Preparing for military deployment? Regardless of which branch you serve, you’ll have to decide what to do with your things while you’re away from home. Whether it’s a short-term or long-term deployment, here are some ideas for where you can sell, donate, or store your belongings!
Sell Items You Don’t Want to Keep
As you’re geting ready for deployment, one option is to sell your belongings. Minimizing the number of items you own can make your next military move easier and can also help you get organized once you’re home.
Decide What Items to Sell
The first thing you should do when selling your things is to go through all of your stuff and decide what can actually be sold. Try to choose items that are gently used and still in fairly good condition to improve your chances of finding a buyer. Consider organizing your things by categories like clothing, furniture, and electronics to get a good idea of what you have and what you would consider parting with.
List Your Items Online
Whether you’re selling furniture or clothing, there are a number of places where you can list items for sale online. Consider using Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to get rid of items quickly in your local area. Or if you have more time and don’t mind shipping items to buyers, try popular reselling websites like eBay, Poshmark, and OfferUp.
Organize a Garage Sale
If you have the time to plan a garage sale, this can be another way to get rid of your items. Keep in mind that you may not find buyers for everything you’re hoping to sell, but it can be a good way to clear out most of your things. Plus, if there’s anyone you know also looking to sell some items, you can team up and organize a garage sale together so you don’t have to do all the planning on your own!
Donate Gently Used Items
If you have gently used clothes, furniture, or electronics you can’t sell, donating them is a quick way to declutter. There are many different places that accept donations and give your stuff a new home!
Find a Local Charity
Charities are a great option for donating, and they tend to accept a variety of gently used items. Check out local chapters of national nonprofits like Goodwill or The Salvation Army, as well as local missions and shelters. Just be sure to look up the organization’s donation policy ahead of time to see what type of items they accept. Some places may have designated drop-off times as well.
Look for Places to Donate Furniture
If you have furniture that you don’t need anymore, give it a new home! Since these items tend to be larger, you may need to schedule a pickup time for an organization to take away your furniture. Organizations like Habitat ReStore will take items off your hands so you don’t have to spend time loading your furniture and delivering it!
Give Electronics a New Home
Have old cellphones, computers, or other electronics you’re looking to get rid of? Consider donating them to libraries, schools, and other organizations. After you wipe any data, you can hand them off where their parts will be recycled or restored for a new user. You can also reach out to organizations like Cellphones for Soldiers or Big Brothers Big Sisters to give electronics to those in need.
Move Items You Want to Keep to Storage
Self storage is a perfect long-term storage solution if you know you’ll be deployed for six months or more. Here are a few different features to consider when using military storage!
Stay Secure with Indoor Storage
If you want a more secure self storage option, consider renting an indoor storage unit. Storage facilities with indoor units typically utilize security amenities like controlled entry to help protect customers and their belongings. Also, since these units are indoors, items are often better protected from the elements and pests.
Protect Items in Climate-Controlled Storage
Do you need climate control? If you plan to store temperature-sensitive items like electronics, books, antiques, musical instruments, and more, you might want a climate-controlled storage unit. Storage units with climate control are typically kept between 55 and 80 degrees year-round to help protect delicate belongings.
Keep Your Car Safe with Vehicle Storage
Whether you’re looking for car storage, RV storage, or boat storage, many self storage facilities offer secure vehicle storage solutions that are perfect for storing your vehicle while you’re deployed. You can even find a variety of indoor, covered, and outdoor storage unit sizes for vehicle needs! Check out our Vehicle Storage Unit Size Calculator to help you choose the perfect size.
Use Storage Lockers for Smaller Items
A storage locker is smaller than a typical storage unit, and it can be a good option if you don’t have a lot of things to store. Lockers tend to be more affordable, too! On top of that, it’s much easier to keep your items organized in a locker, meaning you can grab your items and go when you return from deployment.If you need a larger storage space, consider units like 5×5 or 5×10.These options are great if you are looking for a bit more storage that is cost-effective.
Take Advantage of Military Discounts
Many storage facilities offer military discounts, which can help you save money on self storage rentals while you’re deployed. Be sure to check in with storage facilities near you to find where you can receive these excellent military benefits!
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Looking for military storage? Extra Space Storage has secure storage facilities located across the country, with many even offering military discounts. Find available storage units near you!
