Self Storage vs. Renting a Bigger Home | Storage Unit of Dickinson

Published on 7/8/2026
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Storage Tips · Dickinson, ND

Self Storage vs. Renting a Bigger Home

Storage Unit of Dickinson · 7 min read

Dickinson, ND residents who feel like their home is running out of space almost always have a storage problem rather than a home size problem — and a self storage unit solves it for a fraction of what a larger rental would cost.

North Dakota Life Creates More Stuff Than Most Homes Can Hold

Dickinson residents live full North Dakota lives — and full North Dakota lives generate a lot of gear. Hunting equipment for fall season. Ice fishing gear for winter. Snowmobiles and cold-weather management equipment. Spring and summer camping bikes and outdoor supplies. And for the energy industry workers who make up a significant part of Dickinson's population the logistical complexity of housing and belongings adds another layer entirely. Most Dickinson homes and apartments were not built to absorb all four seasons of this life simultaneously — and when they overflow the temptation is to look for a bigger home. But the right answer in most cases is a storage unit at Storage Unit of Dickinson that handles the overflow for a fraction of what a larger rental would cost.

The Real Cost Comparison in Dickinson

The North Dakota rental market has experienced significant fluctuation tied to energy industry cycles — and moving to a larger home in Dickinson comes with real costs that most people underestimate when they are feeling cramped. Moving from a two-bedroom to a three-bedroom rental typically adds $200 to $400 per month or more depending on the property and the current market. Adding moving costs — truck rental, professional movers if used, new deposits and connection fees — and the first-year cost of upgrading can reach $3,500 to $6,000 above your current baseline. A storage unit at Storage Unit of Dickinson costs a fraction of that monthly investment with zero moving costs. Call (701) 690-5512 for current pricing — in most cases Dickinson residents save $1,800 to $4,000 per year by choosing storage over an upgrade.

Real annual savings
A storage unit at $70–$120 per month versus $200–$400 in additional Dickinson rent saves $1,800–$4,000 or more per year — money that stays in the household rather than going to increased housing costs.
North Dakota gear gets organized
Hunting fishing snowmobiling and outdoor gear stored in a dedicated unit reclaims the garage and solves the overflow problem without requiring a home with more square footage.
Flexibility for energy workers
Month-to-month storage is ideal for Dickinson's energy industry workforce where housing situations change with work rotations. A larger home lease is a 12-month commitment that storage never requires.
No moving disruption
Moving is expensive stressful and disruptive to school community and routine. A storage unit solves the space problem with a single loading day rather than weeks of packing and transition.

The Space Problems Storage Reliably Solves in Dickinson

The space problems that most consistently drive Dickinson residents toward considering a larger home are storage problems that a well-organized unit at Storage Unit of Dickinson addresses completely. A garage consumed by hunting equipment snowmobiles ATVs and outdoor gear — storage reclaims it entirely. Closets overflowing with heavy winter clothing and cold-weather gear that takes up space year-round — storage handles the seasonal rotation cleanly. A basement that has become the household catch-all for everything without a permanent home — storage empties it and returns it to useful space. Off-season items and holiday decorations that live in the home year-round when they only need to be there seasonally — storage removes them entirely. Every one of these problems has the same solution and it costs far less than a larger rent payment every month.

When Moving to a Larger Home in Dickinson Is the Right Answer

There are genuine situations where a larger home in Dickinson is the right choice over a storage unit. A growing family that needs additional bedrooms for children needs living space that storage cannot replace. A household that has genuinely and permanently outgrown its space across multiple years of real need — not temporary clutter or seasonal accumulation — may be ready for more square footage. And a household with a specific and permanent need like a dedicated home office may have a living space need. But in every one of these cases using storage during the search and transition period is still the smarter approach — it gives the family the time to find exactly the right next home in Dickinson's market rather than making a rushed decision under the pressure of feeling cramped day to day.

Questions to Ask Before You Decide to Move
Is the problem living space or storage space — be completely honest with yourself
Have you calculated the true all-in first-year cost of moving to a larger Dickinson home?
Is the overflow seasonal North Dakota gear related or transitional? That is always a storage problem
Does your energy work rotation make a 12-month lease commitment a risk rather than an asset?
Would a storage unit let you stay where you are and save thousands per year while the situation evolves?

The Smarter Space Solution for Dickinson Residents

For the majority of Dickinson, ND residents dealing with a space problem, Storage Unit of Dickinson is the smarter financial answer — by thousands of dollars per year without the disruption of moving. Call (701) 690-5512 today to discuss your specific situation and find out exactly what a storage unit would cost compared to upgrading your housing. The numbers make the decision clear almost every time — call (701) 690-5512 and let us help you make the right call.

Ready to Get Started?
Storage Unit of Dickinson offers clean, secure, and flexible storage in Dickinson, ND.
Call (701) 690-5512