Moving items into a self storage unit should be no different than when you are actually moving. They need to packaged correctly and arranged in a way that ensures all of the contents are completely safe over a long period of time. Even in a climate controlled self storage unit, if you pack your belongings incorrectly, they could become damaged over time. Here are some quick tips to make the usage of your self storage unit more effective and safe.
1. General Packing Tips
It is important to use the correct packing accessories to store all of your items safely over a long period of time. This may include: cartons, boxes, bubble wrap, and even plastic covers. Make sure that when packing cartons or boxes that they are filled completely. If boxes are not completely filled, there is a much higher risk that over time they will bend, tip, or collapse which can damage whatever is in them. Additionally, labeling all of your boxes and cartons can save a lot time later on, if you need to search for a few particular items.
2. Furniture
Whenever you store furniture, make sure that they are completely empty of all of their contents. Otherwise there is a greater chance that they may become warped because of the additional weight. Additionally, if you can remove pieces, such as the legs of table, it can help to save space. Finally, make sure that everything is cleaned before putting it in a self storage unit. This will further prevent the chance of mold, bacteria, or attracting vermin.
3. Dishes, Glassware, Mirrors, Paintings, Etc
As with all fragile items, it is important to take additional care when packing them for a self storage unit. Make sure that they all completely covered in additional packaging material such as bubble wrap. Additionally, it is important to fill in any gaps or spaces within the boxes to help prevent them from shifting. Additionally, it is important to stack your fragile items on top of more stable items. If you stack other boxes on your fragile items, there is a much higher chance that the boxes could stumble over as time passes. The boxes could also slowly compress because the fragile items, such as dishes, can not sustain the weight.
4. Electronics
Electronics need to be given additional care when storing them in a self storage unit. Ideally, you can use the original boxes that they came in, however most people do not save these. The best alternative is to wrap all of the electronics in bubble wrap and store them in a correctly proportioned box. Additionally, it is important to fill in any additional spaces to ensure that your electronics do not get poked or prodded in the event the boxes slowly collapse over time. Additionally, if any of the electronics have batteries in them, make sure that they are removed before storing them. Otherwise the batteries can leak acid and destroy all surrounding electronics and other items.
By following these simple tips, your self storage unit will be more effectively able to protect your goods over a long period of time. Many people overlook the importance of protecting their goods correctly. However, it is more important to pack correctly when moving items into a self storage unit than when you are moving from one residence to another. Items in storage units could be there for years, whereas when changing residences, items will only be packed for a few days.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Self Storage Facilities – Choosing the Right One for You
If you are like most people you have a household that is overrun with stuff and all this stuff can be causing you some undue stress as it seems to endlessly pile up, what is the answer; a self storage facility near you. Self storage is the easiest way to clean up both your home and your life and bring peace and civility back to your household.
Self storage seems like it is currently peaking at an all time high as far as popularity goes and for that reason you no doubt have two or more self storage facilities within striking distance of your home. So which one is the best for you?
There are several factors that you should consider when choosing a self storage facility and price alone should not be the only thing you consider. Here are some items that you should strongly consider before you store your stuff:
• Hours of Operation: Some self storage facilities are open longer than others and some will even allow you access after hours if you get permission beforehand. Be sure that the self storage facility you are considering can accommodate the hours that you will need in order to access your unit. If you work nine to five and the storage unit facility is only open from nine to six then you have very little time to get done what you need to get done.
• Security: This is very important as your stuff will not be insured by the storage unit facility itself and if you don’t take out insurance and your unit gets broken into then your stuff is gone forever and you have no recourse. See how secure the storage unit facility is that you are considering. At a minimum there should be a gate that can only be accessed going both in and out with an access code. Some storage unit facilities will even have a manager who lives ‘on-site’ and will be there for the majority of the day and night. While this isn’t going to stop all robberies it certainly will deter them. Also consider the surrounding areas of the facility and what the current crime rate of the area is. If you are in doubt, ask the local police department.
• Flexibility: Say you have enough extra stuff to fill a 5X10 storage unit. What if you get more stuff in the future that needs to be stored? Be sure that the storage unit facility has a good amount of storage unit sizes for you to choose from so that you can get a bigger one if you need to. This saves you from having to switch from facility to facility as your needs change.
• Price: With all things being equal at two or more storage unit facilities in your area then price should be considered. Just be sure that the low priced facility is not a lower price because they make you sign a contract. Contracts take away from the flexibility point.
No matter who you are or what you do chances are that you have some stuff that is needlessly taking up space in your home. If this is the case and you simply can’t part with any of your stuff then it is certainly in your best interest to check out the self storage facilities in your local area and store away your clutter.
Self storage seems like it is currently peaking at an all time high as far as popularity goes and for that reason you no doubt have two or more self storage facilities within striking distance of your home. So which one is the best for you?
There are several factors that you should consider when choosing a self storage facility and price alone should not be the only thing you consider. Here are some items that you should strongly consider before you store your stuff:
• Hours of Operation: Some self storage facilities are open longer than others and some will even allow you access after hours if you get permission beforehand. Be sure that the self storage facility you are considering can accommodate the hours that you will need in order to access your unit. If you work nine to five and the storage unit facility is only open from nine to six then you have very little time to get done what you need to get done.
• Security: This is very important as your stuff will not be insured by the storage unit facility itself and if you don’t take out insurance and your unit gets broken into then your stuff is gone forever and you have no recourse. See how secure the storage unit facility is that you are considering. At a minimum there should be a gate that can only be accessed going both in and out with an access code. Some storage unit facilities will even have a manager who lives ‘on-site’ and will be there for the majority of the day and night. While this isn’t going to stop all robberies it certainly will deter them. Also consider the surrounding areas of the facility and what the current crime rate of the area is. If you are in doubt, ask the local police department.
• Flexibility: Say you have enough extra stuff to fill a 5X10 storage unit. What if you get more stuff in the future that needs to be stored? Be sure that the storage unit facility has a good amount of storage unit sizes for you to choose from so that you can get a bigger one if you need to. This saves you from having to switch from facility to facility as your needs change.
• Price: With all things being equal at two or more storage unit facilities in your area then price should be considered. Just be sure that the low priced facility is not a lower price because they make you sign a contract. Contracts take away from the flexibility point.
No matter who you are or what you do chances are that you have some stuff that is needlessly taking up space in your home. If this is the case and you simply can’t part with any of your stuff then it is certainly in your best interest to check out the self storage facilities in your local area and store away your clutter.
Mini Self Storage – A Growing Trend
A rapidly growing trend these days seems to be both the popularity and the building of mini self storage facilities. Mini self storage facilities are typically like any other self storage facility in that there will be a number of different sized storage units for customers to choose from and depending on the needs of the customer these units can be found inside or outside.
The term mini comes from the fact that most mini self storage units have the same sized roll up or swing open door. Now the inside of the individual units are not necessarily the same size, but the doors usually are and they are usually narrower than the doors at a typical self storage facility.
In recent years the surge of mini storage units being built has been phenomenal, perhaps because people just have too much stuff, or perhaps because many people have been forced to give up their homes in a bad housing market. It seems that everywhere you look a new mini self storage unit facility is cropping up and filling up with people’s odds and ends almost as fast as it is built.
One of the reasons for that they fill as fast as can be is the fact that storing your own items versus having someone pack and store your items for you can save you a great deal of money. Of course choosing the right size mini storage unit is helpful and you can usually rely on the staff at the facility to give you guidance. So it makes sense that the smaller the unit the smaller your bill.
Mini self storage is also wildly popular because there are usually no contracts that need to be signed so you are allowed to store your things on a month to month basis. Really if you are good at packing things into a small space you can effectively keep your possessions safe and sound month after month for very little money out of your pocket.
Because mini self storage is so popular these days you do want to be careful as to which facility you choose to store your things at. Be sure you choose a facility that is in a good surrounding area and one that has a gated entrance that will require an access code to open. Also look at the times that the facility is open and make sure that those times will accommodate your schedule as it will do you little good to have a storage unit that is never open in the hours that you are not at work.
Mini self storage it seems is here to stay. So whatever your reasons are for possibly wanting to rent a mini self storage unit, there has never been a better time to do so. If you are cluttered or in the midst of an upcoming move then there is no reason not to make your life just a bit easier and rent a mini self storage unit for a month or two or even more.
The term mini comes from the fact that most mini self storage units have the same sized roll up or swing open door. Now the inside of the individual units are not necessarily the same size, but the doors usually are and they are usually narrower than the doors at a typical self storage facility.
In recent years the surge of mini storage units being built has been phenomenal, perhaps because people just have too much stuff, or perhaps because many people have been forced to give up their homes in a bad housing market. It seems that everywhere you look a new mini self storage unit facility is cropping up and filling up with people’s odds and ends almost as fast as it is built.
One of the reasons for that they fill as fast as can be is the fact that storing your own items versus having someone pack and store your items for you can save you a great deal of money. Of course choosing the right size mini storage unit is helpful and you can usually rely on the staff at the facility to give you guidance. So it makes sense that the smaller the unit the smaller your bill.
Mini self storage is also wildly popular because there are usually no contracts that need to be signed so you are allowed to store your things on a month to month basis. Really if you are good at packing things into a small space you can effectively keep your possessions safe and sound month after month for very little money out of your pocket.
Because mini self storage is so popular these days you do want to be careful as to which facility you choose to store your things at. Be sure you choose a facility that is in a good surrounding area and one that has a gated entrance that will require an access code to open. Also look at the times that the facility is open and make sure that those times will accommodate your schedule as it will do you little good to have a storage unit that is never open in the hours that you are not at work.
Mini self storage it seems is here to stay. So whatever your reasons are for possibly wanting to rent a mini self storage unit, there has never been a better time to do so. If you are cluttered or in the midst of an upcoming move then there is no reason not to make your life just a bit easier and rent a mini self storage unit for a month or two or even more.
Temporary Storage Solutions for Moving
One of the most frustrating things about moving is where to temporarily store your things while you may be in-between places. Yes you could rent a moving truck and con some of your closest friends into giving up a Saturday then load all of your stuff and take it to a storage unit, but that is just the beginning.
Then you have to unload all of your stuff and hurry to clean out the rental truck and be sure to fill it with gas. Then it is off to the rental company before they close, hoping all along you can make it so you are not stuck having to park the truck somewhere overnight and then having to get it back in the early morning the next day. What a hassle!
Fortunately there is a much easier way to go about temporarily storing your stuff while you are moving. Portable storage units such as the ones that companies like PODS and PACK-RAT offer make temporarily storing your things while moving both easy and convenient.
After you decide what size portable storage unit you need you simply call one of the companies and have them deliver your unit to you. They will drop it off to you in your driveway and then it is you who dictates how long you have to load it up. Because there is no time limit you can load the portable storage unit at your leisure and not have to bother any friends in the process. Take a day to load or a week to load; it truly is up to you.
Once your portable storage unit is loaded up you then calls the company back and they will come and pick up your full unit and take it to their climate controlled facility. There your unit will be locked away and stored 24/7 and will always be in an environment of steady climate so you know your things will be safe from the eliments.
The best part about these portable storage unit facilities is that there is no long term contract required. You can store your things with them for a month or a year; again it is all up to you. This takes all the pressure off of you and allows you as much time as you need to conduct your move.
Once you have moved not your new home and you are settled in you may want your stuff. Well one more phone call is all it will take to get your stuff delivered in the container right to your new driveway. Once there you can of course take your time and unload your things at your leisure.
Once the portable storage unit is empty you simply call the company back and have them pick it up. Then you are done with the entire process and you didn’t have to rent a moving truck or bother any of your friends.
Moving is hard enough. In order to take some pressure off of yourself when looking for temporary storage solutions for your move consider a portable storage unit. The ease and convenience makes moving just a little more pleasant; though it will still be stressful for sure.
Then you have to unload all of your stuff and hurry to clean out the rental truck and be sure to fill it with gas. Then it is off to the rental company before they close, hoping all along you can make it so you are not stuck having to park the truck somewhere overnight and then having to get it back in the early morning the next day. What a hassle!
Fortunately there is a much easier way to go about temporarily storing your stuff while you are moving. Portable storage units such as the ones that companies like PODS and PACK-RAT offer make temporarily storing your things while moving both easy and convenient.
After you decide what size portable storage unit you need you simply call one of the companies and have them deliver your unit to you. They will drop it off to you in your driveway and then it is you who dictates how long you have to load it up. Because there is no time limit you can load the portable storage unit at your leisure and not have to bother any friends in the process. Take a day to load or a week to load; it truly is up to you.
Once your portable storage unit is loaded up you then calls the company back and they will come and pick up your full unit and take it to their climate controlled facility. There your unit will be locked away and stored 24/7 and will always be in an environment of steady climate so you know your things will be safe from the eliments.
The best part about these portable storage unit facilities is that there is no long term contract required. You can store your things with them for a month or a year; again it is all up to you. This takes all the pressure off of you and allows you as much time as you need to conduct your move.
Once you have moved not your new home and you are settled in you may want your stuff. Well one more phone call is all it will take to get your stuff delivered in the container right to your new driveway. Once there you can of course take your time and unload your things at your leisure.
Once the portable storage unit is empty you simply call the company back and have them pick it up. Then you are done with the entire process and you didn’t have to rent a moving truck or bother any of your friends.
Moving is hard enough. In order to take some pressure off of yourself when looking for temporary storage solutions for your move consider a portable storage unit. The ease and convenience makes moving just a little more pleasant; though it will still be stressful for sure.
Car Storage
People seek automotive storage solutions for many different reasons. Some have collector’s vehicles and don’t want their special vehicle kept outside where it will be exposed to the everyday elements. Some have too many vehicles in their driveway and need to free up some room. Some may have a vehicle that they only drive during the warmer months and won’t drive during the cooler months.
Whatever the case may be when it comes time to store your vehicle there are basically three ways in which you can. The type of vehicle storage that will be right for you will all depend on how nice your vehicle is and how much money you want to spend. The three levels of vehicle storage are:
1. Climate Controlled: This is the nicest way to store your vehicle and also the most costly. That is because the vehicle will be fully enclosed and the storage unit in which it will be in will be a steady temperature. So your vehicle will be protected from cold, heat, and most importantly moisture.
2. Non Climate Controlled: Running a little cheaper is non climate controlled storage for your vehicle. While the vehicle will be fully enclosed it will not be protected from the hot or cold and many times being inside environment can amplify the overall temperature. This can lead to a buildup of moisture which can prove to be harmful to your vehicle. If you choose to store in a non climate controlled unit, be sure to park the vehicle over plastic sheeting. This will keep and moisture that seeps into the concrete from effecting the underside of the vehicle. You can also use moisture absorbing materials for the front and rear floorboards so that your vehicle won’t smell musty once you take it out of storage.
3. Outside Storage: This is the cheapest level of automotive storage but also exposed your vehicle to all the elements. Rain, sun, snow, you name it. If this is the direction you are heading with storage, then you should invest in a high quality breathable vehicle cover.
No matter how you choose to store your vehicle you need to be sure to prepare it properly. Here a few things to consider doing before you store your vehicle:
• Gas Up: Fill the gas tank and then add some fuel stabilizer if the vehicle will be stored for an extended period of time. This will keep any old gasoline from gunking up and causing havoc on internal parts leaving you with one hefty repair bill. While some will say to drain the fuel tank, this will still leave you with moisture, and moisture is not your vehicle’s friend.
• Check Fluids: You should also be sure to check all the fluid levels of the vehicle and change the oil. This will have your vehicle full of vital fluids and ensure that moisture has nowhere to form.
• Remove Battery: Once your vehicle is parked in storage it is a good idea to remove the battery and store it separately. Be sure it is being stored in a climate controlled environment.
Once you decide on how you want to store your vehicle the last step in the process is finding a place to do so. Be sure to call several car storage facilities and get prices while you are on the phone. Because you are storing a vehicle be sure that the storage facility is in a location that is not prone to a lot of crime.
Storing your vehicle is something that you may at one point find yourself having to do. Knowing what to look for and how to prepare for the storage can help the entire process go along at a very smooth pace.
Whatever the case may be when it comes time to store your vehicle there are basically three ways in which you can. The type of vehicle storage that will be right for you will all depend on how nice your vehicle is and how much money you want to spend. The three levels of vehicle storage are:
1. Climate Controlled: This is the nicest way to store your vehicle and also the most costly. That is because the vehicle will be fully enclosed and the storage unit in which it will be in will be a steady temperature. So your vehicle will be protected from cold, heat, and most importantly moisture.
2. Non Climate Controlled: Running a little cheaper is non climate controlled storage for your vehicle. While the vehicle will be fully enclosed it will not be protected from the hot or cold and many times being inside environment can amplify the overall temperature. This can lead to a buildup of moisture which can prove to be harmful to your vehicle. If you choose to store in a non climate controlled unit, be sure to park the vehicle over plastic sheeting. This will keep and moisture that seeps into the concrete from effecting the underside of the vehicle. You can also use moisture absorbing materials for the front and rear floorboards so that your vehicle won’t smell musty once you take it out of storage.
3. Outside Storage: This is the cheapest level of automotive storage but also exposed your vehicle to all the elements. Rain, sun, snow, you name it. If this is the direction you are heading with storage, then you should invest in a high quality breathable vehicle cover.
No matter how you choose to store your vehicle you need to be sure to prepare it properly. Here a few things to consider doing before you store your vehicle:
• Gas Up: Fill the gas tank and then add some fuel stabilizer if the vehicle will be stored for an extended period of time. This will keep any old gasoline from gunking up and causing havoc on internal parts leaving you with one hefty repair bill. While some will say to drain the fuel tank, this will still leave you with moisture, and moisture is not your vehicle’s friend.
• Check Fluids: You should also be sure to check all the fluid levels of the vehicle and change the oil. This will have your vehicle full of vital fluids and ensure that moisture has nowhere to form.
• Remove Battery: Once your vehicle is parked in storage it is a good idea to remove the battery and store it separately. Be sure it is being stored in a climate controlled environment.
Once you decide on how you want to store your vehicle the last step in the process is finding a place to do so. Be sure to call several car storage facilities and get prices while you are on the phone. Because you are storing a vehicle be sure that the storage facility is in a location that is not prone to a lot of crime.
Storing your vehicle is something that you may at one point find yourself having to do. Knowing what to look for and how to prepare for the storage can help the entire process go along at a very smooth pace.
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