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I also may have some things to donate (not the bed, i guess)...it
should be easier to find places near the storage unit for that?
QUESTION:It's tough to find the right website for these questions, but here
goes. Believe it or not, I've had most of my belongings in storage
for 2.5 year (while i mostly travel alot). It's a
non-climate-controlled garage type unit in maryland: huge temp. swings
throughout the year. When I get an apartment or house sometime in the
next few months, I'm really going to have to think about what's been
ruined (in storage) and should be thrown away before taking it to my
apartment. The first consideration is the bed. It was a nice kingsize
bed, mattress, frame only about 8 months old before storage. In
storage, I wrapped in a huge plastic bag and set it down in the normal
position on the frame (I was told it would ruin the bed by storing it
on the side). So, after 2.5 years, is the bed JUNK now? Mildew,
mold, bugs? I can't tell by looking...it looks the same sitting in
the storage unit.
Other things in storage: computers, stereo components, record albums,
lots of books, TV, clothes (most of it in closed bins or bag), some
kitchen appliances (coffee maker, which i think is in a plastic
bag...its funny that i cleaned it the proper way before storing
it...now what's it like?), a room AC unit....etc.
Some other questions: If I decide to throw out the bed, where can i
throw it? Same for a large surfboard and windsurf equipment (it's NOT
donatable...it's a VERY old board+equipment). I called a few storage
places in the area and they have no idea where I can throw things.
I also may have some things to donate (not the bed, i guess)...it
should be easier to find places near the storage unit for that?....I
guess i should look on the web for "salvation army", etc.)? But for
throwing things away (junk yards?)....how do i find those?
What if I just leave the throw-out-ables in the storage unit when I
leave? (I dislike the new managers there anyway, and they keep raising
the rent rapidly). It can't be much trouble for them to haul things
away, since they do have regular trash pickup there. I pay monthly at
the beginning of each month, so i can just leave, with my lock still on
the unit....The managers put their own lock on a unit if rent hasn't
been paid by about the 5th of every month! So maybe i should let them
do that. The only address they have me for me is mailbox address in
another state.
Well, i'd rather just dump the stuff myself though if i can find a
place to dump it and leave the storage unit a bit more legitmately.
I'm not ready to move yet though...haven't found an apt. yet.
ANSWER: Q: What if I just leave the throw-out-ables in the storage unit when I
leave? (I dislike the new managers there anyway, and they keep raising
the rent rapidly). It can't be much trouble for them to haul things
away, since they do have regular trash pickup there. I pay monthly at
the beginning of each month, so i can just leave, with my lock still on
the unit....The managers put their own lock on a unit if rent hasn't
been paid by about the 5th of every month! So maybe i should let them
do that. The only address they have me for me is mailbox address in
another state.
A: I don't see why whether you like them has any bearing on whether you'd
choose to be responsible about moving out. Cleaning your stuff out at
the end is part of the deal, right?
Also, what happens if they decide to tack on a charge for disposing of
your stuff (since it does take time, they will probably want compensation
for that)? If they don't have any current contact information for you,
they might pass it on to a collection agency or they might put it on
your credit report. Is it really worth all that potential future hassle
just to avoid cleaning out the other half of your stuff? Why not just
clean the thing out 100% and have the whole thing resolved, giving you
one less thing to worry about?
As for where to dump things, most cities have a dump you can take big
stuff to. I would contact the city you live in (or the one you've
about to move into when you find a place) and see what they tell you.
When I lived in Sunnyvale, CA, they had a dump that was tucked away
on some back road I'd never heard of. I didn't even know it was there
until I started asking around. They accepted all the garbage I wanted
to toss out as long as I had a driver's license that showed that I
really lived in the city.
As for the condition of your stuff, my guess is that the temperature
swings aren't that big a deal. The biggest thing to worry about is
probably condensation, which happens if the temperature rises quickly
(leaving objects much colder than the air temperature). But if your
storage unit has a door on it, even though it doesn't have insulation,
the temperature swings should still be less than that of the outdoor
temperature, so it's probably not that bad.
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