There are storage unit companies everywhere. You can get an indoor, locked, climate controlled unit as small as 5x5 or as big as a two car garage.They rent on a month to month basis. Yelp it for your area. Public Storage is one I have used in the past.

I used a storage facility while I was on a job assignment I knew would last only a couple years and while our house was being built.

Two tips: Use one that's climate controlled unless you live in San Diego or somewhere similarly mild and humidity-constant.

Second, scrounge up some wooden pallets and put them on the floor of your unit before you put your belongings into it. Our unit in Houston was beautifully temperature and humidity controlled. One day the AC unit which adjoined our space failed and water leaked into our unit. It ruined several boxes of books. The owners not only didn't take responsibility for our belongings (not surprising -- the contract absolved them from all responsibility) -- they wouldn't even negotiate a lower rate or a couple free months AND we had to move all of our stuff!

As a realtor, I advise sellers to focus on eliminating distractions. Simply clear countertops, eliminate family photos, fridge magnets, and move furniture away from the corners to create more airiness. Put stuff in boxes or garbage bags and stash under the bed. Your friends may agree to store your out of season clothes for the short run to keep closets looking good. No need to complicate or create more expense during an already stressful state of limbo.

Either the storage facility or something like PODS. You can get the POD delivered and fill it up and then they come and take it away and store it for you. However, you usually can't access your stuff while it is being stored, which you can do if it is in a storage unit.

I've seen PODS sitting in people's driveways for a month or so, but you'd have to see if the condo association would give you permission for that.

Other than that, you could see if a relative or good friend has some storage space you could use--but only if you have a definite date when you will come and get the stuff.

are your closets totally full? IF you've purged enough stuff a few boxes in the closet isnt a big deal of your treasured items.

Probably somebody nearby rents a garage, ask around (if you only stock things that will still be "alive" after some weeks/months in such a room. make sure everything's well-packed).

A plus point of outsource your stuff is, that you take everything in you hands twice. so think about every piece, if you still need it (twice!). if you don't miss it while its away temporary, you wont miss it in your new house either.

When we had our condo on the market, we did a combo of renting a storage unit (for extra furniture, outdoor gear, baby gear, boxes of personal photos, etc) and using a friend's condo (storage of valuables like jewelry & wedding items). We wanted to showcase how big the closets were & that there was more than enough storage, so we kept the closets only partly used. The realtor was amazed with the way the space was cleared out from her 1st visit. We didn't strip our place of everything, just cleaned out way more clutter than most people do. It made a big difference, too!

Good luck!

The biggest tip I got when we were selling our house was to have an empty hamper handy. If I needed to do a quick clean up, I just tossed everything into the hamper and stashed it in my car.
For storing your kids books and other stuff, under the bed is a great place. Don't junk up your closets. And unless its lots of big stuff, don't bother with a storage unit.
Once I got over the stress of selling my house, I actually enjoyed it. Everything was so tidy. Beds always made, counters always clear, nothing out and about that shouldn't be. I felt like I was living in a hotel--a hotel where I was the maid, but still...

Oh, and we used our car to hold the basket of dirty laundry during showings. And we took our cat (and the litter box) with us in the car, too. It helped to have a station wagon at the time to fill up with those last minute items that we needed on a daily basis, but couldn't store at a friend's place.

Agree with several posts. A small storage unit is very, very inexpensive and often they have first month free specials. I have used them many times.

A good friend who is a hot shiz realtor tells his clients to actually MAKE SPACE in every closet, drawer and cupboard. This sends the message to potential buyers that there is plenty of storage room in your house. Even your cellar, garage or attic should not be overstuffed. Pare down to what you need to get through the next few months. Store the rest off site or get rid of it.

I too agree with everyone. For my former place, a studio, I had to recycle some stuff and discard others. I used my sister's place garage to store everything else, unwanted to show to visitors prospecting.

The Studio looked brighter and spacier. This was a hard and long task with a big overlay but worth the sale: I managed to resale my studio twice the price I initially paid when I bought it...

also .. hope it sells quickly, otherwise you're going to be in this routine for months and months and months and months. It's still difficult in some areas.

Use your basement to its fullest potential. Store items in new tupperware containers with large, nicely written labels. Buyers typically respond better to storage space that is organized. The under-the-bed trick is good too so long as that is just as organized, for your sake as much as a nosy buyer's!

I think what you want are a couple of large, attractive baskets with lids that you can quickly toss the kids' books and whatever else you might not want to keep in long-term off-site storage in when you get that "someone is coming to look at the house in 20 minutes, batten down the hatches and get out" call. We had one of these in each of our heavy-use rooms and could whip through the house and clear it in no time. (I still do this even in our new house; it's super helpful when people drop by and the living room looks like the Lego store exploded.)

We used a storage facility. It was about $75 per month for a space about the size of a one-car garage, and we got free or cheap (I forget, now) use of the facilty's moving van for moving in and out. We got a pass code for 24/7 access, so a few times we added stuff or raided for something we wanted.

We sold our house before our new one was completed, so we were renting an apartment for about three months (but paid a 6 month lease, sadly) in the interim. No way we could keep our four pets AND all our furnishings in the apartment. This worked well for us.

These are all good ideas - some tidy storage containers under the bed, a hamper for last minute items. Storing most of your stuff off site in rental storage rather than in your home is a must. It's impossible to imagine living in a house when it's full of some other family's stuff, even if that stuff is in the closets. When you are buying a place, especially a condo - closet space is extremely important.

My realtor arranged for a PODS-type container that I filled and it was hauled away to a storage facility. I was able to access the container when it was in permanent storage although I admit I left things in storage for far too long (out of sight, out of mind). I finally stopped procrastinating and cleared that thing out. I hadn't used the goods for so long, I reallized I didn't need them and drove straight to Goodwill to donate everything. Good luck.

Our climate-controlled storage facility had a low introductory rate for the first six months, I think. We knew we'd eventually need some heavy-duty shelving in a garage or basement, so we bought shelves for our storage unit. That lets us get by with a much smaller space than if we were stacking boxes. Using uniformly-sized boxes or containers is very helpful, too. Originally we were storing stuff with family members (out of town), but that became a hassle.

I have used a storage facilities for items of sentimental value, and this past January, downsized my housing and got a larger unit (more money!). When I last moved, I realized that I could have saved money by just purging things I could replace later (for the amount of money I spent storing it). Before you spend a lot of money storing things, I'd consider selling or giving away things you don't really need any more, then store things that you really will want to have later and cannot replace.

When I moved out of a condo, the exact same size, I basically got the condo ready by being 75% ready to move. I would totally utilize that basement. Even if it's damp or humid, if you put stuff in rubbermaid totes and make sure the lids are on tight, they should be OK (I've done this with multiple moves and have never had issues). I also, recommend the pallet suggestion for cardboard boxed items (or, if you can't use pallets for whatever reason, make sure that boxes that are on the bottom only contain stuff that can survive being wet (like dishes, or cooking utinsels, etc).

Before I started packing, I went through my condo and weeded out stuff I didn't need. Took it to the Salvation Army. Or tossed it in the dumpster. I got totally harsh about it. Then, as I began packing up the stuff I could live without for a while, I purged again. I got even HARSHER about what I was packing up. I reminded myself that this was all just "stuff." Did I REALLY need it? Did I absolutely love it? Did it have significant sentimental value? Did it add significant happiness to my life?? If the answer to these questions was "no," again, the thing went into the dumpster or the salvation army. I was AMAZED at how much "stuff" I was able to eliminate that way. I discovered that things that I initially thought were SO important to have, that I thought I NEEDED to function, weren't missed at all. As a "reward" for my discipline, I told myself that all of the stuff that was crappy or worn out (that went into the dumpster) I COULD potentially replace it with something less crappy or worn out if I discovered I absolutely needed it when I moved (guess how many things I found out I needed to replace? Ha ha...not too many!).

The end result was that not only was my condo totally decluttered, but when it sold, I was basically all ready to go. I got to enjoy the fact that I had sold my condo and was going to be moving, because I didn't NOW have to go through all the stress and hassle of packing everything up. It was already pretty much done.

Are people really bothered that much by stuff in the house? I thought this was only in regards to clutter (i.e. that stack of catalogs about to fall over on your coffee table) and personal pictures (your wedding picture on the mantle).
I would think that a bunch of children's books would be ok to keep around as long as they are on a shelf or in bins. They certainly wouldn't bother me as a buyer.
I would listen to what travlingal says - she is a realtor after all.

We put our condo on the market in May and expected it to be sold by September. So we decided to store all holiday and winter items. Once October came around and we hadn't sold, we took it off the market and had to get all of our winter stuff back. We move out this weekend and will put it back on the market in February, this time it will be empty. Hopefully, the condo market improves and we can sell quickly this time.

We put our condo on the market in May and expected it to be sold by September. So we decided to store all holiday and winter items. Once October came around and we hadn't sold, we took it off the market and had to get all of our winter stuff back. We move out this weekend and will put it back on the market in February, this time it will be empty. Hopefully, the condo market improves and we can sell quickly this time.

We put our condo on the market in May and expected it to be sold by September. So we decided to store all holiday and winter items. Once October came around and we hadn't sold, we took it off the market and had to get all of our winter stuff back. We move out this weekend and will put it back on the market in February, this time it will be empty. Hopefully, the condo market improves and we can sell quickly this time.

Our agent had us do "extreme cleaning". All horizontal surfaces empty except of 1-2 items. It shows off expanses of work or storage surfaces in rooms.
I picked up those ikea black storage boxes to hide coffee table stuff under the coffee table- remotes, magazines, etc.
A medium storage room in our new area.
I purged my closet and bathroom so we had spacious room for shoppers.
Purge your kitchen items so cabinets are empty or have breathing room. The local thrift stores loved us. My closet is still somewhat empty here at our new house.
Our house sold during the height of the bust.
Now is the time to be honest on closet items you rarely wear. Donate and be free. Donating can also get you some tax help too. Rent a unit one size up from what you think you'll need. We stuffed ours after our agent suggested a bit more staging. A good purge saves you money on rental and moving costs.
Make sure your insurance covers your stored items. Family photos should not be stored in a garage, attic or basement because the temperature and humidity extremes can damage the photos.

As others have said, you want covered storage, under the beds in covered bins. You want all valuables in a safe location.
Nothing with your names or images in your house. Minimal, neutral decor.

With our cleaning method, I was able to toss evidence of my presence into a coffee table box and be out of the house in 5 minutes when calls came for showings. Wipe and swipe the dust bunnies in the morning and we were ready to show the house.

You will need a nice bowl or platter to hold the showing agent cards. Your agent will know where to place that for your area.

Keep a list of who has what if you are storing things with family and friends. You never know when you will need something.

Our realtor wanted us to clear out all of our books. We had packed five bookcases in the living room, four downstairs in the family room. Getting rid of all of the books wasn't going to happen. But we did everything else he instructed us to do.

We ended up clearing about 2/3 of our books, half our furniture, re-staging rooms for different purposes (the family room turned into a large bedroom, one of our master suites was staged as an office, our pantry was re-converted into a hall closet), clearing out half the stuff in our closets (to show off the Elfa systems)...

Most of the stuff we cleared away was put into storage. Some was sold via Craigslist, some was donated. Anything truly valuable was small enough to put into a safe deposit box.

I'd actually vote against the idea of storing stuff under the beds. That just screams "there's not enough storage here!" to a buyer.

Oh, I forgot to mention: all that decluttering and restaging seemed to do the trick. We sold our condo in the spring of 2010 (near the bottom of the market for our neighborhood) in less than 6 weeks for more than our former neighbors (who sold a similar unit two years later).

It is incredible how much you can fit in the smallest of rental storage spaces.

I disagree with the idea of storage boxes in closets and under beds. You do not want your space to look like you have to stash things under a bed in order to have enough quality living space. Decluttering does not just mean counter tops, it means inside cabinets, under the bed, and in closets too. I staged my husband's condo that he sold when we moved in together. The closets were half full and people adored them commenting how fantastic the storage space was. People look at everything and you don't want to give the impression you are bursting at the seams.

Take advantage of all the decluttering you need to do and purge, purge and purge. Pretty much everybody, except for the absolute minimalist, will have stuff that can be thrown out or donated to charity (depending on what it is and on its condition). Have a yard sale - every dollar counts.

I pack a few Rubbermaid bins with stuff that was "messy" to store - bits of fabrics, etc. - and I put them into a friend's basement. Another friend stored some stuff in plastic bags and boxes in mine when their house was on the market.

Most people have to much stuff in their space to stage well. I rented a storage space and was moving small furniture out of my place on the weekends while readying it for sale (about the size of yours.) Then, I brought a realtor in and consulted about what I more I was planning to move out, and what her opinion on other items was. She advised me to move out even more furniture than I had ever considered. I listened. As I was moving cities, I had the movers come and move everything to my new rented place, except what I wanted to leave to stage the one I was selling. So, I moved out more furniture, inlcuding some of the large pieces I originally thought I would leave as staging, all books, paper files, most clothing, rugs (to show off my wood floors), most kitchen items except what was decorative in glass-fronted cabinets, leaving just enough to cook and eat with otherwise, and just about all of the cluttery decorative pieces I have on top of wood furniture, leaving just a couple of decorative things - very spare. I sold a bunch of furniture pieces on craigslist that I no longer needed, and donated others.

It worked. Of course, I had to pay the move the stuff I left for staging later, but I am convinced that it would not have sold quite so high or quite so quickly otherwise. Of course, I might be wrong - it might have sold the same way, but I didn't want to take any chances, and anyway, I doubt it. It did feel like very different place, like I was visiting a bed and breakfast.

Ok, that was kind of extreme, but it worked. Partly how much you need to do depends on your market. Mine was really good, but I wanted to sell quickly and high. I don't think so many people would have walked in and just wanted it right away had I not done that. It makes a huge difference. So, my advice, in addition to getting rid of what you don't want or need anymore (and it is sometimes hard to know, if you don't have your new place yet, or if that next place is somewhat temporary), is to move out a lot of it. Rent a big storage space, or more than one, and hire movers to get it done. It will help. It will really stand out compared to others who haven't done this. People may or may not notice right away that it has been really emptied of more stuff, but either way, it will feel different (and better) to them.

And don't store stuff under the beds, or crammed in closets, or stashed elsewhere. Only use storage in your home if it is rin eally attractive boxes, not looking like something that should not be there. Good luck!

If you haveto have a storage unit, you have too much stuff. If you are not using stuff get rid of it.

Be aware that too bare is not do good either. I have personally sold two houses in the past two years. Houses that were filled with 50 plus years of stuff. The temptation is great to be ruthless, do not do it, you may need some of those items for staging. Both houses sold quickly, the most recent in one day with multiple offers. The house is being emptied now and I can tell you the barren look would not have shown this house to its best advantage.

The trick is lose the clutter, purge the ugly, broken dirty, clean, clean, clean (borrow a steam machine)again, keep your pretty books for staging, store the others, buy fresh linens, organize neatly, every single cupboard, closet and drawer. Use your furniture to create flow. Bright happy pops of color lift a room, color co-ordinate your clothes. No shoes on the floors. Mirrors reflect light and add sparkle. Make your tub and sink gleam, polish the sides with car wax. Use wax paper on your faucets after you clean them, to make them twinkle. Good luck.

Well, I wasn't talking bare, mine was tastefully, usefully, and restfully furnished, just not overstuffed. As if someone a bit more minimlist than cluttered me lived there. I suppose it depends on where you live, what other homes on the market look like. Where Iive, decades of stuff does not sell well - I'm amazed at how well most homes I see picutres of online are staged and decluttered by their owners. Also, there's never as much room in a 1200 sq ft condo as there is in a larger house, where there are often more closets, basement, attic, rooms and floors to distribute stuff around to. Also, many newer houses are completely featureless, so they do look bare with less stuff. My building was built in the 1890s with lots of great trim all over - having less of my stuff there made the place itself shine and take center stage, not my furnishings. Which is what buyers want to see, as that's what they are buying after all. I'd want to see what I was getting, even if featureless.