Could I pinch you all for a bit of market research?

[aaron1867]

I could really do with some thoughts on this by anyone and even more so by those who use storage facilities.

I have a little solution towards storage, etc. I think it's a bit different, but understand people's potential fears, so here goes.

I am currently creating an online platform (website/app) where basically people can offer storage in their homes (or other premises) to people looking for storage. Therefore it creates a positive for both people, one customer gains financially through getting paid to let some space and the other gains financially as it's cheaper than elsewhere.

At the moment, I'm trying to work out how to get the online platform to safeguard customers, from obvious situations happening and how people will feel easier.

So, my question is would you store your items at a strangers house if you feel it saves you £?

Also, would you be interested in potentially storing other people's items also?

Any extra thoughts are ideal too.

Thank You 😬

[Woodsey]

Possibly and no. Security and damage to my items would be my biggest concern, what if their storage space was a damp musty old garage? doubt I'd use the service until it was well established and there were safeguards in place.

[PokerBroker]

No and no - if I have no room for it then is binned or given away.

[Longines]

Have you seen http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38211628 ?

[Woodsey]

No and no - if I have no room for it then is binned or given away.

House moving market innit.

[MintTrav]

Yes and yes.

Seems a super idea to me.

Why an app rather than a website?

[AndrewT]

So what happens if I store stuff round at your house and need to access it but you're not in?

Do I have to phone you up and make an appointment to access my stuff?

[RED-DOG]

Would my goods be insured if I stored then at someone's house?

Would my house insurance cost go up if I stored someone's valuables?

Would I have to register my house as business premises?

[EvilPie]

Everything's going to get nicked.

Insurance obviously the main issue. I can't imagine any insurer would touch this business and without insurance you don't have a business.

That would be my first bit of research. Speak to insurers and see if it's even feasible before you spend too much more time on it.

If people are having to insure their own goods (as we do at our storage facility) then I think you're going to struggle to get many customers.

I'm being deliberately negative here by the way. Any business venture needs critiquing. If you have the answers to all of the potential pitfalls then happy days. I won't tell you the positives as you know all of them. It's potentially amazing but the bad bits are the bits you need to concern yourself with.

[arbboy]

Like all of these services which under cut typical businesses you are getting a cheaper price because you are buying an inferior product generally.  It is not comparable when you look into the details of what you are buying.   Airbnb/Uber etc.  If you don't mind receiving an inferior product then fine but when people are trusting you to look after their treasured possessions rather than a quick nap in someone's room or a quick taxi drive then i think price isn't the key driver here for most people it is security and trust.  You can't offer that with the greatest of respect for multiple reasons.

I have never used a storage facility.  I am more like Pokerbroker just get rid of stuff when i don't need it or sell it.  I get their place in the housing market though but don't think you have a real business here tbh.  For that reason i am out.

[MintTrav]

Seems people haven't read the link, cos there are already others doing this.

Insurance is available, but I'm not sure why everyone is emphasising valuables / treasured possessions. It's clearly more suitable for less valuable, but bulky, stuff.

[EvilPie]

Seems people haven't read the link, cos there are already others doing this.

Insurance is available, but I'm not sure why everyone is emphasising valuables / treasured possessions. It's clearly more suitable for less valuable, but bulky, stuff.

It still carries a value though and if it goes up in smoke who covers it? If I was to leave my £2k dining table / chairs at someone's house and never got to see them again I'd be pretty upset. If it's a couple of suitcases full of clothes it may seem like low value until it disappears and you have to replace it. The person doing the storing needs to be careful as well. If they made a claim the insurance Company could say that they were under insured and only pay out pro-rata. As long as they're aware of what you're doing you're fine but if you're insured for £10k worth of stuff and you make a claim and they find you've got £20k of stuff in your house good luck getting paid out.

Furniture storage is possibly a good one. I'm currently looking after a bed for a friend who's moved to a furnished flat and didn't really want to sell it as she'd lose most of its value. Whether she'd have wanted to pay a monthly rent for me storing it is a different matter.

As Woodsey has said the house moving market is possibly a good one. Movers charge a fortune to store anything so that has potential if someone's in a transitional period between houses.

It has potential but the main issue appears to be that it's already being done. Good idea though

[bookiebasher]

I like the idea although the devil is in the detail.

You would have to make sure that all the storage spaces/units were fully covered insurance wise and
get your terms and conditions double and triple checked to make sure there water tight or else your
going to spend a lot of time in small claim courts over piffling little things going missing , stolen or damaged.

I know when I  moved it cost me a fortune for a storage unit for around 6/7 weeks and 90% of it was junk
the ex didn't want to chuck out and had been in our loft for 10 years , never seen the light of day.

Don't know who is already doing it but think there is some mileage in the plan.

[MANTIS01]

The house-sitting market is big business as it goes and I have a few friends who literally travel the world sitting houses, walking dogs of complete strangers. Now you would think that on the face of it letting someone you've never met live in your house while you're not there would be a ridiculous concept, certainly more risky than storing a few old wardrobes in a garage. But the key is reputation which does indeed build trust. Just like it's in the interests of eBay sellers to build a great rep so would it be in the interests of storage facilitators to provide safe, clean and accessible storage. I think the issues of safety and security will naturally take care of themselves as the facilitators are running a business and it's in their interests for that business to be good.

[aaron1867]

Thanks for all the replies - I seem to get all the same problems asked and how we could deal with them.

Insurance/theft/missing items - This is the number 1 problem to get around. There is insurance on items available, home insurance & so on. I've also questioned if the company itself should pay for potential thefts and hope there aren't many, and the app would potentially hold the people doing storing purely responsible. A long way to go on this issue.

Items - I can't see many people wanting to store anything expensive, like the £2k dining table, I'd assume that many items would be just bits people can't store, paperwork clothes Xmas stuff, etc.

Times - I know 100% that it will be an issue of accessibility. I would hope to add a appointment feature on app/website to be able to access their storage and hope people accept there can't be instant access.

Not just spare space - I would hope that this just isn't garage space, but space in your home, commercial premises, or also letting cat parking space too.

Months to go though to try and get round the issues & I didn't realise someone had already started something similar!