Friday, August 28, 2009

What Size Self Storage Unit Do I Need?

Ok, you’ve decided to clean up the clutter and finally cave in to your loved ones demands and store some of your stuff. I think we’ve all been there and done that. Now you have to decide what size storage unit will fit all of your stuff. This can be harder than you think.

If you rent a self storage unit that is too small, you may find yourself outside of a packed unit with more thing s that just won’t fit in. Then again, if you rent one that is too big, you may have all your stuff inside the unit only to discover that you really didn’t need that large a unit and you wasted some hard earned money. So how do you avoid this?

Here’s what you do:

• Size up your stuff: Don’t rent the storage unit first and then gather up your stuff. You may think you know exactly what is or isn’t going into the storage unit, but your family may say otherwise. It is always best to gather up all the stuff that is to be stored first and then try to decide how large a storage unit will accommodate you.
• Check out the storage unit in person: I can’t really explain this any simpler. Take the time to actually look at the storage unit you are going to rent so that you can actually see how much room there is. A 5 X 10 unit may sound huge, but when you see it you may say, ‘No way all my stuff is going to fit in here.’ Plus, storage facilities vary. Some will have a ceiling that is about 12 feet high and other will be higher. Point is, if you are good at stacking you may get away with a smaller unit, but you have to see the unit first in order to determine this.
• Ask for help: Any storage unit facility would be more than happy to help you decide what size storage unit is right for you. If you feel that you cannot make an accurate decision, then ask for help. Let them know what you have to store and they can tell you how much space you need, they are after all pros.


Knowing what size self storage unit you need first is invaluable. Not only can it save you time and money, but also it will help you avoid the headache that comes with choosing the wrong size unit and then having to adjust accordingly. Save 5% off portable storage rentals with a Pack rat coupon code.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Getting Your Stuff to the Self Storage Unit Facility

You’ve rented the perfect size storage unit for all your clutter and are ready to free up some much needed space around your home and now you are wondering how you are going to get your stuff to the storage unit facility. This is really a question that should be addressed before you rent a storage unit, but if you neglected this step, no worries, there’s still hope.

If you have a pick-up truck or an SUV then a couple of friends can more than likely be bribed with some pizza and cold beverages. Depending on how much stuff you have this can take a couple of hours for one or two trips or the entire day if you have to make multiple trips. If you think you will have to make too many trips and it will eat up too much gas, then you may need to consider renting a moving van or truck.

If you haven’t rented your self storage unit yet, great! There are many self-storage facilities that have a moving van or moving truck that they own and typically when you are renting from them, they will offer the vehicle to you at a special price when you move your stuff in. Some even let you use it for free. You can find this information out by calling ahead of time and simply asking if they have a van or truck available for use.

However you choose to get your stuff to the storage unit you will still need the help of those friends, so get the number to Dominos ready. Bribery is a wonderful thing!

Find and compare self storage units near you.