Why Homeowners Rent Storage Units During Home Renovations

Scott Garber • April 30, 2025

Home renovations are a great way to add value, comfort and modern features to your home—but they can also be a mess. Whether you’re remodeling a kitchen, updating your flooring or doing a full house makeover the process can get overwhelming when you don’t have space to move around. Renting self storage units can be an affordable price option for homeowners looking to manage their renovation projects efficiently.

 

That’s why many homeowners near Mount Joy (Milton Grove or Fairview St.) and Elizabethtown, PA rent storage units during their home renovations.


Renting a temporary storage space can make your remodel faster, safer, and less stressful.

 

Here’s why it makes sense. 

Renovations Get Messy—Fast 

 Anyone who’s been through a home improvement project knows how quickly things can spiral into chaos. Rooms fill up with tools, dust, paint cans, and construction materials. Furniture gets shoved into corners or draped with plastic, and your once-comfortable living space turns into a maze of obstacles.

 

This is especially true in many homes around Mount Joy, where space can already be limited. Basements and garages are often packed with seasonal items, tools, or overflow storage, leaving little to no room to shift things around during a renovation. Trying to squeeze furniture or valuables into other areas of the house just creates more clutter, blocks walkways, and increases the risk of damage.

 

That’s where renting a self-storage unit becomes a smart move. It provides the extra breathing room you need to protect your belongings, maintain access to your home, and keep your project moving forward without turning your entire house upside down. A little extra space can go a long way toward a more organized and less stressful renovation.

Why Rent a Storage Unit During Renovation 

Using a storage unit is more than just convenient—it’s smart. Short term storage options are ideal for managing belongings during the temporary period of home renovations. Most homeowners rent storage space to protect their items, clear needed space, to reorganize, and perhaps reassess what items they need versus don't need.

Protect Your Stuff

Whether you’re painting, tearing down walls or just rearranging your space, dust and debris seems to get everywhere. Add in power tools, ladders and busy contractors and your belongings can get damaged, lost or covered in grime.


That’s where a storage unit from Garber Self Storage comes in. By moving your furniture, electronics, keepsakes and other valuable items off-site you protect them from accidental damage, moisture, and dust accumulation. Plus you free up space to work more efficiently during your renovation.


Garber’s clean, well-maintained storage units offer a safe environment with gated access, video surveillance and flexible sizes—so you can store a few boxes or an entire room’s worth of furniture with confidence. Need to grab something mid-renovation? Just pop by your unit 24x7 or 6am-9pm depending on your storage location. No stress and no mess!

Clear the Space

One of the biggest ways to speed up your renovation (and potentially save money) is by giving your contractors room to work. Crowded spaces slow things down—navigating around bulky furniture, stacked boxes, or delicate items not only increases the risk of damage, but it also adds time to the job.


By moving furniture, décor, and other belongings into a self storage unit at Garber Self Storage, you’re creating a wide-open work zone where contractors can move freely, set up equipment, and stay focused on the task at hand. This can lead to faster project completion, reduced labor costs, a safer working area, and fewer headaches for everyone involved.


Whether you're renovating a kitchen, upgrading your floors, or remodeling a bathroom, clearing the space beforehand helps the entire process run smoother from start to finish.

Less Stress

Let’s be real—living through a renovation is no easy feat. The noise, dust and constant disruption can be super stressful and frustrating. And when your home is filled with displaced furniture and overflowing boxes it’s just more mental clutter.


Renting a storage unit gives you the breathing room you need. With extra space to stash non-essentials your home becomes more functional and less overwhelming even during construction. You’ll be able to relax, focus and maintain your daily routines without tripping over piles of stuff. Especially if you work from home or work remotely frequently, it's best to limit the chaos and disruption.


Plus if a family member, partner, or spouse is helping manage the renovation process having an uncluttered space makes their job so much easier. Whether it’s coordinating with contractors or setting up temporary living areas that extra elbow room can go a long way in keeping everyone calm, collected and on the same page.

Flexibility

Garber Self Storage has 24/7 access as well as 6am-9pm access options depending on each location so you’re never locked out of your own stuff. Whether you need to grab something late at night, drop something off early in the morning or make multiple trips in a day you can do it all on your schedule – not someone else’s. This flexibility is especially helpful when plans change or unexpected things come up. Maybe the flooring gets pushed back a week or your contractor needs access to a room you thought was off limits. Having your stuff stored, but always accessible, gives you the freedom to adjust without added stress.

Types of Storage Options

When it comes to storing furniture and appliances during home renovations, there are several storage options to consider. Portable storage containers are a popular choice, offering a convenient and flexible solution for storing belongings on-site or at a secure storage facility but it can come at a higher cost. Self-storage units, on the other hand, provide a cost-effective and secure way to store items, with various unit sizes available to suit different needs. You will need to transport your items by yourself or with some help, but it's the most affordable option.

Drive-Up Access

Heavy lifting furniture is often part of the renovation process and the last thing you want to do is haul big furniture down long hallways or up stairs. A storage unit with drive-up access lets you pull your car right up to the door so you can load and unload much quicker and with less stress.

Short-Term Lease Options

You shouldn’t have to commit to a long-term contract when your project might only last a month or two. Look for a facility—like Garber Self Storage—that offers month-to-month leasing. You only pay for the time you need.

Top-Notch Security

Peace of mind is priceless. Choose a storage facility that has strong security features like gated access, surveillance cameras, well lit premises and individual unit locks to keep your stuff safe 24/7.


Looking for a facility with these? Check out our Mount Joy storage here.

Cost Considerations

Cost is one of the most important factors when choosing the right storage solution during a home renovation. Fortunately, there are options to fit nearly every budget. Both self-storage units and portable storage containers offer competitive pricing, but the total cost can vary based on several factors—like unit size, location, and how long you’ll need it.


If you’re storing valuable or temperature-sensitive items, it may be worth investing a little more in a climate-controlled unit. While these units typically cost more than standard storage, they help prevent damage caused by extreme temperatures. A portable storage container that sits in your driveway or on your property isn't going to have this. You should check with your HOA bylaws if applicable as well on whether or not they allow portable storage to stay on your property - and if so, for how long. HOA's often fine homeowners for extended use.

How to Rent a Storage Unit in Mount Joy

Renting a storage unit during your home renovation doesn’t have to be hard. In fact it’s one of the easiest part of the whole process! Here’s a quick guide to get you started with Garber Self Storage:

1. Choose Your Size

Most people find a 10x10 or 10x15 unit is perfect for storing furniture, boxes and everyday items during a renovation. Not sure what size you need? The team at Garber Self Storage can help you decide based on what you’re storing.

2. Reserve Online or Call

Once you know what size you need go online or call to reserve your unit. You can select your move-in date, secure your space and handle the details in just a few minutes.

3. Pack Smart

Organize your items before you move them into the unit. Use furniture covers to protect against dust, label all boxes clearly and place frequently used items near the front so they’re easy to grab when you need them.

4. Move In

With ground level units and wide driveways moving your items into your unit is quick and easy. Once everything is stored you’ll have a cleaner, safer and more productive renovation space at home.

Make Your Renovation Easier with Local Storage

Don’t let your project get out of control. Renting a storage unit in Mount Joy or Elizabethtown, PA is a smart, easy way to protect your belongings, stay organized and stress free during the remodel. With extra space and flexibility your home is safer, cleaner and easier to navigate – so the project gets done on time and headache free. The best part? Your furniture won't get messy or damaged because it's not in the way.


Storage isn’t just for remodels either. It’s a great solution when moving into a new home. Whether you’re in between homes or just need a place to store stuff during the transition a self storage unit is a clean, secure space for your belongings.


At Garber Self Storage we make it easy to store with confidence. From flexible leases to drive up units and 24/7 access we’re here for your next big project – whatever that may be.


👉 Ready to reserve your unit?  Contact Garber Self Storage today to check availability!