When you need extra space, two common options are traditional self storage and mobile storage.
Both give you somewhere to keep furniture, boxes, and other belongings, but they work quite differently.
With traditional self storage, you take your belongings to a storage facility. With mobile storage, the storage unit comes directly to you.
So, which option is right for you?
What Is Traditional Self Storage?
Traditional self storage involves renting a storage unit at a fixed facility.
You pack your belongings at home, load them into your car, trailer or hired truck, drive them to the storage facility and unload everything into your unit.
When you need your belongings again, you repeat the process in reverse.
Traditional self storage can be useful if you need frequent access to your belongings and are happy to organise your own transport.
What Is Mobile Storage?
Mobile storage brings the storage unit directly to your home or business.
Your gobox is delivered to your property, allowing you to load your belongings at your own pace.
Once packed, you can either keep your gobox onsite or have it collected and stored offsite until you need it again.
If you want to understand the process in more detail, see How Does Mobile Storage Work?.
The Biggest Difference: Storage Comes to You
The main difference between mobile and traditional self storage is how your belongings get into storage.
With traditional self storage:
Pack → Load vehicle → Drive to storage → Unload
With mobile storage:
gobox delivered → Pack
This can reduce double handling and means you don't necessarily need to hire a truck or make repeated trips to a storage facility.
Our article on Moving House: Why a Mobile Storage Unit Beats Hiring a Truck looks at this difference in more detail when moving house.
Packing at Your Own Pace
Traditional storage often means organising a vehicle and trying to move as much as possible within a limited timeframe.
With a storage pod, the container is delivered to your property so you can pack at your own pace.
This can be particularly useful when you're:
- Moving house
- Renovating
- Decluttering
- Downsizing
- Preparing a home for sale
- Clearing furniture from your home
You can start with items you don't regularly use and gradually work through the rest.
Mobile Storage for Moving House
Moving house is one of the situations where mobile storage can make a big difference.
If your settlement dates don't line up, your belongings can stay packed inside the same container while they're stored.
Instead of unloading everything into a traditional storage unit and loading it again when your new home is ready, your gobox can simply be delivered to the new property.
For more on your different moving options, see Moving Pods vs Removalists vs Truck Hire.
Mobile Storage During a Renovation
Renovating often means clearing furniture and belongings from the areas where builders and trades are working.
With renovation storage, your container can be delivered before work begins so you have time to clear the space.
You can keep your gobox onsite if you want convenient access or have it collected and stored offsite while the renovation is underway.
Mobile Storage for Decluttering
If your garage, spare room or cupboards are overflowing, decluttering storage can give you somewhere to temporarily keep belongings while you reorganise your home.
This can be useful when you aren't ready to permanently get rid of furniture, seasonal items or belongings you still want to keep.
Our older guide to Steps to Take When Decluttering with gobox Storage also has some practical tips for getting started.
What About Furniture Storage?
Large furniture can be particularly difficult to transport to traditional self storage because you may need a trailer, van or truck.
Mobile furniture storage allows you to load larger items directly into the container at your property.
This can be useful when you're renovating, moving, downsizing or simply trying to create more room at home.
Access to Your Belongings
Traditional self storage may be better suited to situations where you need frequent access to individual belongings.
Mobile storage is particularly useful when you don't need regular access and want to avoid transporting everything yourself.
If you do want your gobox nearby and have suitable space at your property, you may also be able to keep the container onsite.
Which Storage Option Is More Convenient?
This depends on what you're storing and why you need storage.
Traditional self storage may suit you if:
- You need frequent access
- You only have a small number of items
- You already have suitable transport
- You don't mind loading and unloading your belongings multiple times
Mobile storage may suit you if:
- You're storing furniture or larger amounts of belongings
- You're moving house
- You're renovating
- You're decluttering or downsizing
- You don't want to hire a truck
- You want to pack gradually
- You want to reduce double handling
How Much Does Storage Cost?
Storage costs depend on the amount of space you need, how long you need it and the type of storage you choose.
When comparing options, don't look only at the advertised weekly or monthly rate.
Also consider:
- Transport
- Truck or trailer hire
- Fuel
- Delivery
- Collection
- Storage capacity
- How many units you need
You can learn more about what affects pricing in our guide to mobile storage costs.
Mobile Storage vs Traditional Self Storage: Which Should You Choose?
There's no single storage option that's right for everyone.
Traditional self storage can work well when you want frequent access to a smaller number of belongings and don't mind transporting them yourself.
Mobile storage can be more convenient when you're storing furniture, moving house, renovating, decluttering or simply want the storage brought directly to you.
If you're still comparing your options, our Complete Guide to Storage in Melbourne covers the different storage solutions available and what to consider before choosing.
Choose Flexible Mobile Storage With gobox
With gobox, your storage container comes directly to you.
We deliver your gobox to your home or business, you pack it at your own pace, and once you're ready you can keep it onsite or have it collected for storage.
It's a simple alternative to repeatedly loading, driving and unloading your belongings at a traditional self storage facility.
Whether you're moving, renovating, decluttering, downsizing or just need more space, gobox gives you a flexible storage solution that works around you.
