How Nomadic Travellers Keep Property Safe - Top Tips

Many of our housesitters at Housesitmatch.com are full time nomadic travellers. They start housesitting and get addicted to travel but how do they manage their property and possessions? It can be a challenge. In this article we offer housesitters and long term travellers some top tips on how to manage property and possessions when you are away from home. Read on to learn more.

How to Manage Property and Possessions While Living as a Nomadic Traveller

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Dreaming of ditching it all and becoming a nomadic traveller? But what about all your stuff?

We hear you. That’s the question that stops most people from taking the leap. The idea of being able to work from anywhere in the world is so tempting… until you think about all the furniture, boxes, belongings you own that can’t fit into a backpack.

Fear not:

Managing property and possessions while living as a nomadic traveller isn’t just possible. Thousands of travellers around the world are doing it already. And guess what? With enough foresight, it doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive.

In this article you’re going to learn:

Why Nomads Need A Possessions Strategy
The Best Ways To Store Belongings Long-Term
How To Move Large Items Without Being There
Smart Tips For Downsizing Before Hitting The Road

Why Nomads Need A Possessions Strategy

Nomadic travelling is more popular than ever.

New data shows there are over 40 million digital nomads around the world. That number jumps to 18.1 million digital nomads just in the United States.

What most people don’t realise…

Not all nomads abandon every material possession they own. Believe it or not 54% of digital nomads own their home. That means most digital nomads have property and possessions they need to manage remotely.

A digital nomad belongings strategy is required. Whether it be researching storage options, hiring furniture moving crews or simply decluttering before departure. Sorting this side of things out allows you to embrace the nomadic lifestyle long-term.

Thankfully services like Three Men and a Truck movers allow you to get your possessions moved into storage or to another home while you’re on the opposite side of the world.

The Best Ways To Store Belongings Long-Term

If you do decide that storage is the best option for you. There are multiple routes you can go.

Every situation is unique so it’s hard to say one storage option is better than another. It will depend on your budget, duration of trip and how many possessions you need to store.

Renting a self-storage unit is by far the most common storage solution among nomads. The self-storage industry currently has over 2.1 billion square feet of space available in the US, so there are plenty of units available. On average a 10×10 unit costs $119/mo.

But self-storage isn’t your only option. Other storage options that nomads utilise:

Leave belongings with friends/family. Free storage in a closet/garage. By far the cheapest option if it’s available to you.
Rent out your current home. If you own your home, rent it out and pay someone else to cover the mortgage and maintain the home while you’re gone being a nomadic traveller.
Look into peer-to-peer storage. Companies like this allow you to store your possessions with someone who has extra space. Pricing is often cheaper than traditional self-storage units.
Find a housesitter – Join a housesitting network like Housesitmatch.com and find a checked and trusted housesitter who’ll move in to care for your property and possessions while you are away.

Regardless of which storage route you go. Make sure to consider accessibility. You might need certain items during your trip so look for a storage solution that allows you to easily grab stuff if you need it.

empty home of nomadic travellers — Many nomadic travellers find housesitters to care for their own homes while they are away
Photo credit –
6Erik Mclean

How To Move Large Items Without Being There

Moving large items when living abroad is where most nomads trip themselves up.

The thought of having furniture, boxes, appliances moved to storage or another home seems impossible when you’re already halfway across the world. It can be done. You just need to find the right furniture moving crew that specialises in moving for nomadic travellers.

Professional movers can pack up your items, store them and have them delivered to your new location without you needing to be there. This flexibility is perfect for nomadic movers.

Things to consider when moving large items remotely:

Look for companies that offer virtual estimates. A lot of furniture moving companies will do video calls now so they can quote your move remotely.
Ask about full-service packing. You want the furniture moving crew to pack and label your boxes to help minimise damage.
Inquire about storage partnerships. Many furniture movers offer short term storage options. This is ideal if you’ll be between homes or waiting for storage to open up.
Ensure the company has great communication. Movers will be in a different timezone than you so make sure they can return calls and texts in a timely manner.

Trying to move things last minute is a nomadic no-no. Begin the process as early as possible. Get the moving company quotes, packaging estimates and locked in move dates before you leave on your trip.

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Smart Tips For Downsizing Before Hitting The Road

Something every nomadic traveller should do before moving without a permanent home, is declutter.

This step is crucial. The less stuff you own the easier your life will be. Not only does downsizing save you money on moving/storage costs. But it also prevents you from clinging onto junk.

Ask yourself this question when deciding what stays and what goes:

Does this item serve enough purpose to justify paying monthly storage fees or moving costs?

If not, time to let it go. Here’s an example system that works really well:

Keep: Anything with high sentimental or monetary value. Family heirlooms, important documents and expensive electronics.
Sell: Furniture, appliances you can live without, clothing you want to swap out. Listing items for sale online is quick and easy.
Donate: If you can’t sell it. Donate stuff in good condition to charity. Many places will pick up bulky items for free.
Trash: Broken items, junk, outdated paperwork. If you haven’t touched it in years you’ll likely never miss it.

Every nomad will likely only end up keeping around 20-30% of their stuff. Be ruthless when decluttering, it’s therapeutic and frees you up when on the road.

Another great idea? Digitise everything.

Books, photo albums, paperwork. Scan it all and keep it digital. This drastically reduces the amount of physical items you’ll need to store.

Managing Property From Anywhere

Ok so what about homeowners who still own the home they live in? Managing property from another country can be challenging. But once you have everything set up it should run on autopilot.

As mentioned before, the best bet is to hire a property manager. They make sure tenants are qualified, collect rent, do repairs and are available during emergency situations. Property managers typically take a % cut of the monthly rental price.

If hiring a property manager isn’t an option. Here are a few tips to manage digitally:

Setup automated mortgage payments. Same goes for home insurance and any utilities you’re responsible for.
Invest in some smart home devices. Remote cameras and thermostats help you keep an eye on your property while away.
Have an emergency contact. Find someone local that can help with any problems if they come up.

Time flies when living a nomadic life. You’ll be back before you know it.

Bring It All Together

There you have it. Managing property and possessions as a nomadic traveller is simple when you know what to do.

Here are the key takeaways for you as a nomadic traveller:

Start planning early. Don’t leave all your moving and storage questions until the week before you leave.
Declutter with fury. More stuff equals more expenses. You don’t need nearly as much as you think.
Ask for help. Enlist the help of movers and property managers to do the heavy lifting.

Living as a digital nomad is easier than ever these days. There are a tonne of services and technology that allow you to live wherever you want.

Sort out your stuff. Sort out your property. Then get out there and enjoy your freedom.