For those of us affected by wanderlust, taking time out from our working lives to go travelling is the ultimate dream; for some, though, it's now becoming a reality. Travelling is something that is often associated with students taking a gap year after university, but more and more people are now choosing to explore the world.
If you're embarking on a trip alone, as a couple, or even as a whole family, you're likely to face the dilemma of what to do with your belongings. This is especially relevant to those living in a rented property, as it's unlikely that you'd want to pay rent on a vacant house or flat for the duration of your trip. Our blog provides some top tips on what to do with all of your belongings while you travel.
Have a Clear Out
Before deciding what you are going to do with all of your belongings, the first thing you should do is have a good clear out. This is useful because it allows you to figure out exactly what you need to keep and what you can get rid of. You will find that you have a lot of clutter that you could really do without; this excess clutter could be donated to charity. Not only will this get rid of belongings you no longer need, but it will mean you have fewer belongings to store elsewhere.
What to do with your property?
If you own your own property or have a mortgage then going travelling for an extended period might not seem like an option to you. But it might actually be more within reach than you think. There are a couple of options when it comes to what you can do with your home while travelling, as it will be unlikely you can keep up on mortgage payments while away. A few options include...
- Rent Out Your Property: if you have a mortgage, this can be a great option as it means you will still be able to keep up with your repayments. If you are planning on going travelling for an extended period then it would be ideal to find tenants that want to agree to rent for that period, such as a 6 month or 12 month agreement. If you rent your property furnished then you won’t have to find somewhere for all your belongings either. The only drawback is you won’t be in the country to sort out issues with the property should they arise.
- Sell your Property: this is another option that might be worth considering if you are planning on travelling for a long period. You might be planning to move home in the near future to a new area anyway so taking a break in between to go travelling can be ideal. All you are doing is simply delaying the date you choose to move to a new home. You might also accrue some interest while you are on your travels, too.
- Find House Sitters: if you own your home outright then you are in a great position and don’t have to do anything. However, if you leave your home unattended for long periods then people are bound to notice. This can attract all kinds of issues such as burglars or even squatters. You may not want to rent your house out so why not find some house sitters instead. This could be family or friends that are currently renting.
Store Your Belongings
The last step before setting off on your adventure is finding somewhere to store all of your belongings. You might be tempted to find space in your friends or families homes, but although this can save you some money, it has its drawbacks. If your family don’t have a lot of room of their own then they might begrudge letting you store large or bulky items. A great way to keep your items safe is by using self storage. Make Space provide a great range of storage solutions to meet your needs and it’s not as expensive as you might think. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!