One of the biggest misconceptions that we still see is the idea that “storage is storage”. Most people assume that storing their stuff means loading everything into a garage-style storage unit with a roller door themselves, either through countless trips with a car, van, trailer or rented truck or through paying removalists twice to load and unload. Given that traditional self storage has been the most visible option for decades, this assumption is not surprising however not understanding the alternatives available can cost far more than just money. Finding the right storage solution for your specific situation can reduce handling, save time and ultimately a lot of unnecessary stress.
IN SHORT: MOBILE STORAGE VS TRADITIONAL STORAGE
Mobile Storage
Mobile storage provides a portable option that comes to you reducing the time required to move and avoiding double handling.
Traditional Storage
Traditional storage requires you to bring the goods into storage yourself and load in but can suit people who want very regular access and want to slowly load contents over weeks or months.
The right solution will depend on your needs, access, when you need it and how much work you want to do yourself.
What is Mobile Storage
Rather than bringing your goods into a storage facility yourself, mobile storage involves a portable storage unit, typically referred to as a module or homepack, being brought to you directly, loaded & secured at your property and then stored off-site at a secure facility.
Unlike backyard or drop-off containers, mobile storage modules are kept inside a purpose built truck while loaded, keeping them secure from the weather and avoiding the need for space to be left on site or specific council approvals. You generally have the choice of having a team of professionals do the lifting and loading for you or doing a bit of heavy lifting yourself to save some money.
Access is generally free of charge but may require advance notice and be limited to business hours. While generally brought out to you, mobile storage units can also be loaded at the storage depot to provide easy drive-up access without incurring additional costs often seen with low level, easy access traditional storage. This can often be useful for customers moving from interstate or overseas.
Made of breathable wood, mobile storage modules are primarily used for storage of personal effects and household furniture/boxes etc and can be equally as good for very long term (multi-year) storage as they are for quick turnarounds between settlements or rentals.
What is Traditional Storage?
This option is what most people likely think of when you mention storage. It generally involves a large multilevel building broken up into rooms of different sizes. Customers transport their goods to the storage facility, either with a car, truck, trailer or rented truck or hire a removalist to transport and load and unload the goods for them. Items are loaded into a truck (or other vehicle) at the customers house, transported to the storage facility, unloaded and reloaded into the storage unit. On move out the same process is then repeated. Access and security vary from facility to facility but typically people can access their goods at all hours of the day or night. Ease of access varies depending on the type of unit booked with drive-up, ground floor access generally being much more expensive while units that require lift access and long walks being cheaper.
Key differences at a glance:
|
What matters |
Mobile storage |
Traditional self storage |
|
How goods get into storage |
Pick-up arranged for you, with loading done at your home or at the storage depot |
You transport items yourself or hire a removalist to load, transport, and unload |
|
Handling of your goods |
Loaded once and sealed until delivery, reducing handling and damage risk |
Loaded, unloaded, and reloaded — often multiple times |
|
Time & effort required |
Minimal — everything happens at your location, no repeated trips |
Higher — multiple trips or coordination with removalists |
|
Where loading takes place |
At your home or at the storage depot |
At your home, then again at the storage facility |
|
Access to your storage |
Scheduled access during business hours, usually free of charge |
Walk-in access during facility hours (varies by operator) |
|
Cost structure |
Pick-up, storage, and delivery handled by one provider |
Storage rental plus transport costs, often across multiple companies |
|
Best suited for |
Moves, renovations, apartments, time-poor households |
Frequent access, gradual loading, vehicles, or heavy equipment |
|
Overall convenience |
High — fewer moving parts and less coordination required |
Lower — more DIY and logistics to manage |
For most households that are storing personal belongings and furniture, the biggest difference comes down to total effort – handling, time & stress, not just the monthly storage rate.
What we see in practice after 15 years:
After being involved in the storage & removals industry for the last 15 years and handling 1000’s of storage jobs over that time, we’ve seen the idea of storage change with customers looking for more efficient & cost effective ways to move & store their goods. With a wide range of scenarios for where you might need storage, a one size fits all approach no longer works and you genuinely need to work out what is best for your specific situation. While traditional storage definitely has its place, for a lot of use cases, it’s just more work and costs than it needs to be.
The real costs of storage & reality of double handling
When speaking with people we often find that they focus on the “special offer” that their local storage shed is running and don’t take into consideration the combined cost of removal & storage and neglect to value their own time and stress when moving. When using traditional storage and a separate removalist, you’ll generally pay a monthly storage cost, often with an intro or teaser rate that can jump up significantly after 2 or 3 months and an hourly rate for removalists that’s charged from the time they leave their depot until the time they return. This means you are paying for travel from the depot to your house, loading at your house, travel to the storage facility, unloading at the storage facility and then travel back to the depot (travel often being described as a ‘call out’). This can all add up quite quickly and result in bill shock on the day of the move.
On the other hand, mobile storage is generally quoted on the cost based on the estimated number of modules with a time allowance on site including all travel. The vast majority of jobs are completed well within the allocated time and as such you know what you’re in for up front. We’ve often found that customers who have gone for a “cheaper” hourly rate come back to us after the move wishing they’d used our moving services as they realised the cost of double handling is significant.
Misconceptions about accessing storage and needing to store “close to home”
Another factor that often comes into play for customers deciding between traditional & mobile storage is access and proximity to home. For customers that have a genuine need to access all the time (like a business picking orders for their daily run), traditional storage can definitely be a good option. In saying that, we find that most people storing furniture & household contents may need to access it once or twice during the entire storage term (if at all) so it’s not as important a factor as they originally thought. A lot of people also presume that being further away from the facility also means increased costs, this is definitely not always the case. With mobile storage, pick-up rates generally cover a large radius so even though you’re a 30 minute drive from the mobile storage depot the pick-up costs may be the same as if you were right next door!
Which option is right for you?
Mobile storage is typically best if:
- You are moving or renovating and need a storage solution
- You want to minimise the handling of your goods to reduce risk of damages
- You want to deal with a single company & point of contact for moving, packing & storage
- You won’t want to spend your weekend doing multiple trips to and from a storage unit
- Access & space at your home is limited or time restricted
You are not 100% sure on the space you’ll need and don’t want to pre-commit to a storage space that may be too big or too small for what you actually need.
Traditional storage is typically best if:
- You need frequent access and want to be able come & go as you please without the need to prearrange
- You’re happy to do all the loading/unloading yourself or paying removalists to double handle the goods
- You need to store a vehicle, motorbike or heavy equipment that need to be stationary in storage
- You want to gradually move into storage over an extended period of time
Common misconceptions:
Being a one-stop-shop, do you pay extra for the convenience?
Because mobile storage removes double handling it saves significant time with moving into storage, this directly reduces cost to the business and this saving is passed onto you. When you look at the total cost of the move it generally ends up cheaper..
Does pricing change depending on how busy or full you are?
Pricing for mobile storage doesn’t fluctuate based on occupancy rates like it does for traditional storage as there’s no fixed amount of space, this generally also means rates are not increased as much or as regularly as traditional storage.
Can I access my storage if it’s in a module?
While access isn’t on-call like it can be with traditional storage, it is still very easy. You generally just need to provide a couple of days’ notice so the unit can be forklifted into the access area and it’s generally free of charge. While restricted to business hours an added benefit is that all mobile storage is “ground floor, drive-up access” once put in the access area so you don’t need to navigate lifts and long hallways to access you can drive right up beside your storage unit.
Are my goods secure?
In practice, mobile storage modules can actually be more secure than traditional storage. The modules are locked away in a secure warehouse that’s alarmed, secured and has CCTV monitoring. Access is by appointment only during staffed office hours and therefore you don’t have people wandering around your unit at all hours of the day and night.
How SmartWay Storage approaches storage?
As a family owned and operated business that has worked in the storage & removals industry in Brisbane & on the Gold Coast for over 15 years we have completed 1000’s of moves and we’ve done our best to listen to our customers and tailor our offering to provide the best storage solution possible. We understand that storage is not one size fits all and as such offer a range of solutions so that we can provide a solution regardless of the need.
With our mobile storage offering, we have stayed away from backyard containers and instead offer a more complete solution with both a professional & guided loading service to match the needs of our client as well as their budget while still delivering high quality personal service. We have found that the combination of an in-house removals team (rather than using subcontractors) as well as storage in our secure offsite facility (rather than dropping on site) allows us to maintain the high quality service that we pride ourselves on. With local, hands-on owners and operators who both live and work in the area, we have specifically chosen our locations in both Brisbane & the Gold Coast to best service the needs of our customers while managing the wild weather conditions than SEQ sometimes throws at us. We have built strong resilient warehouses and ensured we avoid flood prone areas to ensure our customers’ goods stay safe and secure.
Related Guides:
- How loading & pick-up works with SmartWay Storage
- Container storage vs mobile storage
- How much storage space do I need?
- What fits in a storage module
- Flood-safe storage in Brisbane
If you’re not sure what option suits you best, give one of the friendly SmartWay team a call on 07 3155 3888 and we’d be happy to help guide you in the right direction. Most people find a quick chat with one of our experienced team members helps to clear up any concerns.