During your cross-country move, you will be given a date or spread of dates when you will be expected to be able to accept delivery of your items. But what if you cannot or do not want to accept delivery during those dates? What if you want to take this move as an opportunity to travel the country and see the Grand Canyon or snap a photo with the world’s largest ball of twine?
In that case, you can take advantage of storage-in-transit (SIT). SIT is a type of temporary storage available while moving, offered either at origin or destination. With SIT, a local Bekins agent will accept your goods into their warehouse for temporary safekeeping. It’s a versatile, stress-saving moving and storage solution that’s particularly useful for interstate moves.
The Difference Between SIT and Local Storage
While they share some similarities, the differences between local storage and SIT are vast. In this case, local storage refers to any short-term storage or long-term storage solution that isn’t SIT. Examples of local storage options include:
- A third-party storage facility
- Your own personal storage unit
- A different moving company’s warehouse
- An acquaintance that offers storage on their property
Each of these options can work if the only goal is temporary in-transit storage of your property. However, they are not true SIT services, and thus lack most of the benefits offered by SIT.
SIT Offers Stronger Protection
Since SIT is the storage solution provided by your interstate mover, you enjoy the exact same liability coverage as when the mover is actively transporting your goods. This seamless continuation of coverage eliminates risky gaps where, if damage or loss does occur, it’s unclear with whom the responsibility lies. It also limits unpredictability around rates and terms and gives you an easy source of truth with a single bill of lading.
SIT is a Natural Extension of Full Service Moves
Full service move packages and SIT are both solutions designed to simplify the moving process. As the name “storage-in-transit” suggests, your move is not considered complete until your things have been in SIT for 180 days or delivered out of SIT to the destination of your choosing. It helps ensure complete, seamless management of your property from the beginning to the end of your move and gives you more freedom to choose when that ‘end’ actually takes place.
What happens after 180 days? Don’t worry, your things are not auctioned off like it’s an episode of A&E’s Storage Wars. Your goods will simply be converted from SIT to local storage under the warehouse’s terms and your interstate move will be considered complete.
SIT Takes the Stress Out of Long-Distance Moving
The farther you move, the more likely it is that your schedule will be thrown off by something. This is true for commercial moves and residential moves alike. Fortunately, SIT virtually eliminates the stress caused by this type of unpredictability, since it guarantees the safety and security of your goods even if the timing of your move is changed. Experienced storage-in-transit movers, like Bekins, know that moves are unpredictable. So SIT services were developed, in part, to provide greater peace of mind if and when your moving and storage service needs change.
Our SIT Services are Second to None
If you’re interested in Bekin’s SIT services, have questions about storage in transit costs or want to learn more about the long-distance moving services we provide, answers are just a few clicks away. Get in touch with a Bekins Van Lines representative today and we’ll have you on the move in no time! You can also request a moving estimate to get a better understanding of what your interstate move will cost. For more moving tips, including in-transit storage advice, you can also check out our What to Expect guide.
