Moving house usually means packing, moving and unpacking everything within a relatively short window. But when settlement dates don't line up, your new home isn't ready, or you simply want more time to pack, a moving storage container can make the process much easier to manage.
Instead of transporting your belongings back and forth to a traditional storage facility, a portable storage container can be delivered directly to your property. You pack it at your place, it is collected when you're ready, and it can then be stored securely or transported as part of your move.
gobox provides moving house storage in Melbourne and Adelaide, giving you a flexible way to pack, store and move your belongings without having to do everything on moving day.
What Is a Moving Storage Container?
A moving storage container is a portable storage unit that is delivered directly to your home.
Unlike traditional self-storage, where you generally need to load your belongings into a car, trailer or removalist truck and transport them to a storage facility, portable storage brings the storage space to you.
You can load furniture, boxes and other household belongings directly into the container at your property. Once packed, the container can be collected and stored at a secure storage facility until you need it again.
When you're ready, your gobox can be redelivered, reducing the handling involved in moving and storing your belongings.
This makes portable storage particularly useful when you're moving house and need storage between properties.
How Does Portable Storage Work When Moving House?
The gobox process is designed to keep moving and storage straightforward.
1. Your Storage Container Is Delivered
Your gobox is delivered to your property so you can load your belongings where they are.
There's no need to transport everything to a storage facility before you start packing.
2. You Pack Your gobox
You load your furniture, boxes and household belongings into the container.
Having the container at your property means you can organise your packing more efficiently and avoid loading everything into a vehicle simply to unload it again at a storage facility.
3. We Collect Your gobox
Once you've finished packing, gobox collects the container from your property.
Depending on your moving plans, GOBOX can then store or transport your container to the next stage of your move.
4. Your Belongings Can Be Stored
If there is a gap between leaving your existing property and moving into the next one, your gobox can be kept in secure warehouse storage until you're ready for it.
This can be particularly useful when settlement dates don't align or you're staying in temporary accommodation.
5. Your gobox Is Redelivered
When you're ready for your belongings again, your gobox can be redelivered so you can unpack at your new property.
The result is a simple process:
We deliver → You pack → We collect → We store or move → We redeliver.
For more information about using gobox for your move, explore our Moving House Storage service.
When Should You Have the Container Delivered?
You don't necessarily have to wait until moving day to start using your storage container.
One of the advantages of portable storage is being able to begin packing before the final move.
Depending on your circumstances, you might arrange delivery when you are:
- Preparing your property for sale
- Decluttering before inspections
- Starting to pack non-essential belongings
- Getting ready for settlement
- Moving out before another property is available
- Downsizing
- Preparing for an interstate move
Having storage available earlier can allow you to move less frequently used belongings out first while keeping everyday essentials in the house until closer to moving day.
How early you should arrange your gobox depends on your move, availability, and how much time you want for packing.
Can You Pack Before Moving Day?
Yes. In fact, this is one of the main reasons people choose portable storage when moving house.
Rather than trying to pack an entire home immediately before the move, you can start with belongings you won't need in the coming weeks.
This might include:
- Books
- Decorations
- Spare bedroom furniture
- Seasonal clothing
- Garage items
- Outdoor equipment
- Extra kitchenware
- Children's items that aren't currently being used
- Furniture being removed while preparing a property for sale
Packing gradually can also make it easier to sort through your belongings rather than making rushed decisions on moving day.
Once the container is packed, gobox can collect it and store it until you're ready.
Not sure what to pack first? Our moving house packing checklist can help you organise your belongings in stages, while our guide to what to store during a move explains which items can be packed away early and which belongings you may want to keep accessible.
What Happens If Your New Home Isn't Ready?
This is where moving storage can be particularly useful.
Property moves don't always happen in a perfect sequence.
You may need to leave your existing home before you can access your new property because of:
- Different settlement dates
- Construction delays
- Renovations
- A new home that isn't finished
- An interstate move
- Temporary accommodation
- Delays getting access to the property
Instead of moving your furniture into temporary accommodation or arranging separate short-term storage, you can keep your belongings packed in your gobox while the container is stored.
When your new property is ready, the container can be redelivered.
This can reduce unnecessary handling because your belongings don't need to be repeatedly loaded and unloaded between a moving truck, temporary location and storage facility.
If your moving date has been affected by a property settlement issue, read our guide to storage during settlement delays for practical ways to manage the period between leaving one home and getting access to the next.
Can the Container Be Taken Straight to Your New House?
Depending on your location and moving arrangements, your gobox may be transported as part of your move and delivered to your new property.
This makes portable storage useful even when you don't require a long period of storage.
For example, you might pack your gobox at your current home, have it collected and then arrange delivery to your new property when you're ready to unpack.
If there is a delay between properties, the container can instead be stored until the new home is available.
For moves between Melbourne and Adelaide, gobox also provides interstate moving and storage options.
If you're still deciding how to handle the move itself, compare moving pods vs removalists vs truck hire to see how portable storage compares with other common moving options.
What Can You Put in a Moving Storage Container?
Moving storage containers can hold many common household items.
Depending on the amount of space available, this might include:
- Sofas and lounge furniture
- Beds and mattresses
- Dining tables and chairs
- Cabinets and shelving
- Boxes
- Clothing
- Household appliances
- Office furniture
- Garage contents
- Outdoor furniture
- Sporting equipment
- General household belongings
How much you can fit will depend on the size and quantity of your belongings and how efficiently the container is packed.
If you're unsure how much storage you need, compare the available gobox storage container sizes before booking.
Some items should not be stored in a portable storage container, including dangerous, illegal, or perishable goods. Check the storage requirements before packing if you're unsure whether an item can be stored.
How Long Can Your Belongings Stay in Storage?
The amount of time you need storage can vary significantly when moving house.
Some people only need storage for a short gap between settlement dates. Others may need storage for longer while they build, renovate, travel or find their next property.
Portable storage gives you the flexibility to separate the moving date from the date you actually need your belongings again.
That can be particularly helpful when the timing of your move is uncertain.
Rather than trying to coordinate packing, settlement, transport and unpacking on the same day, your belongings can remain stored until your new home is ready.
Moving Storage Container vs Traditional Self Storage
Both options can be useful, but the way your belongings get into storage is different.
With traditional self storage, you generally need to transport your belongings to and from the storage facility. That may mean hiring a trailer, van or removalist and loading your belongings multiple times.
With portable storage, the container comes to your property.
You pack it there, gobox collects it, and the same container can be stored until you're ready for redelivery.
Traditional self storage may be better suited to people who want to regularly visit their unit and access individual belongings. Portable moving storage can be particularly convenient when you're packing most or all of your belongings and don't expect to need regular access before moving into your next home.
If you're weighing up both options, our guide to mobile storage vs traditional self storage takes a closer look at how the two approaches compare when it comes to transport, access and convenience.
How Much Does Moving House Storage Cost?
The cost of moving storage depends on factors such as:
- The size of container you require
- How many containers you need
- How long you need storage
- Delivery and collection requirements
- Where the container needs to be transported
- Whether your move involves storage between properties
For a better idea of what your move may cost, view our Mobile Storage Costs or request a gobox quote based on your moving requirements.
Make Moving House Easier With gobox
Whether you're moving directly into your next property or need somewhere to keep your belongings between homes, portable storage gives you more flexibility over when you pack, move and unpack.
gobox can deliver the storage container to your property, collect it when you're finished packing, securely store it and redeliver it when you're ready.
Explore Moving House Storage, compare gobox Sizes, or view Mobile Storage Costs to start planning your move.
