Your closing date got pushed back two weeks. Or the new place won't be ready until the renovation wraps up. Either way, your belongings need somewhere safe to wait.
Most people in Connecticut end up choosing between two options: hiring a moving and storage company that moves and stores everything for them, or renting a self-storage unit and doing the work themselves. Both can work well. The right choice depends on how much you're storing, how long you need it stored, and how much lifting you're willing to do.
Moving and Storage Company vs Self-Storage: The Basics
What a moving and storage company does
A moving and storage company handles the whole job. The crew packs and loads your belongings, takes them to its own facility, and keeps them there until you're ready. When your new home is available, the same team delivers everything and places it where you want it. You don't rent a truck, you don't carry boxes, and you deal with one company from start to finish.
How self-storage works
With self-storage, you rent a unit and take care of everything else. That usually means renting a truck or calling in favors from friends, loading the unit yourself, and then doing it all again in reverse on move-in day. Some people hire movers just for the loading and unloading, but that means coordinating two separate businesses and two sets of schedules.
Comparing the Two Options
Labor and convenience
This is the biggest difference. With a moving and storage company, trained crews handle the packing, loading, unloading and delivery. With self-storage, the work falls on you. A studio apartment might be a manageable weekend project, but a full house with heavy furniture, appliances or a piano is a very different job.
Protecting your belongings
Every time furniture is picked up and set down, there's a chance of a scratch or dent. Self-storage often means several trips, from your home to a truck, from the truck to the unit, and back again later. When one company handles both the move and the storage, your things make fewer stops along the way.
Climate matters too. Connecticut summers are humid and winters drop well below freezing, which is hard on wood furniture, electronics, photos and documents. Not every self-storage unit is climate-controlled, so it's worth asking before you sign. We explain why it matters in our post on the benefits of climate-controlled storage.
Access to your things
Self-storage usually wins on access. You hold the key, so you can stop by during facility hours to grab the winter coats or a box of paperwork. Mover-managed storage works best for items you won't need until delivery day. If you think you'll need to get at something, mention it to your mover before you book.
Contracts and the fine print
Read any storage agreement carefully. Under Chapter 743 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a self-service storage facility owner has a lien on stored property for unpaid rent and related charges. A 2022 update also allowed operators to place value limits on stored belongings. Know how your items are protected before you commit.
The real cost
Self-storage often looks cheaper on paper because you're only paying for the unit. Once you add truck rental, fuel, moving supplies, your own time and possibly hired help on both ends, the gap usually narrows. Our post on whether U-Haul is cheaper than movers walks through many of the same hidden costs.
Which Option Is Right for Your Move?
When a moving and storage company makes sense
Mover-managed storage is usually the better fit when there's a gap between selling your old home and closing on the new one, or when you're renovating and need the house empty for a while. It's also the easier route for a full household with heavy or valuable pieces.
Families helping a parent with senior moving or downsizing for retirement often choose it too, since it gives everyone time to decide what to keep. The same goes for settling an estate, which we cover in storage during probate in Connecticut.
When self-storage makes sense
Self-storage is a good fit when you're storing a small amount, like seasonal gear or a few boxes, and you want to get at it often. It also suits people who are comfortable doing the lifting and driving themselves. Whichever you choose, storing less costs less, so decluttering before your move is always worth the effort.
Storage With Castle Express in Enfield
We're a family-owned moving and storage company, and our storage facility is part of our home base at 4 Niblick Road in Enfield, just off I-91. It offers more than 5,000 square feet of secure, climate-controlled storage, protected from extreme heat, cold and humidity.
Your belongings are kept in numbered wooden vaults, so each household's items stay together and organized. We handle short stays, like a week between closings, and longer ones, like a few months during a renovation. Because our crews do the packing, loading, storage and delivery, you work with one team from start to finish.
Not sure whether storage fits your move? Contact us for a free estimate or call (888) 553-4503.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a moving and storage company more expensive than self-storage?
The storage itself may cost more, but you skip truck rental, fuel, supplies and your own labor. Compare the full cost of each option, not just the monthly rate.
Can I store my things for just a week or two?
Yes. Short-term storage is common when closing dates don't line up, and we handle stays as short as a week.