If you need to move some items around temporarily, a storage unit is usually your best bet. Moving the items to a unit outside your home frees up space in the home and reduces the chances of the items being damaged during the remodeling, move, or whatever else is happening in your home. You have a choice between taking items to a storage facility or having a mobile storage unit dropped off at your home. If you choose the mobile option -- say, you don't want to deal with having to travel to another location to retrieve items -- you'll find it to be very convenient, but you'll also find it requires some preparation. Here are three things you must do before getting your mobile storage unit.

Clearance

These units are usually rectangular containers with a roll-up or swinging door. They look a bit like small shipping containers. They're delivered and picked up by truck, usually with a forklift. That means the containers need to be in an area that has enough clearance for the truck to park nearby and unload the forklift and container. You also have to be sure that there are no tree branches resting on the top of the container because those could scratch the container if wind starts blowing the branches around.

Permits

Depending on the size of the unit and how long you plan to store it -- as well as where you plan to store it -- you might need a city permit or at least permission from your homeowner's association, if you have one. A large storage container that will be on the street in front of your house for several weeks will likely need a permit. A small container that will sit in your driveway as you prepare to move out of your home might not need a permit. However, it's best not to assume; ask your HOA or your city's building permit department about requirements.

Level-Enough Ground

Depending on the size of the container, the slope of the ground you plan to put it on could be an issue. If you're in a hilly area where even the driveway is a short hill itself, a storage container might not be a good idea. You have to find a spot that is level enough to support the container without making everything inside slide to the back in a jumble, or without making the container itself topple over. Note that slopes don't have to be severe for this to happen if you get a container that's taller than it is wide or long.

If any of these three issues will present a problem, you may be better off finding a regular storage unit. But talk to the storage company to find out what requirements its mobile storage will need in terms of slope, clearance, and so on. The storage rental company staff will help you figure out which storage option is right for you.