Between houses, renovating, or moving abroad for a while? Storage keeps your packed goods in a mover's godown until you need them back.
Before a mover joins bookmovers.in, our team visits their godown in person. When you need storage, we share the requirement with one verified mover; the storage charges, duration and access rules are on their written quote.
What's usually included
- Packing suited to storage
- Transport to the godown
- An inventory list of stored items
- Delivery to your new address when you're ready
The exact scope is on the mover's written quote.
How to prepare
- Decide roughly how long you need storage
- Ask how and when you can access your goods
- Ask whether storage insurance is available and on what terms
- Keep a copy of the inventory list
IllustrationHow storage works with us
Storage is available in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, in two ways. Short-term storage comes with shared-load moves, when your goods wait to be dispatched or delivered. Standalone storage, when you need your things kept on their own, has a minimum period of 15 days.
Tell us your city, how long you expect to need storage and roughly how much you're storing, and our team will confirm what's available.
When storage helps
Storage is useful when there's a gap between leaving one home and moving into the next, when you're moving into a smaller home for a while, during building redevelopment, or when you're going abroad for some months. It can be short-term, for a few weeks, or long-term, for a year or more.
Tell the mover how long you expect to need storage and whether you'll need access in between. That affects the kind of storage and the terms.
Questions to ask about the facility
Ask where the goods will be stored, how the space is secured, and whether it's protected from damp, pests and rain. Ask whether goods are stored in individual, sealed lots or in shared space, and how they're identified.
Ask about access: whether you can visit, take things out or add things, and with how much notice. Get the storage charges, the billing period and the insurance terms in writing.
Packing for storage
Goods going into storage need sturdier packing than for a short move, because they'll sit for weeks or months. Use strong cartons, keep them full so they don't crush, and avoid sealing anything damp. Wrap furniture to keep dust off, and lift mattresses off the floor.
Clean and dry appliances before storage. Leave fridge and washing-machine doors slightly open, if the facility allows, to prevent smells.
Keep a clear inventory
A numbered inventory is essential for storage. Each carton should have a number and a short description of its contents, and you should keep a copy of the list. Mark cartons you might need early, such as seasonal clothes or documents, so they can be found without unpacking everything.
Photograph furniture and valuable items before they go into storage, and check them against the photos when they come out.
What not to store
Don't put perishable food, plants, flammable liquids, gas cylinders, paint, chemicals or anything that could leak into storage. Cash, jewellery and important documents should stay with you or in a bank locker.
Ask the mover for their list of excluded items, and check your own insurance for anything of high value.
Short-term storage during a move
The most common reason for storage is a gap between moving out and moving in: a few days or weeks when the new home isn't ready. In that case, the mover may keep your goods in their godown, packed as they were for the move, and deliver them when you're ready.
Ask how long they can hold the goods, what it costs per day or per month, whether the goods stay on the truck or are unloaded into storage, and how much notice they need before delivery.
Long-term storage while you're away
If you're going abroad or away for many months, storage becomes a longer-term arrangement. Pack for it: strong cartons, furniture wrapped against dust, appliances cleaned and dried, and a detailed, numbered inventory you keep a copy of.
Agree how billing works over a long period, whether prices can change, how you'll be contacted and who can collect the goods on your behalf if needed. Keep all of this in writing.
Taking goods out of storage
When you're ready, give the mover the notice they asked for and confirm the delivery address and date. Check the goods against the inventory as they arrive, and look at furniture and fragile items before signing.
If anything is damaged or missing, note it on the delivery receipt with photos and tell the mover and our team the same day.
Furniture and appliances in storage
Furniture keeps best wrapped against dust and stored off the floor, with nothing heavy stacked on polished surfaces. Mattresses should be covered and stored flat or on their sides, never folded.
Appliances should be cleaned, dried and defrosted before storage. Leaving fridge and washing-machine doors slightly open, if the facility allows, helps prevent smells and mould over long periods.
Every mover is checked before they work with us
- Office visited in person
- Godown or storage facility visited, where applicable
- GST details checked
- Customer references called
- General operating setup reviewed
Questions about storage
Can I take out a few items while the rest stays in storage?
Many movers allow partial withdrawals with notice, sometimes at a charge. Ask for the access rules before you book.
Is my stored furniture insured?
Ask the mover what storage insurance covers and get the terms in writing.
How should I pack clothes for long storage?
Make sure they're clean and dry, add silica gel or naphthalene where suitable, and use strong, full cartons.
Can someone else collect my goods from storage?
Usually, with your written authorisation. Agree the process with the mover in advance.
How do I find a carton in storage?
Use the numbered inventory. Mark cartons you may need early so they can be found without unpacking everything.
Can I store a fridge and a washing machine?
Usually yes. Clean, dry and defrost them first, and ask whether doors can be left slightly open.
How much notice is needed to get goods out of storage?
It varies. Ask the mover in advance and get the notice period in writing.
Are my goods kept separate from other customers' goods?
Ask how goods are stored and labelled, and whether your lot is sealed and kept together.