Um, not the attic. Way too many temperature extremes and fluctuations. I stored my stuff in temporary climate controlled storage for 13 months and it was fine. One hint, don't store your sofa on end even it is all wrapped nice and tight. (The bones were damaged from the weight.)

Just don't forget about insurance in case something does happen to your stuff while in storage!

Monty, I have the same situation as you, except our big is more like your small one and our small is NYC small, at about 220ish square feet. We do use a storage space and I would caution you to be careful with these places. Water leaks seems to happen on a regular basis and we've had some mold issues. Be sure and choose a facility that's close to your home so you can check up on things regularly.

is that a shot from primer?

I second Virginia's comment about insurance. While its never happened to me, I know someone personally who has had his storage unit robbed twice. Could just be because I'm in Las Vegas though. :-)

Another thing to think about with storage is mildew. I don't know about upholstered furniture, but I had books in storage for a while and they all became mildewy. Also, be wary of "short term" storage, which sometimes can stretch out for years, esp if it's in another city (don't ask me how I know...) The storage places will just keep jacking up the prices and it's hard to make a good threat that you'll move your stuff elsewhere if you live far, far away.

Furniture that is rare, priceless and/or has sentimental value might be a good candidate for storage. But anything that you could replace in a year with an identical or equivalent item, sell. Even if you have to buy it back for a little more than you sold it for, that extra cost will be less than the cost of storing it.

I've always had positive experiences with storage facilities. However, I've never used a unit in what I would call a truly urban setting.

I've always opted for a climate controlled unit. Usually, the door to the actual unit is inside a protected building. The individual units in my space did have chicken wire roofs, though, so the sprinklers could reach inside in case of fire.

In my city, I was able to get one that held everything I owned--except what I had to wear every day--for less than $150 a month. I've never had issues with mold or pests.

I would get insurance, though. About 6 months after I cleared out my unit, Hurricane Katrina made a nice, soggy, twisted pile of the place. I'd say the extra few bucks a month is worth the protection. Just make sure you know what your money will offer you coverage wise.

A shot from 'Primer' -- ha. Missy you just made my day with that.

If you do end up having to get a storage facility in another city, be sure to read the contract well to see what (if any) kind of grace period you have for being late in payments (unless you pay 6 mos or a year at one shot). Mail can and does go astray, and if you have no grace period (or the manager is an unfriendly sort) your prized possessions could be up for sale as 'abandoned'. Happened to an acquaintance. Fortunately, a friend in the same town saw the mandatory sale notice in the newspaper and made some phone calls and was able to get right down there with a cash payment as a 'representative'.

I've packed my belongings in storage 3 times, twice while I temporarily lived outside my area for business (1-1/2 years in Toronto, 1 year in London), and once on short notice when a family member became seriously ill. I wouldn't leave furniture with friends, it really does test a friendship, so it's better to value your friendship and store your belongings. Having said that, I wouldn't choose to store my books again or my upholstered furniture, because I had my things in a 'climate controlled warehouse' that turned out to be anything but. When I opened my storage lockers: mold. I also, once, had an unscrupulous manager who attempted to sell off my belongings when my payment was accidentally posted to another customer's account. So if I had to do it again, I'd bring my precious books and sentimental upholstered pieces with me, store what could be cleaned or refinished if the worst-case scenario happened again, and get rid of the rest. Today, the 'rest', means I'd be getting rid of 85%. Personally, I hope never to choose 'storage' again.

Good luck... and be an informed consumer (ask what they do to protect your belongings from robbery, fire, moisture, rodents).

I guess "C: None of the above: Move in together into new and neutral territory" is not an option?

No, Patrick (the other one), sadly "C" isn't an option for us right now. But I think in two years it will be and for that reason I don't want to sell off my beloved family furniture. Everything else will appear on Craig's List. (I'll be sure to notify.)

Thanks, Maxwell and everyone. This discussion has been really helpful! I'll not ruin my friendships and I'll read the contracts and I'll get insurance and I'll brace myself for mold, flood, fire, rodents, and theft. Oh, and no upholstered furniture in the storage locker and if so, not stored on its end. I'll keep you posted.

Another thing: All your stuff will look like crap when you finally retrieve it, and I don't mean just from mildew or water leaks or whatever. It's just human nature--everything that seems so nice now will just look like somebody else's used furniture when you get it back out a year later. This has happened to me time and again. Obviously there's an exception for items of great sentimental value, but I think you should ditch the rest of it.

When you add up the amount the storage will cost you over (5 years? 3 years?) make sure it is justified or that you could not replace anything you're storing for less at that time. If not, then storage more than pays for itself, especially if the furniture is sentimental..I tossed my Grandfather's ugly, tattered mustard chair because I had no room after my boyfriend moved in, and now I wish I hadn't after we bought a condo. I could have always slipcovered it.
however I took a photo of me in the chair before I had to get rid of it, and I save the photo as a reminder of the item that was my beloved "Papou's".

If things really matter to you, google conservation sites and see if there is anything you need to do to protect them from the ill effects of a year of two in the dark. You don't need to good to extremes but there are simple things that could avoid problems. Think about moths and other bugs if you're storing "soft" goods, which includes leather. For about $25 you can have a rug mothproofed, which lasts about 3 years. And have clothing, etc. cleaned, which reduces the odds of it being eaten. If you store things with mothballs in an air tight container, buy some of those moisture absorbtion packets and put them in the box. Roll rugs with the pile side out. Buy "acid free" tissue paper on line and wrap any soft goods in it - contact with newspaper and cardboard boxes will discolor things. I am sure that there are similiar, simple steps to take when storing wood and plastic finishes.

Monty--
Hope my suggestion of "C" was not out of line! Seems you took it as intended. Thanks.

I also know that I could not add the amount of storage space to an actual apartment for the same amount I am paying to add it as a storage space, if that makes any sense.

I wouldn't worry about the effects of storage on your stuff, except for perhaps paer-based stuff, since temps and humidity will swing, even if climate-controlled. Use a big name company, make sure it IS climate controlled, and stop by the place every now and then to check things out, The owners can see by the records who is in and out, and it makes a difference. But yes, the managers are NOTORIOUS for panicking when the payment is a MINUTE late.

And btw, my renter's policy (my home one) covers the contents of my storage space.

I've also found that the other happy by-product of storage is that (as Maxwell once told me) it creates a "trial separation" with you and your stuff, and slowly but surely, you end up with only the real cream of your collection.

I have a lot of experience with storage spaces. We always had storage spaces when I was growing up (my parents don’t like clutter), and when I was 17 and moved out to go to college, my parents wanted me to put the rest of my belongings in storage. Then, while living in Africa for many years, I had a storage space in the South Bronx. None of these spaces were climate controlled. And overall, most things did just fine. There were a couple of incidents that occurred, and that taught me that plastic can sometimes be a very good thing. One time the roof of the warehouse leaked, and a couple of boxes got wet. Another time I noticed rats were chewing on an antique African chair that was made from goat hide. That was probably my fault since I hadn’t wrapped the chair. (I guess I hadn’t thought goat hide was so tasty.) After re-packing everything into those large heavy duty plastic boxes, and wrapping the whole space (and my chair) in plastic drop cloths (lots of them), I never had problems again. Granted, I was almost exclusively storing boxes of sentimental papers, and climate control was never a factor for me. I think having good upholstered furniture might require a different strategy.

I agree with others that you should do some math and see how the numbers play out. But if you have things you really love, or things that are sentimental, then go for it. Research all of the possibilities and pack your things well.

My experience has been that if you pay a year upfront, you get a month’s rent free.

you might want to try PODS storage, I dont know if you can do it in NYC

separation and inspiration.
s.i.l.e.n.t and l.i.s.t.e.n... same storage.

oop's forgot to meantion, it is just a pillow away from a stone.

Just keep in mind the operative word is 'temporary'. I moved from NYC to Boston (on a temp 1 year basis) in 2001. In 2005 I finally faced reality and sold the entire contents of my storage room I left in NYC. The costs added up. I would have been much better just selling/giving away the whole lot to begin with.