Where to put all my stuff while my garage is being built??

[NickCity]

I'm finally pulling the trigger on getting my attached garage built (the old one had carpenter ant damage). Nothing fancy, 21 x 17 with a single 9' door but it's a flat or "sloping roof" because I don't want to get into moving windows & such. I wish I did it LAST year as my estimate went up by about 25% due to mat'l & labor costs going up but the Navy called so overseas I went... Anyway I have lots of tools and things in the garage now and I was told it'd be 1-2 days to demo the old structure and within 1-2 weeks they'd start on the construction and that's be 2 days. The Pods storage is $280 for the one month I'd need it and it'd just sit in my yard the entire time. If they could get the demo & construction days back to back I'd rent a big Uhaul truck and just park in on my property and ta-da, instant storage for $39/day. Any other ideas?

 

[wolflrv]

Depending on how secure your neighborhood is...probably cheapest would be to get a big tent from Walmart and set it up to keep your stuff out of the weather...or rent U-haul for the day and grab a storage room. It's cheaper than the pods, but you'd have to haul it to and from then.

 

[bazzateer]

Spare room in the house?

 

[steel 35]

I would go for the pod, Or a Semi trailer/ Last time I used a U-Haul there was a 7 day Max ? and not trying to bash Contractors but I really doubt thats enought time.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I also would not expect the contractor to be anywhere near as fast as they tell you in the "sales pitch". I'd go with a POD or even a Sea contianer rental (containers are cheaper by a thrid or so from what Ive heard) and just live with it for the month. Rental truck cost could get pretty exspensive if the project goes badly and drags on for a long time.

 

[bczygan]

Construction on a schedule?...........Ha Ha Ha!
If the site is secure, and the weather forecast for no rain, I'd lay a tarp or tarps on the ground, stack everything on them and cover with tarps tied, staked or weighted down. Cheapest way.
Use one wall of the house and roof overhang as protection.
Hide items from view from the street. Out of sight is out of mind. Camouflage by parking vehicles in front. Use brown tarps as they don't show as much as blue. Lean used panels of privacy fencing up against piles and tack fencing together to hide piles. I have two parallel fences on one side of the lot with items stored between. Move items at night so neighbors and passersby don't see activity. Lock things, chain things together. Store things with a neighbor or relative. Rent a storage unit at a storage place. Place staked dog near items for security. Bring high value items inside if possible (My living room has my roller cabinet and service cart until I can clean out the garage). Move and hide stuff before contractors get there as they are possible culprits. Use this as an opportunity to buy the enclosed trailer you always wanted. Put stuff in your car or van. Build a shed before the garage is built and put all the stuff in there that you want to get out of the garage anyway.
All these methods used and proved in Detroit to have nice stuff without anyone knowing or taking it. Methods developed by a hoarder with a house and yard full of stuff like Fred Sanford. All hidden by fences, shrubs, trees, plants, flowers, tarps and parked vehicles. Close neighbors know I got a lot of junk, just not exactly what. Passersby just think the house is abandoned as you can't see it from the street (and I'm on a corner).

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Shipping container. They are fairly theft proof. I had one in a rough area. Never got broken into.

 

[ghnl]

I used a shipping/storage container. It held all my tools and an MG.

 

[ddawg16]

By now you are starting to get the idea that it will take longer than expected....trust me...IT WILL....figure twice as long....

I went through the same thing....I just built a 'lean to' using 2x4's and tarps on the back of the house....what was supposed to only be a few months ended up being 2 years....not only was I using the lean-to...I was also using neighbors garages.....

A little advice.....NOW is the time to clean out....if you have moved something 3 times and still do not have a use for it....sell it or trash it...

Edit....look at the Garage Build link in my sig...in some of the pics you will see my temp storage...