Sophia’s Mom, Darlene, travels from the midwest to San Diego every year to visit and get some much needed beach therapy – a respite from the harsh winters that stiffens her bones and a warming of the heart from seeing her daughter. Each time Sophia picked her up at Lindbergh Field, as sailboats floated past and the glistening water hit her eyes, without fail Darlene would lament over another life where she could have lived in San Diego. This would, without fail, be followed by Sophia saying, “Live your best life, Mom! Move out to San Diego!” 

This scene had played out for many winters. However just this past year when she gazed out on the water and she bemoaned a life near the ocean, and Sophia, almost methodically,  invited her to move to San Diego once again, she said something that she never thought she would say. 

“Ok, I’ll move to San Diego!”

Fast forward one month. Darlene’s house in the midwest is on the market, she’s looking at homes in San Diego, and she is preparing for the biggest move of her life. Excitement is in the air when she gets a call from her realtor. She received a full price offer and the buyer is eager to move in ASAP! She thought she would have much more time than this, but now that she has got the ball rolling, it is now or never.

Things were moving pretty fast. Faster than either of them had really expected. Sophia offered to let her Mom stay in her guest bedroom in her Little Italy apartment in downtown San Diego while she looked around for a place to call her own, but the big dilemma was what to do with all her Mom’s things. There just wasn’t enough room in her apartment for it all. Then Sophia remembered Big Box Storage. Her neighbor Jim with the cute dalmatian puppy, had a Big Box delivered right to his assigned parking spot in their apartment complex and he said it was super easy and convenient so she went online, shopped around, and gave them a call. 

She told the customer service representative on the phone the whole situation with her Mom moving and needing storage while she is in-between homes. She told them she had a mover bringing the items to San Diego but did not have a place yet to put everything and she needed the best price possible since things were tight due to the expensive move. Thankfully, the agent had heard that story time and time again and knew just how to help. She offered their lowest price guarantee which meant if Sophia did find a better posted price for portable storage, they would match and beat their price by at least 10%, AND free initial delivery and pickup if they committed to at least 3 months of storage, which was in the plan anyway.

As it turns out, as a portable storage company in San Diego, Big Box Storage offers both delivery/pickup AND move-in services at their centrally located facility. So she was able to have the movers bring all the years worth of Darlene’s possessions and unload straight into a couple of Big Boxes for secure storage for as long as it took to find a new home. She read many positive reviews she found for the company and felt a peace of mind knowing all her Mom’s earthly goods were safe.

Every few weeks, Darlene would realize there were some things in the Big Box she really needed. A big floppy hat for the beach and her favorite flip flops – the necessities. She was relieved to find that Big Box Storage offers access 7 days a week. They just need a 2-hour notice within their access hours and they pull the Big Boxes right out into a large access area where you can drive right up to the units. She could go as many times as she wanted to pull some things and put some things in, and there was never a cost to visit the storage.

Finally, about six months later, Darlene found the perfect house in Cardiff by the Sea. She thought it was a lovely name for a town and she adamantly exclaimed that she heard the sea call her name so it was a sign!

About a week before she got the keys, she scheduled the Big Box to be delivered and on moving day they came right on time. The driver was so friendly – something that she had read in past reviews online but had not thought twice about it until she actually had her own encounter. The driver placed the Big Box as close to her garage as possible and then she realized… SHE LOST THE KEY to the Big Box! Averting disaster, the driver pulled out his bolt cutters and saved the day. They really think of everything! Darlene scheduled a full week to have the Big Box at her new home but realized she was so excited to move in that she finished unloading in just two days! Big Box Storage was so accommodating and fit an earlier pick up in their schedule.

All in all, Darlene and Sophia were very satisfied with their choice of portable storage providers. From start to finish, Big Box Storage made it simple. The movers appreciated how much room they had at the facility to unload their goods into the storage units. Darlene was thankful that she was able to access her things whenever she wanted to and then when she was done she would watch as her Big Box is returned to the facility for secured indoor storage. Sophia was happy that her apartment wasn’t overrun with moving boxes – and that her Mom was closer to her, of course! And they both were happy once Darlene finally was moved into her new home with her belongings in just as good condition as they were when they were first shipped to San Diego.

As if being a student was not trying enough, being a student in a pandemic has a whole new set of challenges that learners are facing every day in colleges and universities around the country. Some doors have shuttered completely, like NYU Tisch (@NYUTischSchool) who refused to refund the students who paid for their courses and only sent them a video of the Dean dancing to R.E.Ms “Losing My Religion” after telling them that classes were canceled and tough luck.

Others have transitioned to a completely online environment where students log in to their classes and teachers give lessons on platforms like Zoom or Skype.

Here in the San Diego area, it seems that most higher education institutes have gravitated towards the digital side of operations, in hopes that the disruptions will be minimal and things can go back to normal as soon as possible. Students have been ordered off-campus; told to go home with little notice. A fraction of those from out-of-state were left without a way to get home, and others forced to take the risk and book flights during a flight advisory. Off-campus housing was available for some, but not all.

We are fortunate to have a friend of a friend who is a student at USD who was able to sit with us for a bit and give us an inside look at how students are being affected by this pandemic. We would like to offer a transcript of that interview here.

Big Box Storage: Hi Adrian, thank you very much for taking the time to answer some questions for us and give everyone an inside look at what it is like to be a college student in San Diego right now.

Adrian: Sure, no problem. I have certainly found a lot more time on my hands these days so it fit quite nicely in my schedule.

Big Box Storage: I bet! Has that been a challenge getting used to life off-campus?

Adrian: Not so much a challenge per se yet; I joked with some friends the other day – we have been through terrorist attacks, school shootings, a recession, and toxic dating apps. If anyone can handle a pandemic – we can.

Big Box Storage: I hope “handling a pandemic” includes social distancing and lots of handwashing.

Adrian: Oh, yeah. I am NOT one of those idiot spring breakers in Florida throwing up deuces and saying YOLO. No, mostly I am staying in my old room in my parent’s house in Pt. Loma with my cat and spazzy cocker spaniel doing Tik Tok videos and “studying”.

Big Box Storage: Were you staying on campus pre-coronavirus?

Adrian: Yes I was in a room with another girl. It was nice. I liked the student experience, you know – the dorm, school food, making new friends. I was having a great time. It felt nice to be in charge of myself and feel free a little.

Big Box Storage: When they told you to leave campus, what were your initial thoughts? Did they provide storage for USD students?

Adrian: Well honestly that was still around the time where things seemed like everyone was overreacting. Getting the notice to vacate kinda made it all real at that point. I was like “Wow, this might be a little more serious than I had thought”.

Big Box Storage: I think a lot of us had the same thoughts at first.

Adrian: Yeah, and so I called up my Dad and said hey I need you to bring the truck and pick me up they are kicking us out because of the virus. So he and my Mom came and helped me get loaded up and now my stuff is all in a pile in my old room at home.

Big Box Storage: Were all your friends lucky enough to have their parents be able to come to pick them up? Did they provide storage for USD students?

Adrian: No, in fact, the girl that I was rooming with could not take everything in time and she was going back to Colorado so she left most of her stuff there like her lamp and fridge and printer. She could only take what she could carry with her on the plane. I do not even think she will be able to get all that stuff back. They said they were going to clear the rooms so I do not know what will happen with everything left behind. I did not hear anything about storage being a service offered by the school during this time.

Big Box Storage: Wow, so basically she became a refugee overnight.

Adrian: Yeah, but I talked to her the other day. She made it home safe so that is what we really care about.

Big Box Storage: So tell us what it is like being a digital student?

Adrian: Honestly I do not like it. I thought I would, but I feel like I really need structure and I am not good at forcing myself to adhere to my own rules. Also, I miss my friends and crazy enough, even my teachers. I think that is the social butterfly in me.

Big Box Storage: That aside, what about your classes and studies? How is your campus handling the shift to online learning?

Adrian: Classes are fine. You log in, you have assignments and reading requirements and tests. Just like in regular classes. It is just all online now. As for the school, I think they are doing a really good job of making it as seamless as possible. They had to figure out how to relocate 2,600 students and I think the residential life and health and wellness teams really did everything they could do on such short notice. I know they have increased hours for maintenance and cleaning staff on campus so that everything stays as clean as possible. They are having virtual mass on Sundays via Instagram to give some sense of normalcy to the campus and I also heard about the Toreros Together Emergency Fund that helps provide resources for housing and food needs.

Big Box Storage: That is amazing. I am glad to hear there is a support network for those that might be in need during this time.

Adrian: It really is a good school. I am proud to go there.

Big Box Storage: Well Adrian it has been a pleasure speaking with you today. Thank you for the inside scoop of what it is like to be facing the pandemic crisis as a student in San Diego.

Adrian: No problem! Thank you for having me.

In the midst of everything going on, Big Box Storage has realized they have an opportunity to help the community and students in their time of need. Any student enrolled in any higher education institute in San Diego that has been displaced from student housing due to COVID19, will receive their first month free as well as free initial delivery and pickup.

Big Box Storage is a portable storage company that offers transportation of your very own storage unit right to your door. They have one size unit. It is 8 feet deep x 5 feet wide x 7 feet tall. Each Big Box typically holds about one room of household goods. When making a reservation, they always recommend overordering since you will only pay for the Big Boxes that you actually use. So for example, if you have a 2 bedroom house, order 3 Big Boxes at least. Then if you get everything into 2 of them, you will only be charged for the 2. They will deliver these Big Boxes to your home and allow you as much time as you need to get your items loaded up, then they will come back and pick it up and take it to their centrally located, indoor warehouse for safekeeping. You may access your belongings 7 days a week with just a 2-hour notice during access hours, and there is never a charge to access your items.

As of the date of this posting, Big Box Storage has the lowest price for portable storage in San Diego country, a fact that they back up with their lowest price guarantee. If by chance you could find a lower posted rate than what is offered by Big Box Storage, they will match and beat the competitor’s price by at least 10%. The month to month rental rate for one Big Box is $89, or if you could commit to a year the monthly rental rate drops down to $79 per Big Box. Both rates come with $500 of property protection to give you peace of mind that the contents will be safe. They even offer to bump up the coverage to $5000 for just $7 per month!

There is not a single portable storage company in San Diego that treats their customers better than Big Box Storage. If you are looking for the best price, best service, and safest bet, call Big Box Storage and get your reservation set up today.

Please share with any student in the San Diego area that may need emergency storage.

If you would not consider yourself too much of a history buff it would be understandable that you probably would not know about the rich background of America’s first master-planned community, also known as Rancho Bernardo. Located just south of Escondido and northwest of Poway, Rancho Bernardo is home to a long list of events that have shaped the southern California town into a shining example of a family-friendly, leisure and luxury mecca with a past that is everything but! This installment of our blog will focus on the wild differences between storage needs in years past vs. the storage options of modern-day life brought to you by Big Box Storage.

In the 1830s, a resident of Rancho Bernardo was most likely involved in the booming stock-raising operations that dominated the land. Their needs for storage were more than likely limited to feed for cattle, barns for the animals, and places to hold stock. A typical day in the life of a rancher would certainly begin before the sun has risen and would start by accessing their storages to pull out the feed for livestock. Not only did they rely on storage for food, but also for their tools and primitive equipment of the day. Today our economy has steered far from cattle, but we still find the need for storing our surplus items when not in use. For example, businesses routinely find the need to securely store away extra product until it is needed at a later date, or business records that need to be kept for a certain amount of years for tax purposes. Many times, these records can take up a vast amount of space and onsite storage just is not a possibility. But thanks to modern-day advancements, those old storage sheds have been upgraded to portable storage units that can be brought to you for onsite storage. It is like having extra barn space in your driveway! Simply put, Big Box brings the storage to you to fill at your leisure.

Fast forward a few years later to 1862. The area that is now Rancho Bernardo is now the scene of the battle of San Pasqual – known as the bloodiest and most controversial battle of the war. It is probably safe to say that the inhabitants of the area during this time period probably were not worried too much about grain storage when lives are on the line. During this tumultuous time, they needed storage for things like ammo, weapons, rations, and gear – everything that a soldier required to stay prepared and vigilant. Thankfully we are not living in a war-time period these days and our worries are generally limited to generally domestic issues. Woes such as “where can I store the exercise equipment while my sister and her husband are in town” or a college student that needs storage during summer break when they have to leave the dorm. You will be glad to know that Big Box Storage can alleviate such sorrows as well. In fact, not only can Big Box bring you a portable storage unit (we call them Big Boxes), but they can also provide monthly storage in a secure indoor warehouse at no additional charge!

A slightly larger jump in time to the 1920s might discombobulate you, poor reader, as you will find that Rancho Bernardo is a ghost town! The roaring twenties saw a mass exodus to the neighboring city of Escondido – a shiny new town that caught the eye of many settlers who did not even leave behind their storage shed that housed their tools and equipment for managing the land. One might wonder if someone from the 1920s could envision what life might be like 100 years later. Could they foretell the improvement and advancements that would shape a civilization such as ours today? Perhaps if they could peer into the near future they could see on-demand portable storage units that could carry their grains and tools (and guns and ammunition) and deliver them anywhere their cattle could roam.

The next few years are a bit boring (no one is home). We will jump ahead more than 40 years this time to 1961. The beginning of modernization has begun. The land is still pretty bare. Some business partners come together and have a grand idea to plan a community that is unlike anything the United States had seen to date. They called it a “master-planned community”. It would have everything that anyone of the time would need, including schools, hospitals, stores, parks and rec centers. And the amenities were ever-growing. It only took them a little over 2 years to find investors, plan and build the community, and sell the first parcel of land to a wide-eyed first time home buyer subscribing to the American dream.

In 1963 the Rancho Bernardo Inn opens its doors with accommodations for 30 rooms and an eighteen-hole championship golf course. In just a short 5 years they expand to 151 rooms and opened El Bizcocho a fine dining restaurant (now known as Avant). And thus began the snowball effect on the chain of events that transformed stock-raising land into the Rancho Bernardo we know today.

Storage options have evolved from rickety wooden sheds to facilities with rooms inside that people could rent and store their items. In their infancy, storage facilities were revolutionary in their concept, but there were some drawbacks. Typically, one would have to rent or borrow a truck to move the items with. Once you have boxed and labeled the items going to storage you would need to move each box to the truck and make several trips to complete the first step. Once you finished loading up the car you would stop to apply some muscle rub typically take a break from all that heavy lifting before you have to drive it to the storage facility. Once there, the unloading process begins. The facility may place your unit on a level that requires the traversing of stairs or walks down long hallways with your awkward and heavy boxes, and once you unload the truck you have to strategically place everything inside to be sure it fits. Once the truck is unloaded your chore still is not finished. Now you will need to return the truck to the rental company or to your friend that was gracious enough to let you borrow. Finally, time to rest.

Storage options of the 2020s.

We have made it back “home” in the year 2020. We took a trip through the early formative years of Rancho Bernardo, exploring stock-raising operations in the 1830s, the Battle of San Pasqual in 1862, the mass exodus to Escondido in 1920, and America’s first master-planned community in the 1960s. We took a quick look into the storage options that were available in the early years and now we look to the future. A brighter future where things are easier and more convenient.

These days you can do everything from your cell phone. Order a pizza for delivery, get your meds delivered to your door, and even video chat your therapist when you really need to know if you were the crazy one in that argument that you had with your best friend. So why not order storage for delivery? Big Box Storage is the most convenient option for storage in all of San Diego County. They will bring a portable storage unit, 8’x5’x7′ (LxWxH exterior), right to your home or business address for you to load at your leisure. You could either leave the unit on your property for onsite storage or they could return and pick it up for local storage at their secure indoor facility that is centrally located. Forget having to rent or borrow a vehicle to move your items to a storage place and save your back and legs from lifting your boxes several times before they finally get to a brick and mortar storage unit. Just load the Big Box one time and you are done.

If you choose to have your items stored in their indoor, secured facility, you will never have to worry about the safety of your items. The premises are under 24-hour on and off-site video recording and alarm monitoring services. The entrances are gated at night and the warehouse is sealed shut disallowing anyone from attempting to gain entry to the stored Big Boxes. Access is available 7 days a week with just a two-hour notice (within the current access hours). This gives the warehouse staff time to locate the Big Box within the vast system of Boxes and bring it out to the access area where you can drive right up to the unit. Best of all, there is never a fee to access. EVER!

You can have your Big Box delivered back to you either locally in the San Diego and surrounding area or they could even ship it for you to another state. Whatever you choose, you will rest soundly at night knowing that your items are stored safely.

We saved the best piece of news for last! For those that will not settle for anything but the best deal, Big Box Storage guarantees that they have the lowest price for portable storage. If you could find a better posted rate with a competitor, Big Box will match and beat it by at least 10%. Although, just as a side note, you might be hard-pressed to find a lower rate than that provided by Big Box Storage. They have done the research so you do not have to.

Hopefully, you have enjoyed your time traveling back to see what life and early storage options were like in the 1800s and beyond. By this point you know about the size of the Big Box, how the service works, how to access, their lowest price guarantee, and the time and money that you will save. If they have not convinced you that portable storage is the way to go, or if you are ready to make a reservation, please call the local office at 619-436-5020 and the friendly customer support representative will be happy to answer any other questions you may have and set up your account.

Sorry, students. Like most colleges and universities, San Diego State University does not offer free storage units for students over the summer break (or at any other point of the year). We (the staff here at Big Box Storage) have provided this response multiple times to inquisitive SDSU students who have contacted us regarding the matter over the years. For some reason (maybe a rumor?), many students felt as though it was possibly included as part of their tuition. In any event, SDSU storage units do not have to be a hassle or expensive!

So what’s an SDSU student to do with their household belongings over the summer months? Maybe they’re traveling abroad or just heading back to their hometown for the break and need some temporary, short-term, extra space. There are plenty of options to select from some more economical and convenient than others. 

In an ideal world, a nearby San Diego family member or friend would have some suitable space available in their garage. Even better would be a scenario in which they owned a truck large enough for the transport of your belongings to their garage. 

Of course, if we’re still in an ideal world, they would also be able to assist with the labor needed to load and then unload the truck. This perfect scenario aside, let’s take a look at some of the other storage unit options available to SDSU students.

Nearby SDSU Self-Storage Facilities

Within a radius of approximately three miles of the SDSU campus (5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182) and within the surrounding area zip codes 92115, 91942, 91941, 92120, and 92119 are the following self-storage facilities. 

Note that this isn’t intended to be a recommendation of any of the particular facilities, merely a listing of some of the storage unit companies within the nearby SDSU area.

• A-1 Storage: 4680 Alvarado Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92120 (approx. 2 miles from SDSU)
  • 8′ x 5′ unit for $109/month
• Mission Valley Self-Storage: 4437 Twain Ave, San Diego, CA 92120 (approx. 3 miles from SDSU)
  • 8′ x 5′ unit for $105/month
• Rocket Self Storage: 4920 70th St, San Diego, CA 92115 (approx. 2 miles from SDSU)
  • Call for pricing
• All-American Self Storage: 6225 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115 (approx. 2 miles from SDSU)
  • 8′ x 5′ unit for $114/month

Aside from the above self-storage options, SDSU students would also be wise to consider the portable storage services of Big Box Storage of San Diego. The service is one in which the storage unit is dropped off at the student’s home, dorm, or apartment address in the SDSU area. 

Big Box Storage offers SDSU students a convenient and affordable storage solution with its portable storage services.

Convenient Storage Unit Delivery and Pickup:

A storage unit is delivered directly to your location, eliminating the need for truck rentals. You pack at your own pace, and Big Box Storage picks up the unit and transports it to their secure facility.

Secure and Accessible Storage:

Your packed storage unit is securely stored at Big Box Storage’s local facility, with seven-day access at no extra charge.

Storage Unit Dimensions:

Each Big Box measures 8 feet deep by 5 feet wide by 7 feet tall, suitable for storing the contents of up to one and a half rooms.

Storage Unit Weight Limit:

Each unit can hold up to 2,000 lbs., enough for furniture, books, clothing, and personal items.

Affordable Storage Rates:

Monthly rental is $89, with a low-price guarantee.

Exclusive Discounts for SDSU Students:

SDSU students get a $50 discount on the first month’s rent. A three-month minimum commitment waives the $99 delivery fee, saving $149 in total.

Storage Tips for SDSU Students

Regardless of whether it’s self-storage or portable storage, once you’ve decided on the best storage solution, consider these helpful tips specifically for college students seeking to rent a storage unit:

Packing Supplies – As you pack your storage unit, you might need supplies like boxes or bubble wrap. Big Box Storage offers these items for purchase. They can deliver them along with your storage unit.

Plan Ahead – Decide in advance what will be needed to continue using in your dorm or apartment on the final day/night before the loading of the storage unit. Maybe a mattress, certainly some clothes, some kitchenware, along with anything else you’ll be keeping with you.

Donate – While sorting household items for storage, set aside those no longer needed. Consider donating these items to a non-profit like Goodwill or, in San Diego, Father Joe’s. This helps declutter and supports a good cause.

Make an Inventory List – Knowing you might need to access your storage unit at some point, it’s a good idea to list everything you’re storing. This way, you can easily remember what’s in there. Plus, when it’s time to unload, you’ll have a much easier time figuring out where everything should go. Staying organized will save you a lot of hassle down the road.

Labels on Boxes – In addition to making an inventory list, it’s a good idea to label each box you put into the storage unit. This makes the unloading process easier since you can quickly identify what’s inside each box. Having clearly labeled boxes will save you time and effort when you need to find specific items later on.

Cleaning Your Stuff – It’s always best to first thoroughly clean all of the items to be placed into the storage unit. Doing so will make for a smooth transition when the time comes to unload the unit into your new home or address.

Labor – As mentioned, the most economical way to load and pack a storage unit is to do it yourself or with help from friends and family. However, if they aren’t available or the items are too heavy, you might need to hire a moving company. Many SDSU students start their storage rentals around summer break, typically in May. It’s important to choose a moving company early because spring and summer are busy times for these services.

Truck Rental – If you’re doing the labor yourself or with help, you might need to rent a truck to transport items to and from the storage facility. This isn’t necessary with portable storage companies like Big Box Storage, which deliver the unit to you. If you need a truck, consider the costs and reserve it in advance to avoid last-minute issues.

Maximizing Space – Load larger, heavier items into the storage unit first. Beds, sofas, tables, and nightstands should be among the first items placed inside. This creates a stable base and allows you to stack smaller items on top, maximizing your storage space efficiently.

Avoiding Mildew – Avoid placing any wet or damp items into your storage unit. Be especially cautious on rainy days, as even slight moisture can cause problems. Using plastic bags for items like clothing can attract moisture, mildew, and mold. Instead, use cardboard boxes whenever possible to keep your belongings dry and safe.

What Not to Store – Be careful when loading your storage unit, as every storage company, including those near SDSU, has restrictions on what can and cannot be stored. Typically, prohibited items include perishables, toxic materials, paint, flammables, guns, and ammunition. Always check the specific guidelines of your storage provider to avoid any issues.

So SDSU students, do your homework (no pun intended) when deciding upon a storage provider. As mentioned, on behalf of the entire staff at Big Box Storage, we’d certainly welcome the opportunity to assist with any storage needs that may come along for you.

Big Box Storage provides SDSU students with a practical and affordable storage solution. With direct delivery, secure facilities, competitive pricing, and student discounts, it’s an excellent choice for managing belongings during breaks or extended absences from campus. Give us a call at (619) 353-5995 to order your Big Box today!

Portable storage is a natural complement to the moving process, especially for families and homeowners with a large collection of household goods. The best part? Portable storage is helpful each step of the way, taking you from selling your home to moving to your next abode. Let’s take a look at the important roles portable storage plays in the selling process.

Storage for renovations

Many homeowners know in advance that they want to sell their home, whether they’re upgrading to a larger house or choosing to scale down, which gives them time to get things in order. Perhaps it’s painting the household interior, or maybe refinishing kitchen cabinets; whatever the project, you likely want items out of the work area. With a variety of size options, portable storage containers provide an excellent on-site storage option for household renovations, clearing workspaces and protecting furniture.

Declutter

Once you know you’re going to be selling, it’s time to tackle the years of accumulation. Almost everyone can take a look around their home and find things that are no longer useful or being used. Preparing your home for listing means cutting out the clutter in your home. Of course, not everything is going to be tossed, sold or donated, which is why portable storage is a lifesaver.

Portable storage containers are one of the best moving hacks out there. Carefully pack the items in your “save” piles and get them out of the way, creating a neat and tidy look to your home and getting a jump start on packing for your pending move. Keep your storage container on-site and pack it as you go through your entire home, pulling and packing items that aren’t necessities before your move. When closing comes around, you’ve already gotten a good portion of your household goods packed, organized and stored. And when it’s time, you can move your container to a storage facility while your home is on the market.

Staging

Homebuyers want to be able to envision themselves in your home as they take a tour, which can be difficult if it’s packed with furniture and personal nicknacks. Use portable storage to create a minimalist look to your home, as well as to create a spacious feel. Pull unnecessary furniture items and pack up all of your personal photos, storing them until your move. Create a blank canvas for prospective buyers and you’ll be rewarded with a speedy home sale.

Organize spaces

If you have a garage that’s a jumble of tools, toys, and, well, a miscellany of things, portable storage is a lifesaver. That overstuffed closet you’ve put off organizing for too long, or your basement that’s a maze of stored boxes, holiday decorations and keepsakes.

Take the time to go through these cluttered areas, discard what you no longer need, and pack up what you want to keep. Once you’ve organized and packed these areas, go ahead and move the boxes into a portable storage pod, leaving nice, clear and uncluttered spaces behind.

The advance prep you’ve done helps destress moving day, as you’ve already cleared the toughest areas of clutter, sorted through years of accumulation, and packed what’s going with you to your next home. Prospective buyers will marvel at the amount of storage space they’ll have in your home and you’ll have gotten a head start on the moving process.

Moving with ease

Portable storage containers cut out unnecessary steps in the moving process. You can pack and store containers at your home or have them moved to a storage facility while your home is on the market.

When it’s time to move, you can pack and order additional containers for the remainder of your household goods and have those containers sent — along with the ones in storage — to your new home. This is especially helpful if there’s a period of time between selling your home and closing on your new home. No need to keep packing and unpacking moving trucks — everything stays put in your portable storage containers until it’s time to unpack and settle into your new home.

Think back to your last big purchase.

Chances are you took some time to research the available options and locations where you could buy from. You more than likely read reviews and painstakingly combed through different listings until you found just the *right* one. Maybe from there, you have asked some friends, family or neighbors to get their take on which direction to move forward. All these things are natural steps one might take to get the biggest discount or the best deal possible or maybe just the satisfaction of money well spent.

It’s simple really when you break it down. An informed consumer makes better buying decisions and has more confidence in their decisions than their uninformed counterparts.

Now, you might not think of all those steps when researching a storage company, and you may be tempted to “go with what you know”, but hopefully by the end of this blog post, we will successfully broaden your horizons and show you a better way to do storage. The scope of this installation of insightful knowledge will be focused on storage container rental rates.

In San Diego alone, a simple google search will result in over 200 facilities all throughout the county. These options will range from traditional storage facilities that offer various sized rooms in a building, portable storage companies that have units delivered directly to your address, or even wine, RV, and boat storages. Equally as expansive are the storage container rental rates for the aforementioned services.

So let’s break down the storage container rental rates that might be available to you in San Diego.

When looking at traditional storage facilities you’ll find names such as Extra Space Storage, UHaul Storage, Public Storage, Price Self Storage, Cube Smart Self Storage, and A1 Self Storage, just to name a few. Units at these facilities are all of the traditional variety where they are typically located within a building or warehouse facility with either a manned or unmanned security post, and sometimes have a digital keypad for after-hours entry. These facilities are commonly known for 24-hour access availability, and their units are located either outside or inside with some of them accessible only by elevator or stairs. Keep in mind, storage container rental rates at these facilities are on a sliding scale where more amenities are in direct correlation with more money. For instance, you can find a storage unit in a traditional facility in Chula Vista for about $40, but that unit will more than likely be on the 2nd floor of the building farthest away from the stairs. Envision the trek from your vehicle, up the stairs to your storage unit (after you’ve already loaded up a rental moving truck), then unload the items with a sweaty furrowed brow and an achy breaky back that reminds you of Billy Ray Cyrus. For most, that visual imagery is enough to seek an alternative. At that same facility, one might find the exact same sized unit located on the bottom floor with direct vehicle access for as much as $80. Or for the exact same dimensions, one could find a unit in downtown San Diego that could go for as much as $95 per month. And those rates are not locked in; each month you are there you run the risk of the facility increasing the rate of your unit until you simply can not afford to stay there as long as you might have hoped. Some facilities offer a truck that you can use for free to move in, but read the fine print! When it comes time to take your items out you will need to find your own way. You might think that those prices are the final price that you would pay at a traditional facility, but to that, we must let you down (gently we hope). You have not stopped to think about all the other extras that can add up! Did you forget about that truck rental that you needed to get your items there? How about your time? How much might that be worth to you?

Side note: I had a friend once that picked me up and drove us to a Padres game downtown. We looked around for parking for just a very brief moment, then he gave up and went to the first valet lot he could find. I told him that I did not mind driving around to try and find street parking.

I’ve never forgotten his response. He asked how much I get paid an hour. A question that I certainly was not expecting him to ask. He went on to explain that we could drive around and look for parking that may be many blocks away, then have to walk to the ballpark, but all that was not worth an hour of his pay to him. He would much rather pay a little extra to save his TIME and have the added perk of being close to the ballpark and more TIME to be with friends. Moral of the story: Never forget the value of your time. I digress…

If your head is spinning from all the options and caveats you certainly are not alone.

For years, consumers craved an easier option. A cheaper option. Enter: Big Box Storage.

Big Box Storage is a portable storage company serving all of San Diego county that offers transportation and delivery of your own unit right to your home or business for onsite loading, then once you are down, we will come back and pick up the container for storage in our indoor warehouse located in central San Diego.

Our rental rates have now changed much in the 17 years (as of the publish date of this blog). If you plan to just use of services on a month to month basis, our rate is $89 per month per Big Box. If you plan to stick around for at least 12 months, our rental rate drops down to $79 per month per Big Box. Currently, we have a great promotion running where if you commit to at least 3 months of storage with Big Box, we will waive your initial delivery and pickup fee within San Diego. That is a $99 savings and covers the delivery and the return back to you once you are done with your storage units.

Here is the best part: Big Box Storage is guaranteed to be the lowest priced option for portable storage services in San Diego. You read that right. GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE. No need to call around to every company in San Diego and get the runaround. We’ve done the leg work for you and we put our money where our mouth is. If you can find a portable storage company with posted rates lower than ours, we will match and beat their rate by at least 10%!

The savings do not stop there! With Big Box Storage there will be no need to rent a moving truck, which saves money. Were you going to ask Kyle with the Ford F-150 to use his truck instead? Oh, you were going to offer him beer and pizza for his help. WRONG! Pro Tip: No one likes to help you move your stuff! Sure they’ll do it ‘cuz they love you, but in the back of their mind they’re thinking, “This sucks! This sucks! This sucks!” all the way down your staircase with you elliptical that you HAD to put on the 2nd floor. Also, think of how many times you actually have to move your stuff when loading a truck. You’ve got to pick it up from your house, load it into the truck, rearrange it in there to make it all fit. Then you will need to drive it to where it is going and do everything in reverse! Unload the truck, arrange it within your unit, and then STILL have to return the truck once you are down. Let me tell you. That is for the birds!

By simply using Big Box Storage, you will save time by loading your unit just once at your home address, and we will come back and pick it up for secure storage. No hassle with driving your items to the storage unit which also saves gas too! Not to mention, you’ll save your back AND your friendships too.

So let’s wrap it up. No matter what you are looking to store; whether it is Christmas presents, Halloween Decorations, Beach supplies, clothes that maybe one day you might be able to fit back into but you certainly do not want to throw away because maybe that jean jacket will come back into fashion, storage in San Diego can be expensive, but when you choose Big Box Storage you can rest assured that you have received the best rate for portable storage in all of San Diego (guaranteed). You will also sleep easy knowing there is not a single other option for storage that gets any easier. You will save time, money, stress, and friendships (and maybe a few less gray hairs).