Renovating? Try Moving in Summer…

By someone who assumed moving in the summer would be a breeze.

Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably seen enough moving‑day memes to believe that relocating is just packing a few boxes, renting a truck and cruising across town with the windows down. Right? Wrong. So wrong.

Last June my family and I decided to move from our bungalow near Riley to a bigger place closer to the kids’ school in Terre Haute. We figured summer was perfect: no school runs, long days and plenty of time to settle in before fall. Cut to three days later, and suddenly the living room was filled with kitchen chairs, the garage was stacked with boxes and we couldn’t find the coffee maker. Our kids were eating cereal on the front steps. Even the dog gave up on finding his bed and curled up on a pile of moving blankets.

We needed space — like yesterday — and that’s when we discovered the magic of local self‑storage. A friend down the street mentioned that storage units could be rented by the month, and there was a clean, climate‑controlled facility right off State Road 46. An hour later, our chaos had a new temporary home and we could breathe again.

Why am I writing this?

Because honestly? I wish someone had told me sooner that using a storage unit during a summer move was even an option. We could have saved ourselves a lot of headaches, some minor marital disagreements, and maybe even our sanity. So if you’re knee‑deep in cardboard or about to start packing, let me be the friend who shares this nugget: get yourself a storage unit. Here’s why.

Problem #1: Boxes Take Over the House

Our move started simple enough — “Let’s just pack up the kitchen first.” Three hours later, we were stepping over toy bins and lamp bases like we were in a jungle gym made of IKEA. The couch was pushed into the hallway, the kids’ backpacks were buried under a stack of towels and there was nowhere to sit unless you were cool with balancing on a stack of blankets. For us, the tipping point was when our labradoodle started sleeping in a cardboard box like it was his new dog bed. That’s when it clicked: we didn’t need to shuffle things around — we needed less stuff in the house.

A storage unit gave us a place to stash the nonessentials — the sectional sofa, half our kitchen gear, winter coats and the kids’ bikes. Suddenly we had space to pack boxes without tripping over them and space to relax at the end of the day. We could see the floor again. It was glorious.

Problem #2: When Your Timeline Goes Sideways

If you’ve ever bought or rented a home, you know that dates have a mind of their own. Our buyer’s closing moved up a week; the seller of our new place needed an extra ten days. We had to be out before we could be in. Sound familiar?

Lease agreements usually end on specific dates, but new leases often start later. Home purchase closings can get delayed by inspections, financing or paperwork. Renovations run long. Early move‑outs or late move‑ins aren’t just annoying — they’re common. Every family on our block has a story: the couple who sold their house in Brazil faster than expected and camped with relatives for two weeks, the renter in Riley whose lease ended in July but whose new Terre Haute apartment wasn’t ready until August, the retirees in Sullivan County downsizing and waiting for their townhouse to be finished.

Without somewhere to put your belongings, you’re forced to move twice. You either pay for storage anyway by renting a temporary apartment and hauling your stuff there, or you cram everything into a garage and hope it doesn’t get damaged. A storage unit eliminates the double move. You pack once, store it, and then unload directly into your new home when it’s ready.

Problem #3: Summer Heat & Chaos

Summer sounds ideal on paper. Kids are off school, the sun sets late and you don’t have to worry about snow. In reality, Indiana summers are hot and humid. Loading a truck in 90‑degree weather is exhausting. Afternoon storms pop up and soak everything. Kids get restless and want to do anything but help you pack. Movers and trucks book up months in advance because everyone else had the same brilliant idea you did.

We quickly learned that summer moves require extra planning. Reserving movers early, packing smaller boxes to avoid back strain, and taking breaks in the shade became essential. Having a storage unit meant we could spread the process out over several evenings instead of cramming everything into one blistering weekend.

What We Packed & Stored (So You Can Steal Our List)

If you’re wondering what actually went into storage, here’s a snapshot:

• Our sectional sofa (the one that takes up a whole wall)
• Coffee table, end tables and a pair of floor lamps
• Dining table and six chairs
• The bar cart (RIP happy hour corner)
• Kitchen boxes filled with dishes, small appliances and pantry items
• Two big bookshelves and their books
• Extra flooring we hadn’t installed yet
• A very annoying box labeled “random stuff from drawers” (you know the one)

Everything fit easily in our 10×10 unit, and we still had space left over for the kids’ bikes and extra suitcases.

Why Flexible Storage Saved Our Summer (And Our Sanity)

Alright, shameless plug time — but local storage really was a game changer. Here’s why:

1. It’s Local. The facility we chose was actually in our community. No mega‑corporation vibes, just friendly faces who know the area and make you feel like a human — not a contract. https://rileystorage.com/
2. It Took Minutes to Book. I reserved our unit on my phone in under five minutes. Done and done.
3. Easy Access. We could load stuff after work or grab something throughout the day when we realized the coffee filters were in storage (again).
4. Climate‑Controlled = Peace of Mind. Indiana’s humidity is no joke. We wanted our electronics, books and wooden furniture to survive the summer without warping.
5. Month‑to‑Month Flexibility. We weren’t locked into a long contract. We kept the unit for a few weeks while closing dates shifted and then closed it out when we were settled.
6. One Move, Not Two. By staging everything in storage, we avoided hauling furniture into a temporary place and then moving it again. No double moving expenses, no extra risk of scratches or dents.

Tips I Wish I Knew Before Moving

Let me save you some trial and error:

• Label everything. You think you’ll remember what’s in those boxes. You won’t.
• Leave walkways. Don’t cram stuff to the ceiling in your storage unit. Future you will thank you when you need to grab “just one thing.”
• Use furniture blankets. Even though our unit was spotless, we covered stuff just in case. Worth it.
• Stack smart. Heavier stuff on the bottom. Obvious, but you’ll forget in the rush.
• Take a picture of the inside. Trust me, it’s easier than writing a list.
• Pack a survival box. Keep a box with coffee supplies, paper plates, toilet paper and a few toys. Carry it with you so you’re not unpacking the entire kitchen to find forks.

Would We Do It Again?

100%. Actually, we plan to. We’re talking about redoing the bathroom next spring (God help us), and the first thing on my checklist isn’t choosing tile — it’s reserving a storage unit again. The small monthly fee we paid for space was worth every penny for the peace of mind and breathing room.

Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’re moving your family this summer — especially if you’re in Riley, Terre Haute, Brazil or Sullivan — do yourself a favor and rent a storage unit. It takes minutes to set up, makes your home livable during the chaos and gives your belongings a safe place to ride out the transition. I used to think self‑storage was something people used only when downsizing. Turns out, it’s one of the most underrated moving hacks out there.

So if you’re mid‑packing and drowning in boxes and frustration? Consider a storage unit. Your future self (and your family) will thank you.