8 Instances When Self Storage Helps You if You Live in Seattle

Seattle is a city whose reputation precedes itself, with plenty of job opportunities, a booming economy, world-class entertainment and access to diverse outdoor activities. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder so many people head out to Emerald City. If you’re already a Seattle resident, business or represent another local entity, it’s not hard to see why living here is desirable. Is there anything that can make the experience even better? The answer is self storage. The less flashy service can help alleviate the strain that a small living or business space can put on your organizational skills, so why not make your life a little easier? Renting a self storage unit in Seattle costs about $195/month.

Here are some categories of Seattle locals that can benefit from renting self storage:

1. Seattle Residents

If you’re a Seattle resident, here’s how self storage can help better manage your living space:

• Homeowners

If you live in a Seattle house, you might enjoy a little more room, but there never seems to be enough space to fit all belongings without making the home feel a little cramped and cluttered. Use self storage for your seasonal clothing, decorations and extra furniture and appliances. This way, you can keep your living space clutter-free, and you can still access your belongings the next time you need them.

• Renters

Seattle renters are well-known for living in the smallest apartments in the country, with new apartments averaging 676 square feet, according to a StorageCafe study on home size evolution. That’s well below the national average, which stands at around 1,150 square feet. Therefore, turning to self storage is the perfect solution to help make your snug space comfortable and organized. Keep only your essentials in your abode and put everything in storage.

small Seattle apartment

If you’re a renter and EV owner here, you’re in luck: Seattle is one of the best places to provide access to EV charging stations to apartment residents, with 7.6% of rental buildings offering this capability. If you use your electric car to get around town, you can always put it in storage and use your gas one for out-of-town trips, as a lot of EV owners do.

2. Students

If you’re about to go to college in Seattle, the city has plenty of opportunities. For instance, you can attend the University of Washington, a highly-ranked higher education institution, according to U.S. News & World Report. Seattle is also home to smaller private universities such as Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University. A number of art colleges are also present here, including the Cornish College of the Arts, The Art Institute of Seattle and Pratt Fine Arts Center.

If you’re an out-of-town student, chances are you have to make a plan about your belongings once the academic over is over. You can either keep your lease over the summer or you can move all your belongings back home, both expensive options. However, a third option is available to you. You can turn to self storage to keep all your possessions until the new academic year starts in the fall.

3. Office-based Businesses

Seattle benefits from a vibrant business environment, with several Fortune 500 companies located here. Amazon, Starbucks, Nordstrom and Weyerhaeuser. The Seattle area also claims other large names such as Costco, Microsoft, T-Mobile and Expedia, to mention just a few of them.
As these businesses use offices to operate on a day-to-day basis, they also need to keep paper records which require extra space for storage. Instead of having them keep these records on premises – and taking up space that can be put to better use – companies can turn to self storage to keep their paperwork away from the office.

4. Cargo Carriers

Seattle is home to one of the largest ports in the U.S. by container capacity. It merged with the Port of Tacoma, and the result is Northwest Seaport Alliance. More than 20M metric tons of containerized cargo go through the port annually. For the cargo businesses operating in the area, self storage is a great solution to help store merchandise temporarily until it’s ready to be shipped to its next destination.

Ship by Seattle skyline

5. Healthcare Facilities

Medical facilities abound in the Seattle area, with three of the largest ones located on First Hills. Harborview Medical Center, the public county hospital, services a larger region, including Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, as a Level I trauma hospital. Moreover, Pill Hill is a neighborhood deriving its name from the concentration of several medical centers, including Virginia Mason Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center’s two largest campuses – with Virginia Mason Hospital as part of it.

As medical facilities are required to hold onto their paper records, keeping them on the premises can put a strain on space management. To better handle this situation, medical centers can keep their paperwork in storage, as climate-controlled units ensure paper products are protected against any damage caused by fluctuating temperatures and humidity.

6. Cultural Institutions

As a center for the performing arts, the city boasts the century-old Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Moreover, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra is the largest symphonic organization of its kind.
Seattle is home to close to 100 theatrical production companies and a slew of live theatre venues. Moreover, the Romanesque Revival Town Hall on First Hills can seat over 900 attendees and hosts recitals and lectures, among other cultural events. For Broadway-style musical shows, the 5th Avenue Theatre has you covered, featuring both local and international artists.

Performing arts venues can also enjoy the benefits of outsourcing some of their storage needs instead of cluttering the performing premises. Musical instruments, theater props and more can sit in a storage unit until the next show.

7. Fair and Festival Organizers

Seattle is nothing if not abuzz with events that gather people from all over the place. The 24-day Seattle International Film Festival springs to mind, alongside Northwest Folklife over the Memorial Day weekend and Seafair in July and August. Annual events include Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair & Book Arts Show, an anime convention (Sakura-Con), a gaming convention (Penny Arcade Expo) and more.

Event organizers of all stripes can turn to self storage to help them keep their fair and festival items safe for events in a climate-controlled unit where humidity and temperature are optimal.

8. Outdoor Fans

Emerald City’s climate allows for year-round recreation, whether you’re a walker, jogger or you like to cycle, hike, or ski, for example. Whether you go to Discovery Park, the largest park in the city, along the shoreline of Lake Washington at Seward Park there’s something for everyone who enjoys nature.

Kayaking at Lake Union in Seattle, WA

The Cascades or Olympic Mountains are popular for hiking and skiing, while for kayaking and sailing many locals head out to the Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia. With so many opportunities to stay in shape, it’s no surprise that Seattle is the most walkable city in the nation.

In-between hikes, skiing, fishing or any other type of outdoor activity, locals can put their sports and outdoor gear in storage to avoid cluttering their homes. They can be easily retrieved next time they decide to go out and enjoy the great Seattle outdoors.