Moving Abroad? How to Store Your Household Goods in India

Amarsons Prime Storage Team   4 Oct

Moving abroad for work or studies, or returning to India after a few years? Many families choose to keep their furniture and household goods in storage rather than selling everything or shipping it overseas. It saves money compared with international shipping and means you don’t have to start from scratch when you come back. Here is how to plan it well.

Decide what to store, ship, sell or carry

Go through your home room by room and sort items into four groups:

• Carry with you — passports, certificates, jewellery, laptops and anything you need immediately.
• Ship — the few items you really need in your new country.
• Store — good furniture, appliances, kitchenware, books and personal items you want to keep for your return.
• Sell or donate — things that are old, cheap to replace, or will be outdated by the time you return.

Think about how long you will be away

For a stay of a year or two, storing good-quality furniture usually makes sense. For longer periods, consider whether items like large appliances will still be worth keeping. Ask the storage provider about long-term rates, and how easy it is to extend or shorten the storage period if your plans change.

Prepare items for a long stay in storage

• Clean and dry everything properly before packing, especially fabrics, mattresses and kitchen items.
• Defrost and dry the refrigerator and drain the washing machine.
• Dismantle large furniture and keep screws and fittings in labelled bags.
• Use breathable covers for wooden furniture and strong cartons for boxed items.

Make a detailed inventory

Since you will be far away, a clear inventory is essential. List every box and item with photos of valuable pieces, and keep a copy online. Labelled boxes make it possible for a family member — or the storage team — to find and send a specific item if you ever need it.

Plan access while you are abroad

Decide who can access your goods on your behalf, such as a parent or sibling, and inform the storage provider in writing. Ask how retrieval works, whether items can be picked out individually, and how payments can be made from abroad.

Ask the right questions about the storage facility

Check how the facility is secured, how goods are handled and stacked, whether pickup and delivery are included, and whether insurance is available for long-term storage.

Amarsons Prime Storage offers household storage with doorstep pickup, packing and inventory support in Bangalore. Contact us to plan storage before your move abroad.