When preparing your belongings for moving and subsequent storage, pack them as if you're planning for them to be stored long-term. Put together an inventory, and number and label your boxes on all six sides, if possible. Be generous with your use of tape, too.

When preparing for a move, don't be afraid to telephone shop when looking for a moving storage provider. Most will be willing to provide a quote over the phone, especially if you have a good idea of the total square footage of the material that you need to store.

If you have no idea how much storage space you'll need for your stuff, check the web sites of several major moving storage companies. Often, they'll provide a storage space calculator where you can put in various items, and they'll calculate the space you'll need for each.