary storage, so check what is covered and ask about the options.

• Length and flexibility. Make sure you can extend or end the storage as your plans change.

• Who looks after it. Ask whether the store is dedicated or shared, and who handles your goods.

Good to know: Some providers need 24 hours' notice to access your things, so ask before you commit.

Tell us early

If there is any chance you will need storage, mention it at the survey and we can build it into the quote. It is far easier than organising it in a hurry when a chain falls through.

Plan what goes in

Decide what you will need before the move and keep that with you. Put what you will not need straight away into storage. Our Storage Tips guide covers how to prepare, and our post on preparing furniture for storage goes into more detail.