Moving to Charlevoix can be exciting.
The actual moving part? Usually less so.
Between packing the old house, coordinating closing dates, getting utilities sorted out, unloading furniture and discovering that somehow you own twelve boxes of things labeled “miscellaneous,” even a relatively straightforward move can become chaotic quickly.
And moves rarely happen as neatly as we imagine. The old house may need to be empty before the new one is ready. Contractors may still be working. Furniture may arrive before you know where it belongs. Or you may simply discover that everything that fit comfortably in your previous house does not fit quite as comfortably in the new one.
This guide is designed to make a move to Charlevoix, Michigan a little easier—from the weeks before moving day through getting settled in your new Northern Michigan home.
Already know you'll need temporary storage? You can check live Charlevoix storage availability and reserve an available unit online.
A little planning can make the gap between moving out, moving in and getting settled in Charlevoix much easier.
Before buying boxes or reserving a moving truck, divide your belongings into three categories:
That last category matters more than most people expect.
Moving is one of the best opportunities you'll ever have to get rid of belongings you no longer need. Every unnecessary item you donate, sell or dispose of is one less thing to pack, move, unload and find a place for later.
Temporary storage, meanwhile, gives you a middle ground. You do not have to decide exactly where every piece of furniture will live before you've spent a single night in the house.
Self storage is particularly useful when the timing of a move is imperfect—which is fairly common.
If you have to leave one property before you can fully occupy another, temporary storage can bridge the gap without forcing you to make permanent decisions under pressure.
Moving furniture into a room just before the flooring is replaced or the walls are painted usually means moving it twice.
Putting those belongings into storage temporarily gives contractors room to work and lets you bring furniture into the house when the room is actually ready for it.
Downsizing is easier when you can make decisions gradually.
Instead of getting rid of furniture simply because moving day has arrived, storage can give you time to determine what fits the new home and what you genuinely want to keep.
Some moves happen over several weekends rather than one enormous moving day. That is especially common when the previous home is within driving distance or when a seasonal property is becoming a primary residence.
A local storage unit can act as a staging area while the transition is underway.
The answer depends less on the size of your house than on how much of it actually needs to go into storage.
A 5 x 10 provides about 50 square feet of floor space and can work well for boxes, smaller furniture, seasonal belongings, sporting equipment or the contents of a smaller room.
A 10 x 10 provides about 100 square feet and is a useful general-purpose moving size when you need room for furniture, boxes and the contents of several rooms.
A 10 x 15 gives you approximately 150 square feet. It can be useful when storing a larger collection of household furniture and appliances or clearing multiple rooms during a move or renovation.
A 10 x 20 provides about 200 square feet of floor space and is a practical option for substantial household moves, renovations and larger furniture collections.
Charlevoix Mini Storage also offers larger spaces for moves that require considerably more room.
If you're unsure, use our storage unit size guide before reserving. Choosing the right size is usually cheaper and considerably less frustrating than trying to force everything into a unit that is just a little too small.
When you're moving furniture and dozens of boxes, the distance between the vehicle and the storage-unit door matters.
A drive-up storage unit lets you pull a car, pickup, trailer or moving truck directly alongside the unit. That can significantly reduce carrying distance and make loading and unloading bulky furniture much easier.
Charlevoix Mini Storage offers a broad selection of drive-up storage at our US-31 South facility, along with additional drive-up and hallway storage at Old Norwood Road.
For a short-term household move involving ordinary furniture, boxes and durable belongings, drive-up access is often the most convenient choice.
Some belongings deserve more consideration than ordinary moving boxes.
A more stable indoor environment may be appropriate for items such as:
This becomes especially relevant when a “temporary” storage arrangement may extend through several Northern Michigan seasons.
Charlevoix Mini Storage offers interior climate-controlled storage at our US-31 South Business Park, along with premium oversized climate-controlled spaces at Stover Road.
For a deeper explanation, read our guide to climate-controlled versus standard storage in Charlevoix.
This sounds obvious, but most people pack based on the house they're leaving.
A better approach is to pack according to where things will go at the new house.
Packing by room—and separating the things you'll need immediately—makes both moving and temporary storage easier.
Instead of labeling a box simply “Kitchen,” try:
When moving day arrives, boxes can go directly to the correct room instead of accumulating in one enormous pile.
There are certain things you do not want buried at the back of a moving truck or storage unit.
Create a clearly marked group containing what you'll need during the first 24 to 48 hours in the new house.
Consider including:
Keep those items with you rather than sending them deep into storage.
Your future self will appreciate this enormously.
A moving truck is packed to survive a journey.
A storage unit should be packed so you can still use it.
If everything is stacked from the door to the back wall with no access path, retrieving one box can require unloading half the unit.
Instead:
Take several photographs when you're finished. Six weeks later, a photo showing exactly where you put the box of kitchen equipment can save a lot of searching.
If your new home is inside the City of Charlevoix or in an area served by city utilities, add utility arrangements to your pre-move checklist.
The City of Charlevoix operates its own electric system, which serves customers in the city as well as portions of surrounding Charlevoix, Eveline, Hayes and Marion townships.
The city provides current utility information and instructions for starting, stopping or changing service through its official website.
Visit the City of Charlevoix utility information page for current details rather than relying on an old moving checklist or third-party website.
If your property is outside the city's service area, confirm the appropriate providers for the exact address before moving day.
If Charlevoix will become your Michigan residence and you're moving from another state, there are a few administrative jobs to add to the list.
The Michigan Department of State advises new residents to handle their Michigan driver's license or ID, vehicle title and vehicle registration after establishing Michigan residency.
Requirements can change, so use the official Michigan Department of State guide for new residents for current documents, appointment information and vehicle requirements.
Doing this directly through the state website also helps you avoid outdated third-party instructions.
Summer in Charlevoix is busy.
That can affect everything from traffic to contractor schedules, moving help and the amount of time routine errands take.
If you're planning a summer move, build some flexibility into the schedule rather than creating a chain of appointments where one late truck throws off the entire day.
If storage is part of the plan, checking availability ahead of moving day also gives you a better chance of getting the size and access style you actually want.
A winter move requires a different strategy.
Keep walkways, driveways and loading areas clear. Protect furniture and boxes from snow and slush while they're being transferred. Avoid placing wet belongings into storage, and give yourself additional time when road conditions are poor.
Drive-up access can be especially convenient because it minimizes the distance belongings need to travel outside between your vehicle and the unit.
If you're downsizing, don't force yourself to make every permanent decision before moving day.
Move the belongings you know belong in the new home first.
Put the uncertain items into storage temporarily.
Once you've lived in the house for a few weeks, you'll have a much better sense of which furniture fits, which belongings you still use and which things you are ready to sell or donate.
This can be particularly useful when moving from a larger year-round home into a smaller Charlevoix house, condominium or cottage.
Turning a Charlevoix cottage into a primary residence creates a slightly different problem: a house that worked beautifully for summer weekends may not have enough closets, garage space or general storage for twelve months of living.
Before filling every spare room, consider keeping truly seasonal belongings off-site.
Summer equipment can move out when winter gear comes in, and vice versa.
If you still plan to use the property seasonally rather than full time, our Charlevoix seasonal home and cottage storage guide covers closing and reopening a Northern Michigan property in much greater detail.
If you're moving to Charlevoix, keeping temporary storage in Charlevoix means you don't have to plan your life around a distant facility.
Charlevoix Mini Storage operates four facilities in south Charlevoix, just minutes from our local rental office.
Depending on what you're storing, you can choose from:
Tenants have 24/7 access, so a Saturday evening unpacking session does not have to stop because the rental office has closed.
You can also manage your account online, which is useful when the move itself has you going in several directions at once.
If you already know you'll need it, yes.
Storage inventory changes as customers move in and out, and a particular unit size may be available today but occupied by the time your moving truck arrives.
Our live storage availability page shows current inventory across all four Charlevoix Mini Storage locations.
An available unit can be reserved online for $30, and the reservation payment is fully credited toward your move-in rent.
If the size you want is occupied, the rental system may also offer the option to join a waiting list.
Charlevoix Mini Storage operates four local facilities offering drive-up, hallway, climate-controlled and oversized storage options. You can compare current prices and live availability online.
It depends on how much of your household will actually go into storage. A 5 x 10 can handle boxes and smaller belongings, while 10 x 10, 10 x 15 and 10 x 20 units provide progressively more room for furniture and household contents. Use our storage unit size guide to compare options.
Yes. Charlevoix Mini Storage tenants have 24/7/365 access to their rented storage space.
Yes. Available units can be reserved online for $30, and the full reservation payment is credited toward your move-in rent.
Drive-up storage is particularly convenient during a move because a car, pickup, trailer or moving truck can be positioned close to the unit, reducing the distance that furniture and boxes must be carried.
It depends on what you're storing and for how long. Climate-controlled storage is worth considering for sensitive, valuable or irreplaceable belongings and when storage may continue through several seasons.
Check the live rental page for alternatives at all four Charlevoix Mini Storage locations. Depending on current inventory, you may also be able to join a waiting list for a particular size.
Once the boxes are unpacked and the moving truck is gone, you get to enjoy the reason you moved here in the first place.
Until then, the goal is simply to make the transition as painless as possible.
Pack deliberately. Keep the things you'll need first where you can reach them. Don't move belongings you already know you don't want. And if the new house isn't quite ready for everything you own, give yourself some breathing room instead of forcing every decision on moving day.
Charlevoix Mini Storage offers four convenient Charlevoix storage locations with 24/7 access and options for moves of all sizes.
Check current storage availability and reserve online, or contact our local Charlevoix office if you'd like help choosing a unit.
You can also call us at (231) 547-5838.
