By Brandon Bermudez · Published
A storage unit changes the route, the inventory, and the loading order. It does not have to make the move confusing. The key is to treat the unit as a real location in the plan, not a quick detour added after the crew arrives.
Is the storage unit the origin, destination, or an extra stop?
Start by naming the unit’s role. Each version creates a different loading plan.
| Storage-unit role | What the crew needs to know | Best loading approach |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Exact facility, unit, access route, and full inventory coming out | Group boxes and furniture by room or final destination before loading the truck |
| Destination | What belongs in storage and what must stay accessible | Load storage-bound items together, then place long-term items behind short-term items in the unit |
| Extra stop | What leaves the home for storage and what continues to the new address | Separate and label both groups before the first item reaches the truck |
The third version is where mistakes happen. A box meant for the new kitchen can disappear behind furniture in the storage unit, or an item meant for storage can reach the new house and need a second trip. Use a simple label such as NEW HOME or STORAGE, and put it on more than one side of every box.
What belongs in the written estimate?
For an intrastate move in Georgia, the current Georgia Department of Public Safety Maximum Rate Tariff No. 7 includes origin, destination, extra-stop, crew, vehicle, estimated-hours, and hourly-rate fields in the state’s prescribed estimate form. It also warns that additional items or services outside the proposal can result in additional costs. A storage unit should be part of the written scope from the start.
A storage-unit move should put the following scope in writing:
- Every pickup and delivery address, including the storage facility.
- Which items move at each stop.
- Whether the unit is ground level, drive-up, inside a building, or reached by elevator.
- Gate hours, loading-area rules, access codes, and any facility appointment window.
- Heavy, fragile, or unusually large items that change the equipment or crew plan.
Premiere Movers prices local work hourly, with a two hour weekday minimum and a three hour weekend minimum. Georgia’s tariff also permits a separate charge for each additional pickup or delivery stop. Ask whether that line item applies and make sure it appears in the written estimate if it does. The working time still depends on access and handling. A drive-up unit beside the truck is different from an interior unit at the end of a hallway, so we account for the actual route when preparing the estimate.
What should you confirm with the storage facility?
Call the facility before move day and confirm details that a map cannot show:
- The full street address, building, floor, unit number, and best truck entrance.
- The gate code or temporary access process for the moving crew.
- Gate and office hours for the entire scheduled window.
- Whether a large moving truck can reach the loading area and turn around safely.
- Whether carts, elevators, or loading docks require a reservation.
- Whether the facility requires proof of insurance or limits who may enter the unit.
- Which items the lease prohibits and whether the unit must be left empty and swept after move-out.
Keep the lock and key with you. If the unit uses an app or electronic access, test it before the crew arrives and have a facility contact available in case it fails.
How should a storage unit be packed for the next move?
Load for the day you will empty the unit, not only for the day you fill it. Put the items you will need first near the door. Place furniture and boxes that can wait behind them. Keep labels visible from the aisle, and avoid building a solid wall that hides everything at the back.
Before the crew arrives, make a basic inventory. It can be a phone note with categories rather than a line-by-line catalog. The goal is to know what entered the unit, what should leave, and which room receives it next.
The Georgia Movers Association recommends understanding loss and damage protection before the move begins. Ask how the mover’s valuation option applies during transport, and read the storage facility’s own agreement separately. A mover’s responsibility while handling your shipment and a storage operator’s responsibility while it sits in the unit are not the same contract.
When does climate control matter?
Climate control is a storage decision, not a label that makes every item safe. Ask the facility what it controls and what range it maintains. Then match the space to the belongings and the length of storage.
The University of Georgia Extension warns that humid storage can promote mold and mildew in heirloom textiles and recommends a cool, ventilated environment away from light. That does not set one rule for every household item, but it is a useful warning for quilts, inherited clothing, and other sensitive fabrics. Follow manufacturer or conservation guidance for electronics, photographs, art, wood furniture, and anything difficult to replace.
Do not put medicine, keys, essential documents, jewelry, or immediate move-in supplies deep in a storage unit. Keep those with you. Hazardous materials such as gasoline, propane tanks, paint, solvents, aerosols, and ammunition cannot go on the moving truck and may also violate the facility agreement.
What should you send before asking for a quote?
Send the home address, storage-facility address, unit size, access details, and a clear inventory of what moves at each stop. Photos of the unit entrance, hallway, elevator, and current contents help the estimator see long carries and tight access before the date.
Premiere Movers is based in Peachtree City and handles local moves throughout Fayette County. If your move starts, ends, or pauses at a storage unit, request a written estimate with every stop and access detail included.