Storage Size for Mid-Sized Renovation

For a mid-sized renovation, you typically need around 10m² (large-class storage).

What this size holds

All movable furniture from a single floor + valuables: sofa, dining table, bookcases, boxes, electronics, garden chairs

How long renters typically book

Renovation projects average 8-14 weeks. Monthly rolling matches the timeline.

What it costs

Across IE / UK / NL on Packhood, large-class storage averages:

Cheaper alternatives

A large-class self-storage unit at a chain facility runs roughly 50-60% more per month than a peer-host equivalent — because the chain pays industrial-park rent.

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Related size guides

• Studio flat — 4m²
• One-bed flat — 7m²
• Two-bed flat — 12m²
• Three-bed house — 20m²
• Student room — 2m²

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Renovation & Home Improvement

A kitchen refit takes 4-6 weeks. A bathroom reno, 2-3 weeks. A loft conversion, 8-12 weeks. During all of that time, your home is a building site, and the last thing you need is tripping over a sofa that's been shoved into the hallway. Getting furniture, appliances, and personal items out of the work zone isn't just convenient — it protects them from dust, paint, and accidental damage from contractors.

Renovation storage is typically short-term but time-sensitive. You need the space available the day before the builders arrive and you want it back the day they leave. Commercial facilities with 4-week minimums and inflexible access hours make this painful. Packhood's month-to-month model and local hosts mean you can book a garage five minutes down the road, move everything in on Sunday, and have the builders start Monday.

Full-house refurbishments — rewiring, replumbing, new floors throughout — can mean moving the entire contents of your home out for 3-4 months. This is where Packhood really saves money. A large garage at £120/month for 3 months is £360 total. A comparable commercial unit would run £600-£900 for the same period, and you'd be driving across town to access it.

How to organise renovation & home improvement

Step 1: Confirm your renovation timeline Get your contractor's start and estimated finish dates in writing. Add 2 weeks of buffer — renovations almost always overrun.

Step 2: Decide what needs to move out Everything in the rooms being renovated must go. For dusty work like sanding or plastering, items in adjacent rooms should move too. Dust travels further than you think.

Step 3: Search for nearby spaces The closer the storage to your home, the easier move-in day will be. Filter Packhood by distance and look for ground-level access.

Step 4: Book with a buffer If the builder says 6 weeks, book for 2 months. You can end early with Packhood's flexible terms, and you won't be scrambling if the project overruns.

Step 5: Move items out before work begins Contractors need a clear site on day one. Move furniture out at least the day before. Recruit friends or hire a man-with-a-van for £50-£80.

Step 6: Protect everything Wrap upholstered items in plastic sheeting (cheap from any DIY store). Bag clothing in vacuum packs. Put lids on all boxes to keep dust out even in clean storage.

Step 7: Retrieve room by room As each room is finished, bring back the items for that room only. This prevents re-cluttering completed spaces.

Real-world scenarios

Kitchen refit in Galway Declan and Orla stored the entire contents of their kitchen — including a fridge-freezer, dishwasher, and 14 boxes of crockery — in a Packhood garage for 5 weeks at €95/month. The host was 3 minutes away so Orla could grab the slow cooker when they needed it.

Loft conversion in Leeds Rachel moved two bedrooms' worth of furniture into a Packhood spare room for 10 weeks while builders opened up the loft. Cost: £65/month. She kept beds and desks accessible for the first 2 weeks before the upstairs was sealed off.

Full refurb in South London The Nguyens gutted their Victorian terrace — new floors, rewiring, replumbing. They split their belongings across two Packhood garages in Lewisham for 4 months. Total: £560. Their builder's recommended storage firm had quoted £1,400.

Best space types for renovation & home improvement

• Garage — Easy drive-up access for bulky items like appliances and sofas. Ground level means no stairs. The go-to choice for renovation storage.
• Spare Room — Ideal for electronics, clothing, and delicate items you want protected from temperature swings. Usually within the host's home so extra secure.
• Shed — Good for garden furniture and tools displaced by extension work. Budget-friendly for items that can handle some temperature variation.

Pro tips

• Put a dust sheet over everything in storage even if the space itself is clean — it makes unpacking back home much easier.
• Keep a "first back in" box at the front of the storage space with items you'll need immediately when the renovation finishes: curtain poles, lightbulbs, cleaning supplies.
• If your renovation involves new flooring, bring furniture back only after the floor has fully cured (48-72 hours for most laminates, up to a week for some hardwoods).
• Ask your builder if they can help with a "big items" move on their first morning — they'll often have a van and an extra pair of hands.
• Photograph the condition of items before storing. If something gets damaged during the renovation chaos, you'll have evidence for insurance.

How Packhood compares to self-storage in Ireland

Across Ireland, the main commercial self-storage operators include Elephant Self Storage, National Self Storage, Store4U, U Store It. These companies operate purpose-built facilities with climate-controlled indoor units, typically located on commercial estates outside city centres. Monthly pricing ranges from €60 to €450 depending on unit size and location, with additional charges for insurance, padlocks and admin fees.

Packhood offers a fundamentally different approach. Instead of driving to a commercial facility, you book unused space from a verified neighbour — a garage, spare room, driveway, attic or basement within a few streets of your home. Packhood hosts set their own monthly price, which is typically 30-50% lower than commercial self-storage rates. There are no admin fees, no mandatory padlock purchases and no insurance upsells. The listed price is the all-in monthly cost.

Commercial self-storage facilities have genuine advantages in specific scenarios. Climate-controlled indoor units are better for temperature-sensitive items like electronics, wine or artwork. Facilities with 24/7 PIN-code access let you visit your unit at any hour without coordinating with anyone. Staffed receptions can accept deliveries and provide on-site support. For these use cases, a commercial operator may be the right choice.

For most personal and small-business storage needs, however, Packhood delivers better value. The 30-50% cost saving adds up quickly over a 3-6 month booking — that is €120-600 back in your pocket. Neighbourhood proximity means you can walk to your storage rather than loading a car. Month-to-month billing with 14 days' notice means no lock-in contracts. And every booking includes the Packhood Host Guarantee, with €300 per-booking protection, €25k items cover and €100k host liability cover.

Storage demand in May

May is the single busiest month for storage across all three Packhood markets. Three forces converge: the peak of moving season, the end of the university academic year, and the first genuinely warm weekends that drive garden and outdoor storage rotation. In Ireland, the May bank holiday weekend (first Monday) is traditionally one of the biggest moving weekends of the year.

University students across Ireland, the UK, and the Netherlands face a hard deadline: vacate halls or private accommodation by late May or early June. International students who cannot ship belongings home and domestic students who are between leases create enormous demand for short-term campus-adjacent storage. In Dublin alone, approximately 35,000 students need to move out within a 2-3 week window. Similar pressure hits London, Manchester, Birmingham, Amsterdam, and Leiden.

The property market reaches its annual high-water mark. More houses complete in May and June than any other months, and the chain-gap storage phenomenon from April intensifies. Full-household storage (requiring 15-30 m² units like double garages or warehouse bays) is in short supply.

Festival season kicks off. Across all three countries, music festivals, food festivals, and cultural events require performers, vendors, and organisers to store equipment, stock, and staging. Meanwhile, households retrieve barbecues, patio sets, and outdoor play equipment for summer use.

What people store and retrieve in May

• Student move-out storage — The largest single-category storage event of the year. Students need 2-5 m² each for 2-4 months, with demand concentrated within walking distance of major universities.
• House move gap storage — Peak completion month means peak gap storage. Entire household contents — furniture, white goods, boxes — fill garages and warehouse units for 1-6 weeks.
• Summer wardrobe swap completion — The final push to rotate winter clothing into storage. Vacuum-sealed bags of coats, jumpers, and boots head to attics and spare rooms.
• Festival equipment staging — Vendor stock, event infrastructure, and performer equipment move into nearby storage before festivals. Demand spikes around Electric Picnic prep, Glastonbury build-out, and Dutch festival season.
• Garden and patio full deployment — Everything comes out: barbecues, parasols, outdoor cushions, children's play equipment. The sheds and garages they occupied become available for other renters.
• Wedding season prep — Couples storing decorations, gifts, and supplies ahead of summer weddings. Short-term bookings of 1-4 weeks for venue-adjacent storage.
• Renovation intensification — Builders and homeowners take advantage of longer days and drier weather. Room-by-room renovation storage peaks.
• Surfboard and water sports gear retrieval — Wetsuits, surfboards, kayaks, and paddleboards emerge from garage storage as water temperatures become tolerable.

Storage tips for May

• Students: book your summer storage before exam season begins. Waiting until the week of move-out means paying 15-20% more and potentially storing 2 km from campus instead of 200 m.
• If you are moving house in May, book your Packhood space at least 3 weeks in advance. Share your completion date with your host so they can confirm availability.
• Hosts near universities (UCD, TCD, UvA, Imperial, Manchester) can earn their highest monthly income in May. Set up a student-friendly listing with weekly rates and flexible check-in times.
• For wedding decoration storage, choose a space with easy vehicle access. You will be loading and unloading on tight timelines, and narrow stairways to an attic are not ideal.
• Photograph all stored items before sealing boxes — especially if you are between houses. Insurance claims require proof of condition.
• Check your Packhood booking insurance coverage before storing high-value items during a house move. Packhood's €300 host guarantee covers incidents, but valuable items may need supplemental cover.

Key dates driving storage demand

• May bank holiday (first Monday) — peak moving weekend
• End of university exams (late May) — TCD, UCD, UCC, NUIG student move-out
• Bloom festival (Phoenix Park, late May) — garden and horticultural equipment storage
• Start of GAA championship season — club equipment storage and retrieval

End-of-Year Student Storage Solutions

The end of the academic year creates the single largest concentrated storage demand event in the calendar. Across Ireland, the UK, and the Netherlands, hundreds of thousands of students vacate accommodation within a 2-3 week window in May and June. International students who cannot ship belongings home face the starkest choice: pay for a flight and excess baggage, or store everything locally for €40-60/month and retrieve it in September. Domestic students moving between houses or heading home for summer encounter the same equation — transporting a room's worth of belongings across the country costs more than three months of Packhood storage. The practical approach is to start packing non-essential items from April, moving them to your Packhood space gradually rather than cramming everything into a single panicked day. Book your space by early April for the best rates and closest proximity to campus. Label every box clearly (photographs help) and create a simple inventory list shared with your Packhood host. When September arrives, you will know exactly what you have and where it is — a significant advantage over the students who stuffed unlabelled bin bags into their parents' attic.

Bridging the Summer Gap: Student Storage Between Leases

The gap between academic-year leases is one of the most stressful periods for students in Dublin, London, and Amsterdam. Your current lease ends in June, your new house-share does not start until September, and you have three months of belongings that need to go somewhere. Traditional self-storage companies target this desperation with minimum-term contracts and hidden fees. Packhood offers a more honest alternative. A standard student storage need — 3-5 m² for books, clothes, bedding, kitchenware, and a few pieces of furniture — costs €40-70/month in Dublin, £35-65/month in London, or €35-60/month in Amsterdam, with no admin fees, no padlock charges, and no forced insurance upsells. The ideal approach is to agree your September accommodation first, then book storage close to your new address rather than your old one. That way, move-in day involves a short trip from your Packhood space to your new front door, not a cross-city logistics exercise. Ask your host about holding deliveries — some will accept packages on your behalf over summer, so you can order that new desk or kitchen kit in August and collect everything in one go.

Frequently asked questions

Can I store my car on Packhood?

Yes — driveways, garages, parking spaces and lock-ups are among the most popular listings. A standard driveway or parking space fits a car comfortably for €40-100/month. For covered or indoor storage, filter by "garage." Vehicles with fuel must be disclosed in the booking as required by Packhood's terms.

How do I optimise my listing for more bookings?

Five proven steps: 1) Use 5+ high-quality photos with natural light, 2) Write a detailed description covering dimensions, security and access, 3) Price within 5-10% of Smart Pricing recommendation, 4) Respond to enquiries within 4 hours, 5) Collect reviews from your first renters — listings with 3+ reviews convert at double the rate.

Can I store a boat or jet ski on Packhood?

Boats on trailers, jet skis and kayaks are welcome on driveways, large parking spaces and covered storage areas. A trailered 6 m boat needs roughly 2.5 x 8 m of space. Drain all water systems before storing. Covered storage (€80-150/month) prevents UV and weather damage to fibreglass hulls.

How does Packhood work?

Packhood connects people with unused space (garages, spare rooms, driveways) to people who need affordable storage. Search by location, filter by space type and price, message the host, and book month-to-month. All payments go through Stripe. Hosts are ID-verified and every booking includes the Host Guarantee (up to €300/£300).

What locks and security should I look for in a storage space?

At minimum, look for a solid padlock or deadbolt on the listing. Higher-security spaces feature CCTV, alarm systems, gated access or smart locks with unique codes. Every Packhood listing displays its security features on the listing page. For high-value items, filter by multiple security features and ask the host about their insurance and access logging.

How should I store wedding dresses or formalwear?

Use a breathable garment bag (never plastic dry-cleaning covers for long-term storage). Stuff bodices and sleeves with acid-free tissue to hold shape. Store hanging, not folded — creases in beaded or structured fabrics can become permanent. A Packhood spare room with a clothes rail or hook is ideal. Cost: €50-80/month for the space.

What are my responsibilities as a Packhood host?

Keep the space as described in your listing: secure, accessible during stated hours, and clean. Notify renters of any changes (access, maintenance). Maintain working locks and lighting. Respond to messages within 24 hours. Report any concerns to Packhood's trust team. You're not responsible for the renter's items — but treat them with respect.

Is storage useful when moving into a care home?

Care home rooms are typically 12-18 m² — a fraction of a family home. Store treasured furniture, photo albums and personal items that won't fit but are too important to sell. A small Packhood space (5-8 m²) costs €50-90/month and preserves options. Family members can access the space to rotate items or retrieve keepsakes.

Can I use Packhood for e-commerce inventory storage?

Yes — hundreds of Etsy, eBay, Shopify and Amazon FBM sellers use Packhood for overflow stock. A standard garage holds 200-400 shoe-box-sized parcels. Filter for spaces with drive-up access and flexible hours so you can fulfil orders daily. At €85/month average, it is 50-70% cheaper than commercial fulfilment warehouse space.

Can two households share a single storage space on Packhood?

Yes, but only one booking is needed. List one person as the primary renter and add the second person's details in the message thread. Divide the space clearly (use tape lines or separate shelving sections) and split the cost privately. Both parties should have the host's access details.

How do I prepare an attic for storage hosting?

Lay boarding across joists (18mm chipboard, €8-12/m²) to create a flat surface. Ensure the loft hatch is accessible and has a sturdy ladder. Check insulation isn't blocking ventilation. Add a battery-powered light. Note the weight limit per square metre (typically 25 kg/m² for domestic lofts). Never store heavy items above unsupported sections.

What is the difference between FBA and FBM storage needs?

FBA sellers ship inventory to Amazon's warehouses, so they only need short-term staging space (2-4 weeks) for inbound prep. FBM sellers fulfil orders themselves and need constant access to stock. Packhood works for both: FBA sellers use a small space (5-8 m²) for prep, while FBM sellers need a garage or lock-up (15+ m²) with daily access.

Can I store a vehicle on Packhood while I'm travelling abroad?

Very common. Expats and long-term travellers store cars on driveways and in garages while abroad for months or years. Month-to-month terms mean you cancel when you return — no lock-in. Ask a trusted friend to check the vehicle monthly, or arrange with the host to run the engine for 10 minutes every 4-6 weeks.

Should I keep my car taxed and insured while in storage?

In the UK, you can SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) a vehicle stored off-road, suspending road tax. In Ireland, you can declare the vehicle off-road at your motor tax office. Insurance is optional for SORNed/off-road vehicles but recommended. Check local rules — penalties for non-compliance are steep (€60-1,000).

Can I store a full house on Packhood?

Yes. A three-bed house typically needs 25-35 m² — equivalent to a large double garage or small warehouse bay. Packhood has listings up to 100+ m² for full-house storage. For very large loads, some hosts offer adjacent spaces (e.g. garage plus driveway). Message the host to confirm capacity before booking.

Understanding storage costs

Storage prices depend on space type, size, access frequency and location. On Packhood, renters pay €35–€200/month for verified neighbour storage — typically 35–60% less than commercial self-storage.

What's included in the price: The listing price on Packhood is the all-in monthly price. Packhood's 20% service fee is already included — nothing extra at checkout. Hosts pay 5% commission. No signup fees, no admin charges, no insurance upsells.

Host Guarantee: Every booking includes up to €300 of Host Guarantee protection per booking. Hosts are ID-verified through Stripe Connect. Renters can message hosts before booking to ask questions and arrange viewings.

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