Storage when a parent moves into care, or for a deceased estate
When a parent moves into aged care, or someone in the family dies, the contents of a home often need to be moved before anyone is ready to decide what happens to them. The house may need to be sold, rented or handed back. Family members may live elsewhere. And some things simply take time.
A storage unit gives the family room to breathe. At Echuca Storage, 11 Murray Valley Highway, Echuca, we have 300 drive-up units, gate access 8am–8pm, 7 days, and standard terms with no lock-in and no minimum stay. Call (03) 4410 8566 and talk it through with us.
When families use storage
- Moving into aged care or a retirement village. A room in care or a smaller unit holds a fraction of a family home. The rest can wait in storage while you decide what to keep, share, sell or donate.
- Clearing a rental property. A rental often has to be emptied and handed back quickly. Storage lets you meet that date without making every decision on the day.
- Sorting a deceased estate. Executors and families can empty the house when it needs to be sold or prepared for sale, then sort the contents with care later.
- Family living elsewhere. If brothers and sisters are spread across Victoria, NSW or further away, storage lets everyone have a say before things are shared out.
- Waiting on probate or a sale. Some decisions can’t be made until paperwork is through. The unit holds the contents in the meantime.
A gentle step-by-step
- Take care of documents first. Keep wills, certificates, bank and property papers with the executor or the family’s solicitor, not in storage.
- Set aside valuables and keepsakes. Jewellery, photos, medals and irreplaceable items are better kept by a family member.
- Choose what moves with your parent, if they are going into care: familiar furniture, photos, favourite chairs and clothes.
- Move the rest into one unit. Every unit is drive-up and trucks can drive in, so a removalist can load straight in.
- Label by room and by person, if items have already been promised to someone.
- Sort in your own time. Meet at the unit on a weekend; gates are open 8am–8pm, 7 days.
- Sell, donate or share, then give 4 weeks’ notice when the unit is empty.
Which size?
| Situation | Starting size | Rate (per 4 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| A unit or flat in a retirement village | 3.0m × 3.0m | $175 |
| A two-bedroom home | 4.5m × 3.0m | $205 |
| A three-bedroom family home | 6.0m × 3.0m | $254 |
| A large home, or a home plus a car | 6.0m × 6.0m | $374 |
These are guides. As the family sorts and the unit empties, you can switch to a smaller unit on site, when one is vacant. Every rate is on sizes and prices; the storage size guide goes item by item.
Practical things that help
- Deliveries. Staff accept deliveries for customers, and trucks can drive in. If a removalist is bringing the contents while the family is interstate, call (03) 4410 8566 first so we know it is coming.
- Look before you decide. The office is open 9am–4pm Monday to Friday, and weekends by appointment, so you can see a unit first.
- Who can access the unit. Several family members can be authorised on one unit, and an executor can rent a unit in an estate’s name.
- No lock-in. Standard terms have no minimum stay; you are billed every 4 weeks and give 4 weeks’ notice when you are finished.
- The current offer. New customers can get the first 4 weeks for $1, then the normal rate: 3-month minimum stay, direct debit only, ends 31 Dec 2026. Estates often take longer than 3 months, so the offer often fits.
Looking after a lifetime of belongings
Units are not climate-controlled. Wrap timber furniture in breathable covers, keep everything off the floor, empty and dry fridges, and keep photos and papers with family rather than in the unit. Our guide on how to pack a storage unit covers the details. Nothing perishable, flammable or hazardous can be stored; that includes food from the pantry, paint, petrol tins and full gas bottles from the shed.
Related help
- Downsizing your own home? See moving house storage.
- Getting a house ready to sell? See renovation and decluttering storage.
- Everyday household overflow: see household storage.
Call (03) 4410 8566 or send us a message. We will help you choose a size and answer any questions, without pressure.
FAQ
Can I store a parent’s furniture while they move into aged care? Yes. A drive-up unit in Echuca holds the contents of the home while the family decides what to keep, share, sell or donate. A two-bedroom home usually fits a 4.5m × 3.0m unit ($205 per 4 weeks).
Is there storage for deceased estates in Echuca? Yes. Executors and families use units at 11 Murray Valley Highway, Echuca, to empty a house that needs to be sold or handed back, then sort the contents later. Standard terms have no lock-in.
How long can we keep a deceased estate in storage? As long as you need on standard terms. You are billed every 4 weeks and give 4 weeks’ notice when you are finished. The $1 offer has a 3-month minimum.
Can a removalist deliver to the unit if the family lives interstate? Yes. Staff accept deliveries for customers, and trucks can drive in. Call (03) 4410 8566 first so we know a delivery is coming.
Can we move to a smaller unit as we sort things out? Yes. You can switch to a bigger or smaller unit on site as your needs change, when one is vacant.
Can several family members be authorised on one unit? Yes. Several family members can be authorised on one unit, and an executor can rent a unit in an estate’s name. Call (03) 4410 8566.