Clutter aims to offer clients just the opposite

Gretchen Rossi is in the process of eliminating all the clutter from her life — and that includes holiday decorations and “The Real Housewives of Orange County” drama.

So when the 36-year-old “Housewife” alum recognized that her Halloween and Christmas ornaments and trimmings were overtaking the Costa Mesa home she shares with longtime beau Slade Smiley, she went on a mission to get organized.

“Slade makes fun of me, calling me a hoarder,” Rossi said, laughing into the telephone. “But I love changing out the rooms and decorating.”

A friend referred her to a new Los Angeles-based storage company opening near Orange County, and Rossi was sold. The company packs clients’ items, stores them and allows customers to manage their goods online or by phone.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Rossi gushed.

The storage company, Clutter, arose from the idea that storage should be made simple.

Founder Brian Thomas developed the company in 2013 when he couldn’t locate his favorite “Calvin and Hobbes” book in storage. He wanted to give to his cousin.

“I was frustrated,” Thomas said. “I was losing track of what I owned, and I knew technology could offer a better solution.”

Self-storage, he said, is dated.

Today’s storage units are dusty, dirty and packed with items that aren’t sorted and can be difficult to find. Long-term contract rates are increasingly hiked, and the units are usually located in scary neighborhoods, according to Rossi.

“A couple weeks ago, I was coming out of my old storage unit and I saw a car waiting at the gate,” Rossi said. “As I was coming out, he was just sitting there, and I thought, ‘Oh, great. If he breaks in I will be the one who allowed him access.’”

With Clutter, the storage is monitored by 24-hour security, and Clutter employees must pass background checks to pick up and store items. The company also pulls Motor Vehicle Department driving records before hiring.

To get started, a client must call or go online to schedule a pickup. The plans range from $7 to $175 and include the storage unit, but home pickup and delivery of items are extra.

Clutter takes pictures of the belongings, marks them with barcodes and boxes up the possessions during a scheduled pickup. The team then creates an online visual inventory so a person can check what is in storage.

When a customer needs items pulled out of storage, a delivery date can be scheduled. The company’s water-resistant, reusable plastic storage boxes are delivered to the client’s doorstep.

Included in all plans is a $1,000 limited liability policy and a no-rate-hike guarantee. A three-month storage minimum, paid, is required.

Clutter, which has headquarters in Culver City and now serves Orange County residents with its new La Mirada address, across the Los Angeles County line near the 10 and 5 freeways. The company has locations throughout Southern California, including San Gabriel, San Fernando and Pomona. Following its La Mirada debut, the start-up will roll into San Diego as it aims to expand nationally.

Rossi said that since she lives near the beach, she appreciates the company’s storage of bulky items like bicycles and surfboards, knowing they can be returned at the owner’s convenience.

“I’m kind of a control freak, but the people who came were extremely friendly, nice and handled everything so well,” Rossi said. “This just takes out all the guesswork and energy.”

Tony Sziklai, Clutter chief technology officer and co-founder, said his favorite item to store is his stand-up paddleboard. It takes up too much garage space, he said.

And Thomas, who breaks his camping gear out of storage each summer, said the best part of founding the company is knowing people have easier access to be able to enjoy their belongings.

Did he eventually find the “Calvin and Hobbes” books?

“Yes,” he said, laughing. “It took a while, but we were happily reunited.”

For more information, visit clutter.io.