Storing Someone Else’s Property

When you rent a self-storage unit, the primary intention is for you to store your own personal belongings in the space. However, there are situations that arise where you are asked by a friend or relative if you’d be willing to store some of their stuff alongside yours. While you most likely don’t have a problem with this, it’s important to set out some guidelines for how belongings will be handled, how they’ll be stored, and how your friend will compensate you for paying for storage. At EZ Storage® in Detroit, we can help you find the ideal solution for every situation.

Who’s Paying for the Unit?

If you’re the one who is initially paying for the storage unit, you may want to discuss splitting the cost with your friend or family member. You can decide how much of the space each one of you is using, and divide up the cost based on that percentage. For example, if your belongings are taking up 70 percent of the unit and your friend’s stuff the other 30, you can split up the cost that way. It can be easier to pay the monthly rental cost through one checking account or online payment, and have your friend reimburse you for their portion. If you’re unsure about how to best handle your monthly payments, feel free to ask a member of our staff.

Is Your Friend Out of the Country?

When a friend or relative is out of the country on vacation, for work, or while in the military, it may fall to you to store some of their things. You’re more than happy to secure their belongings until they come back, but it’s important to be absolutely sure what they want you to store at your house, in your garage, or in a storage unit. They may have left you funds with which to pay a monthly storage fee, or they may already have a unit that they want you to manage. At EZ, we have no problem working with you as an account manager or emergency contact while you’re taking care of things for your friend or relative.

Did A Relative Recently Pass Away?

There can be a lot to deal with and go through following the death of a relative, and if you’re in charge of managing a loved one’s estate, there could be several physical possessions to decide what to do with. While their possessions don’t technically belong to you (or to their other heirs), you have certain rights as the executor of the estate. You may only need to store things for a few months while legal ownership is established, and we can help you find the ideal space at a reasonable price.

Make an Inventory List

If you’ve been charged with or asked to store someone else’s belongings, one of the most important things you can do is make an inventory list of everything that will be stored in the unit. This can help avoid mix ups when things are taken out of the unit, and it will also make it easier to find things in the space. Your friend or relative may have had to leave suddenly and didn’t have time to inventory everything, and you could be doing them a huge favor by going through each box and writing down what’s inside.

When you’re looking for local self-storage at an affordable rate, come to EZ Storage®. We’re proud to serve the greater Detroit area, and our monthly leases make it easy to store things for as long as you need. If your friend comes back and wants to continue storing things but needs a bigger space, we’ll gladly help him or her find the perfect option.

Call or stop by today to learn more!