Moving dates do not always line up neatly. You may have to leave one property before the next is ready, a completion date may change, or you may want to deliver only part of your furniture to your new home at first.
In these situations, short-term storage allows your removal to continue without forcing a rushed decision. Wilkins can collect your belongings as part of your move, take them into storage at our Reading facility and arrange redelivery when you are ready.
Because the removal and storage are planned together, you have one experienced team and one point of contact throughout.
When can short-term storage help during a move?
We regularly help customers whose plans have changed or whose move needs to happen in stages. Short-term storage can be useful when:
- your sale completes before your onward purchase;
- there is a delay in the property chain or the release of keys;
- you are moving into rented or temporary accommodation;
- your new home is still being renovated or decorated;
- you are downsizing and need time to decide what will fit;
- some belongings need to be delivered now and others later; or
- you want to clear space before property photography and viewings.
You do not need to solve every part of the move before speaking to us. A Wilkins Sales Manager can visit your home or arrange a video survey, talk through the likely dates and help separate what you will need immediately from what can be stored.
How removals and short-term storage work together
1. We assess the move and what needs storing
The process normally begins with a survey. We look at the volume of furniture and boxes, access at the property, any fragile or specialist belongings, packing requirements and what needs to be delivered directly rather than stored.
This means the quotation can be based on the actual move – including the crew, vehicle, packing, storage space and likely redelivery requirements – rather than asking you to estimate the size of a self-storage unit.
2. Your belongings are prepared and collected
On the agreed day, our removals team loads the items going into storage. If required, we can also provide a professional packing service, prepare furniture for transport and give particular attention to fragile or unusual pieces.
Keep passports, medication, keys, chargers, work equipment and anything you may need at short notice with you. It is surprisingly easy to pack an everyday essential when the rest of the house is being cleared.
3. Items are inventoried and placed into container storage
We use portable wooden storage containers within its purpose-built Reading facility. The company helped develop this approach with other removers in the late 1970s. Furniture and effects can be loaded into containers for storage with less repeated handling than the older depository method.
A clear inventory or receipt is produced so the stored consignment can be identified and managed. Customers should check the document when it is received and tell Wilkins promptly if anything appears to be missing or recorded incorrectly.
4. Storage continues until you are ready
There is no need to commit to a long-term arrangement when you only need a temporary solution. If your dates change, speak to our team and the storage can usually continue without disrupting the rest of the move.
If you need something while it is stored, access can normally be arranged by appointment with at least 24 hours’ notice. Let the team know which item you need so they can check the inventory and arrange the most practical access. Retrieval or access may involve an additional handling charge, depending on what is required.
5. We arrange redelivery
Once your new home is ready, our team will help plan redelivery. The current storage terms ask customers to give at least 10 working days’ notice when ending a storage contract, although the team will release goods earlier where they reasonably can and the account is up to date.
If you know your preferred delivery date sooner, tell us. More notice gives the team the best chance to reserve the right vehicle and crew, particularly during busy moving periods.
How are belongings kept secure?
Wilkins’ main Reading site is a purpose-built, four-acre facility with capacity for more than 4,000 storage containers. The company publicly states that its warehouses use 24-hour security systems, controlled access, regular safety checks and alarm systems, alongside fire-prevention measures.
The team handling household removals is trained to British Association of Removers standards and receives refresher training and appraisals. Wilkins is a member of the British Association of Removers and the UK Warehousing Association, and holds HM The King’s Royal Warrant for removals and storage.
What affects the cost of short-term storage?
Storage is quoted around the move rather than using one standard price for every household. The main factors are:
- the volume of furniture, boxes and other belongings;
- how long the items are likely to remain in storage;
- whether Wilkins is packing all or part of the consignment;
- the crew, vehicle and access needed for collection and redelivery;
- fragile, heavy or specialist items requiring extra preparation;
- whether you need access to individual items during storage; and
- any additional collection, part-delivery or redelivery requirements.
A survey is the simplest way to obtain a useful figure. It also helps avoid additional costs caused by extra items or access requirements that were not included when the original quotation was prepared.
What cannot go into storage?
Some belongings should stay with you, while others cannot be accepted for safety, legal or practical reasons. Wilkins’ current excluded-items list includes:
- food and perishable goods;
- liquids and cleaning products, other than alcohol where accepted;
- gas bottles, aerosols, paints, fuels, oils, ammunition and other combustible or explosive items;
- money, jewellery, precious metals, deeds, securities, phones and portable computers;
- goods likely to attract pests or cause contamination;
- items requiring a controlled environment;
- animals, birds, fish, reptiles and plants unless agreed in advance; and
- stolen, prohibited or illegal goods.
This is a practical summary, not the complete contractual list. Read the current Items Excluded for Storage guide and speak to Wilkins before packing anything you are unsure about. If you pack your own boxes, do not seal restricted items inside them.
What about cover for belongings in storage?
Your quotation and current Wilkins terms explain the cover and liability arrangements applying to your booking. Tell the team about valuable, fragile or unusual belongings before work begins and check whether anything requires separate arrangements.
Why use the same company for removals and storage?
The practical benefit is continuity. The same company can assess the move, pack and collect the belongings, produce the inventory, place the consignment into storage and organise its return. There are fewer handovers and less need to explain the move to separate providers.
That flexibility matters when plans change. One Wilkins customer described using the company over more than 30 years, including a temporary move and storage near Goring. Another customer praised the team’s flexibility when furniture needed to go to different places. These are not unusual edge cases – staged moves and changing instructions are part of the work an experienced removals team plans for.
Wilkins has been moving and storing household belongings since 1880. The equipment and facilities have changed considerably over that time, but the aim remains straightforward: careful handling, clear communication and a moving plan that works around the customer.
Professional, cheerful, courteous and patient.
Customer testimonial following a temporary move and storage near Goring
Short-term storage FAQs
Is there a minimum storage period?
Short-term arrangements are available and can normally be extended if your moving dates change. Our team will explain the charging period and release arrangements in your quotation.
Can I store only part of my household?
Yes. Some items can go directly to the new property while selected furniture and boxes go into storage. Agree the split during the survey so everything can be labelled, inventoried and loaded correctly.
Can I access belongings while they are stored?
Yes, by prior arrangement. We ask for at least 24 hours’ notice. Access or retrieval may involve a handling charge, so tell the team which items you need.
How much notice should I give for redelivery?
Give as much notice as possible. The published storage terms ask for at least 10 working days when ending storage, although an earlier release may be possible if the team has availability and the account is up to date.
Can storage be extended if my completion date changes?
Usually, yes. Contact your Wilkins account manager as soon as your plans change. They can update the arrangement and explain any effect on storage or redelivery charges.
Talk to Wilkins about your move and storage dates
If there may be a gap between moving out and moving in, it is worth planning storage before moving day. An arranged a home or video survey will explain the available options and provide a tailored quotation for packing, collection, storage and redelivery.
Contact Wilkins or call 01491 572037 to discuss your move.
