Moving, Self Storage, and Other Miserable Affairs

More on "Why Can't it be Spring" Cleaning: Emptying the Garage

2012-02-08T14:45:00.005-07:00

There are alternatives to just rearranging and tossing stuff that is in your garage like I did last week in the first installment of "Why Can't it be Spring" cleaning. Sometimes you just have too much stuff, and it is time to think about moving the junk or valued items elsewhere. There are multiple options for the type of storage you can get to help clean up your garage, and even make space for your family cars in the garage instead of using it as the junk room! I'm going to give you some of these options you can utilize to clear up that space in your garage once and for all.

Storage Sheds - click link to get reviews of different storage sheds!

Storage sheds are a great option for you- if you have space in your yard for one. A shed allows you to move lawn care supplies, bicycles, tools and other stuff taking up space in your garage, but you will be able to access of all the equipment conveniently in your back yard. You will want to check your area for guidelines as to what type and size of shed you can have. Some home owner's associations will not allow certain types or sheds- or even allow them at all. So before you start investing your time looking for a shed, make sure you are following local rules to prevent future problems.

Once you have found out about your local rules, it is time to start researching different sheds. You can save yourself a bunch of time by looking at reviews of different storage sheds online, and even shopping around some online. When trying to choose a shed thinking about what size you need, and what type of local weather it will have to endure. Someone who is an area that is prone to hurricanes will need a different shed than someone who is an area prone to lots of snow. Before you choose one make sure that you know about the installation procedures and warranty on the shed. Prevent any headaches by making yourself as knowledgeable as possible.

When you make your decision on your storage shed remember that it isn't just storage. It is an addition to your home. You will look at it day in and day out in your yard, so you will want to choose one that looks nice. Also, the better value of the shed the more value it will add to your home when and/if you ever decide to sell your house. The shed will be an asset to anyone who wants to move into your house when you are gone.

Self Storage - visit this link to get all the information you need on self storage.

Sometimes you just need to store stuff outside of your garage, and self storage is a great way to do this that doesn't involve storing your old baseball cards in grandma's basement or relying unnecessarily on friends or relatives. Maybe you need to buy time until you reorganize your garage to figure out where to put stuff. Maybe you need to store stuff until you move to a bigger space. Or maybe you aren't ready to give or throw away your items, but you need to have them out of your garage. Whatever your reason, if you want to store stuff off site self storage is probably a good option for you.

You can store anything from a boat to a box as self storage facilities. The important thing is that you find the right self storage for your needs. First, you should shop around for cost of different storage facilities, and you can do this from the convenience of your home online. Or you can visit different self storage places in your area to get a feel for what the self storage unit will be like. There is no reason for you to compromise your needs in a self storage facility, so make sure you find one in the right price range that matches your needs as a storage facility.

Don't feel bad about storing your stuff out of your home. You can get insurance to protect your stuff that is in self-storage. And when you finally get your stuff back out of storage it will feel like an early and/or late Christmas present to yourself!

'Why can't it be spring' cleaning: clean out the garage clutter.

2012-01-31T00:50:00.001-07:00

A garage... or as I like to call it the junk room. Some of you may have junk drawers where you keep misc. items, others such as myself may store random stuff in the garage. I have lots of stuff and usually no where to put it. Ideally this is the space meant to shelter your family car or maybe even two. I am one of the lucky ones with a two car garage!

My two car garage... with one car in it. Between our recycling, bicycles, tools and misc. crap including an circa 1960's heart defibrillator I found in the storage of my last house... there is simply NO ROOM for anything else.

At least that was until I checked out how I could condense the mess and make room for two vehicles. I did a little bit of "can it please be spring now" cleaning this weekend and now my car fits in the garage too! I'm so excited. Although I did find an exoskeleton of a HUGE snake that scared me to the point of nearly needing the ancient defibrillator, somehow I succeeded in tidying up the junk room. I am very proud of former junk room now two car garages new appearance. Now I will no longer have to shield guests from wanting to see the junk room when they visit.

Some keys points that I have found useful for tidying up the junk may be useful to you. A trash bag/box/whatever. Get rid of stuff that you don't need. I ended up getting rid of my partners stack of old Playboy and National Geo. magazine to his dismay. Who needs dirty magazines when you have the whole wide world of the Internet? I kept the heart defibrillator for now, but put it up in my office to start that art project I've been meaning to do with it. Next stop for the ancient defibrillator is the Louvre!

Another key thing we did was bought more shelves. You will be amazed how awesome those do-dads work. While I am a firm believer in shelves indoor, outdoor shelves never seemed necessary. We already did have two but we bought two more. It freed up oodles of space!

Having space freed up in your garage for you vehicles will save you a lot of trouble. The elements may never have a profound effect on your car, but the first time hail puts dents in your hood you're going to wish you'd stored it in the garage.

If I can do it- so can you! Good luck with cleaning up your junk rooms!

Who turned out the lights? A lesson of utility.

2012-01-23T17:23:00.001-07:00

I hate the cold, I'm scared of the dark and I like to whine. Combine all these factors with a move, and I was a miserable person to be around Dec. 15, 2011. Like a good little mover I contacted all of the utilities early to let them know my move out date. Little did I know they would cut off our lights and heat at 9 am on the day of the move. This was a tad infuriating, but my fault as most my problems are.

I have moved a lot and switching utilities is a key part to any successful move. These guidelines on switching utilities will benefit anyone who is moving. You don't want to mess this step of the moving process up, trust me! As much as I hate calling people on the phone (yes, I like to whine), switching utilities is one of those cases you shouldn't procrastinate on. Call the power, cable and water companies and let them know in advance you're relocating. Two weeks in advance is an advisable amount of time to let them know. Being specific with the utility company is key as I learned the hard way, which seems to be my favorite way of learning things. Let them know what time of day you're moving out, unless you want to be left in the dark.

Where I live is cold in December, like freezing cold. So when I woke up at 9:00 am, because the lights flickered off (yes I sleep with lights on, I told you I'm afraid of the dark) I was not pleased. I had the rest of the day to pack hurl my belongings into the bed of my truck one way of another. As someone who likes to procrastinate I saw no problem in making this happen by later that night. Packing at night was no longer an option because of my lack of electricity. I suppose I could have used candles and moved by candle light. If I burned down the place, I already had my security deposit back. Also, whatever stuff that was left inside, at least I wouldn't have to move it.

Jesting aside, I raced to have all my stuff packed and loaded by dusk. I hate doing stuff in the mornings (and did I mention I like to whine), but ended up packing and moving all my stuff with great haste. Socks, dishes and cats all in the same box. Books, blankets and clothes hanger together. Disorganized chaos that made unpacking an atrocity, but somehow helped me manage to get all my stuff out by dark. In winter this is no small task since it gets dark so early. Luckily I am young and limber... so at least I didn't injure myself. In fact, so much stress and moving helped keep me warm. Moving in the cold can be dangerous though. See reasons in the image below:

So follow these guidelines as to when and how to switch your utilities. If something bad happens it is usually a contrived crisis that could have been prevented. Keep in mind the band-aids are probably packed in the most inconvenient place possible, so be safe. Happy moving!

Storage PODs: To Pod or not to Pod?

2012-01-17T01:31:00.000-07:00

To pod or not to pod, it is an indeed a good question. A very answerable question at that, but you should think about it carefully before choosing whether or not to go with one. Pods, or temporary storage units, area great way to deal with temporary storage or moving your stuff. They areclosed containers made of plywood, often encased with metal sheeting. There aremany reasons to get a pod, and here are a few:

-Major Renovations

If you are doing a major project toyour home, this is a great way to store your stuff. You can place the podin your driveway, parking lot or street. While you are doing the projectthis will avoid any of your stuff getting damaged or being in the way.

-Selling your home

It is no secret that the real estatemarket isn't doing that great right now, selling a house can be quite difficultthese days. Emptying the house you are selling will let buyers envisionmoving into the house easier. It is hard for one to gauge howmuch space is in a home when it is packed when someone else's stuff. Also, if you empty the home before you sell it, this will make it easyfor you to repaint or refinish floors, another great way to increase the saleabilityof your home. Not to mention you don’thave to worry about petty theft from people viewing your home, because all ofyour stuff will be safely tucked away in the POD.

-Too much stuff in your house, work,yard, etc.

They bring it, you pack it at yourconvenience, they pick it up, they store all the extra junk in your office athome that you just don’t need right now.

-Moving without the hastle of a van

It is cheaper than a moving van! And you don’t have to argue which one you isgoing to drive that huge thing. You packit at your own convenience. PODs usuallyare flexible with their time limits so you will be able to take your timestoring everything in the container. Unlike moving vans where you have to quickly throw everything in, crossyour fingers and hope somehow nothing will get damaged.

Here you can get a promotional code to get 5% off if you decide to rent a pod.

So there are some reasons you may notwant to get a pod. Like all things, getting a temporary storage unit has a couple of disadvantages. If you decide not to get a pod you can find a moving service or a storage unit right for you.

-Climate control

If you are using a pod for storage,they usually do not have reliable climate control. While most portable storage units are sealedthey do not have humidity or temperature control that some delicate items mayrequire.

-Cost

While PODs can be less expensive thanmoving fans they are often more expensive than other storage options.

-Not in my lawn!

Neighbors are good for lots of things. Pet sitting, keeping an eye on your house and most of all COMPLAINING! So if you have a pod in your driveway, you may get a couple complaints about the aesthetic interference it has with your neighborhood. If you have a finicky neighbor, it may be good to let them know you are getting the POD before hand. However, know your rights. It is after all your driveway. Unless you are part of a homeowner's association, then you will need to address your neighborhood rules for PODs.

If you plan to put the pod in the street, you will more than likely need a permit to do so. Make sure to visit your local police department to do this beforehand, so you don't get ticketed. It is a very unpleasant and unnecessary and unpleasant additional cost.

-Move it Yourself!

Unless you are hiring your own moveout crew, you will be moving everything in the POD by yourself. It can be a pain, but if you want somethingright do it yourself…

-Then again doing it yourself can bedangerous

Sometimes if you damage your own itemswhile moving them, insurance companies won’t want to cover your do it yourselfdamage. So any damage to items you mayend up paying out of pocket. No to mention risk factors of actually damaging yourself while moving.

Move Out Cleaners- Modern Super Heroes

2012-01-03T05:19:00.002-07:00

There are some people who are very tidy, and cleaning up after moving seems like no big deal. There are others of us who may be a bit more... on the messy side. Or some of us have pets who manage to put a little extra damage on places we live. I personally have three kitties and I still have no idea how they generate as much fur as they do.

No matter what your situations is, fretting over whether or not you will get your security deposit back is no fun, it adds additional and unnecessary stress to moving. Some of us may even dismiss the notion that they will ever get the deposit back (and hope that our land lords won't be able to find us at our new place to charge us for that stain that was already on the carpet, but you forgot to mentioned it when you moved in. Ahem. Or maybe that is just me.)

I wish I had known before that you can hire people to clean out after you move. You can go here to find a move out cleaning team in your area, in your budget and perfectly matched for the job. After boxing and everything else, it would be nice to have someone clean out the place thoroughly for you. While not all of the move out cleaning companies will guarantee that you will get your security deposit back, a lot of them will.

If you ever have exhausted all your energy on a move or feel like you need help getting that security deposit back, getting a moving out cleaning team may be the way to go.

What exactly do they do?

A better questions would be what don't they do. They clean everything in your residence from top to bottom- bedrooms, kitchen, living room, bathrooms, etc, and leave it in the best condition possible. Soap scum, stains, appliances- they do it all and they do it thoroughly. They even will unfreeze your freezer and scrub it out. These are the details that make moving out cleaning companies have a niche for a profession that makes some of our lives easier.

I recommend that you go here and invest in getting a team that will make your life easier. No more worrying about security deposits or actually doing the cleaning yourself. Just worry about moving out your old residence into your new home.

Moving Scams- How to protect yourself!

2011-12-28T20:27:00.001-07:00

Imagine moving to a house and you're waiting for the moving van to arrive, it is a couple hours late. Beginning to worry finally you get a call on your cell phone from the moving company's cell phone:

Trying to hide the panic in you voice you answer, "Hey how's it going? Did you guys get lost?"

"There's been a couple of complications with moving. We can't bring your stuff without an additional $2500 fee," a voice you don't recognizes answer.

Everything you own from personal photographs to furniture is more or less held hostage. Depending on the type of person you are you may answer in confusion, anger or hang up and call the police. Either way you are one of the many unfortunate who have become a victim to moving companies.

Every year there are over 9,000 complaints to the Better Business Bureau about moving companies. Whether they damage something, steal your belongings or try to hold them hostage, the prospects are frightening. Moving is enough of a pain that the realities of these types of horrible things happening is overwhelming.

You as the consumer need to protect yourself. Go here to avoid moving scams, they will give you great advice on how to avoid telling a bad moving story later. It will take a lot of work. I have some pointers as well. Choosing a moving company is one of my least favorite aspects of moving. It takes a lot of investigating and time just because there are some bad seeds out there.

The First Step is Prevention

Investigate potential moving companies, find the right moving company will take time, but a lot less time then if you have to deal with a bigger problems later.

Reference- Try to get a referal from friends, family, neighbors, real estate agent. If you have a real estate agent- this is one of the best people you can ask about which moving company to use. Real estate agents are constantly dealing with people who are moving and probably are in the know to which companies are the best ones in the area.

Online reviews- If you don't know anyone check out online reviews, google the company as they say. A good site to check is movingscam.com. If the company you are thinking about renting from shows up on this site, you will want to make a different choice.

Call each company and ask about:

Prices – Charges for time and mileage. Also, inquire about special or additional rates for certain objects such as appliances or pianos.

Insurance or protection policies – Are they offered by the company? Is there a deductible? Are there certain conditions that the company would not compensate if your compensated belongings are damaged?

Staff qualifications – How many years experience do the movers have? Do they have criminal background and drug checks before employees are hired? Do they use equipment to use heavy objects or depend on their strength?

These are some questions that will start your investigation into the moving company you are considering. If they are rude about answering these questions, imagine how rude they will be when you are upset if something goes wrong.

Moving Company References

After you think you've chosen the right moving company, you should ask them for five professional references. Call at least one or two of the references and ask how their experience was with the moving company.

You wouldn't hire someone to work for you permanently without checking their references, you shouldn't start not checking when they are only going to work temporarily for you.

Know Your Rights

Don't sign anything without reading it. Seriously, I know contracts can be dauntingly long. Just go home and take your time reading every single line. The fine print is always what will get you in trouble.

It is up to you, the consumer, to protect yourself from disasters when you have chosen a moving company. You are hiring the company so if something goes wrong you will have to take them to court. This process can be lengthy, expensive and sometimes inconclusive.

When you pay do not pay everything up front.

Some companies will make you make a down payment when moving your stuff. This percentage usually doesn't surpass 25% of your total costs. If it is a reputable company it will not ask for more than that.

Reward Good Moving Experiences

If the moving company does a great job- doesn't hold your stuff hostage, break anything or lose anything reward them! It can be simple as writing an online review, volunteering to be a reference or recommending them to your friends.

Unpack the Rat: Junk Removal Teams, Grandma Pirates and Yard Sales

2011-12-27T13:00:00.001-07:00

As a child my grandma's attic was a magical place to play in. The attic had all sort of ancient treasures from the 1970's. When I grew up the realization came that the three broken toasters weren't beds for my dolls, but stuff that needed to be disposed of. So when it came time for my grandma to move out of her six bedroom house into a smaller apartment, we needed to rent a dumpster to start disposing of stuff.

My family spent one week miserably emptying my grandmother's house. All four of us worked eight hours a day, hauling junk down from the attic into the dumpster 3 stories down. It was miserable. I began to resent the clutter, especially the broken toaster. I really really wished that we would have just hired a junk removal team, see inside the link for some tips on what to look for in a junk removing team.

Instead we did all the work ourselves and even acquired some of her 'junk' or what seemed at the time to be a treasure. My grandmother was one of the first people I knew who illegally pirated movies. Over twenty years she managed to record movies and shows filling over 3,000 VHS tapes. Each tape could hold about 4 movies or shows... so doing the math that is a lot of stolen footage she got courtesy of pay channels. It was awesome! When I would visit her to go through her list and choose a movie- the possibilities seemed endless.

The possibilities seemed to be a lot more intriguing when DVD players and instant streaming became available technology.

So we took on all 3,000 plus VHS tapes and stored them on bookshelves in our basement. Then we moved all 3,000 tapes three times before our basement was flooded. The tapes were ruined. We hadn't watched the movies for a long time when the basement flooded. VHS tapes at this point are an ancient artifact, a fossil of the past.

We couldn't part ourselves with the movies before they were ruined. They were my grandmother's legacy in a way. She put so much work into them. Labeling them with a type writer, sitting through all the movies and removing the commercials. It is sometimes hard to get rid of stuff. It took an act of god, a flood, to get us to get rid of them.

It can be really hard to part with your junk, but it is junk. I understand not wanting to get rid of stuff. So I want to help you. Here are some tips on how to get rid yourself of excessive stuff.

Charities- People Need Your Junk

Recently I needed to dispose of a bed set. I nearly threw it out when I decided to research for charities that might take a used mattress, I stumbled upon donationtown.org. This site leads to charities in your area that need everything from your used mattress to old clothes. Best of all, the charities will come get your unwanted items and haul them away- for free!

Instead of sending the bed to the dump, it was given to the Salvation Army. I hope they find a good use for it and it gives someone to rest. No need to throw out stuff when people in need can use it.

Selling Junk- Making Some Dollars of Your Unused Items

Craigslist and Pennysaver are great online resources to help sell your excessive stuff. You can post ads (that are free) to try to sell or give away your items

I recommend taking a picture of your items- that will increase the amount of inquiries. It is best to have separate ads for all the items you want to sell. I have found that this method works best with larger items like appliances, furniture and electronics.

You can also have an old fashion yard sale. I prefer this method, that way I don't have to share with too many strangers where I live and when I am available. Yards sales are a good way to get rid of a bulk of things at once. You can advertise your yard sale online, in newspapers or with old fashioned fliers. Try to have your yard sale on a nice day when people are more likely to want to leave the comfort of their cars to browse.

Hire a Junk Removal Team

If the idea of removing all the junk you've gathered over the years seems daunting, a good way to deal with it is has someone else do it for you. There are lots of useful tips on hiring a junk removal team at this site.

First thing you'll want to do is choose someone to hire. There are lots of junk removal teams. Some are just guys with a pick up truck trying to earn a little extra money. While others are businesses that specialize in junk removal. It is up to you who you choose. Make sure you are comfortable with your choice- these people will be in your home hauling away your old stuff.

Save 5% off portable storage units by using a Pack Rat promo code.

Finding a Pods Promotional Code that Really Works

2011-12-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

Pods Storage is one of the top names in the moving and storing industry. The company offers extreme flexibility, ease of use, and great value. Over the years, it has developed an excellent name among customers because the storage units, which are made of steel, can be stored almost anywhere. It can be stored in your house, the office building, or be transported on a truck. Pods Storage also allows you to move the storage unit (or pods) into their facility for as long as you need. The need for expensive ground storage is eliminated.

Whether you need short-term or long-term storage, Pods has something for you. It is also possible to secure Pods promotional codes. The company regularly offers these out to bargain-seekers and loyal customers so they can get even more value for their money. If you have any questions about the Pods promotional code or the company’s service in general, you can easily get in touch with their customer support staff.

Once you’ve made the decision to take advantage of the Pods promotional code, the following steps below is the usual procedure offered by the company. You can ask for customized service depending on your needs.

•    Call the company – just let Pods Storage know where to deliver the container. They can send it to residential, commercial, or even industrial locations.

•    Delivery of the pods – the storage units will be delivered to the specified address in as early as 24 hours. It can take a bit longer based on your location. Either way, you can expect the pods to arrive when it is promised.

•    Pack at your own time – once the pods arrive at your doorstep, you can now reap the benefits of the Pods storage solution. The rental unit can be loaded at your own time and leisure. The company allows you to keep this for as long as you need.

•    Advice the company about your move – after you’ve packed up everything, you can now call the company to ask them to transport the pods. Remember to pack everything property to avoid problems. The company will pick up the unit and send it to your new address. The service cannot be more efficient.

On the other hand, if you need the items to be stored in a safe and secure area, Pods Storage offers this service as well. The unit can be stored in their climate-controlled facility. You can be certain that it will remain safe there. Just call Pods at their toll-free number once you’re ready to have the pods transported to your area.

As you can see, Pods Storage offers an excellent service at an affordable price. There are many promotional codes available online but it is important to pick a code that truly works. This can only be done if you choose a reputable website to get the code from. So what are you waiting for, it’s time to get an unbeatable deal using a Pods promotional code today.

Finding a 1-800-Packrat Promotional Code that Really Works

2011-12-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

I decided to reserve a portable storage unit to clear out my living room while it gets remodeled early next year. After comparing Pods and 1-8oo-Packrat and a couple of other companies, I decided to go with Packrat. Why? They are cheaper and have a guaranteed delivery time. They also seem to have better customer reviews, even though I don't know if you can trust any reviews you read online. Anyway, I started looking for a 1-800-packrat promotional code, but am having a hard time finding a code really works. I went to lots of coupon code sites, but they either didn't have a code or it didn't reduce the quote I received from the 1-800-packrat website. But I finally found a 1-800 pack rat promo code that really works, so I thought I'd share it with others.

Dumpster Diving- Thinking Inside The Box

2011-12-19T00:56:00.000-07:00

Pre-moving my family could often be spotted behind local grocery stores and restaurants digging through the trash. For you people who are fortunate enough not to know what dumpster diving is here is a definition: Dumpster Diving- the act of picking through garbage to find hidden treasure. In the case of my family the treasure was cardboard boxes for moving. I can picture the child version of myself sorting through trash- trying to find the boxes that aren't damp from food, mildew, mold and other atrocities. Oh nostalgia!

Later after we had packed our valuables in the dumpster boxes and are in the process of schlepping our junk one place to another, I can picture my face turning red and blood pressure rising as the bottom of the box breaks. Books, cd's, screw drivers and all sorts of junk scatters everywhere. I curse, or at least a child's form of swearing, the manufacturers of wonder bread shipping boxes for not making a sturdier product. Now I toss all the junk back in the box wishing I had given it all away or simply trashed it. Who would have thought that boxes that are designed to ship food weren't meant to endure moving and months of storage? Anyone with common sense, now that I reflect on it.

Although the frugal half of my brain winces at the thought of purchasing boxes for moving, I have found it to be the most reliable way to transport all manner of objects. If you think about it, putting your stuff in boxes that have been in a dumpster and lord knows where else is sort of gross, unsanitary and "trashy". This site can give you invaluable tips on why, how and what to box- which you will need!

What Size Boxes- it is the size of the box that counts

One of the greatest benefits of purchasing boxes vs. dumpster diving is being able to choose the size of boxes. Trying to fit all your dishes into an over-sized boxes will result in a bunch of shattered dishes. That money you saved on not buying boxes, will now go to a new set of dishes. Also, nothing is more frustrating then filling up a huge box halfway with books and leaving the rest empty. If you filled up that monster of a box with all your Dean Koontz and Stephen King books it would weigh as much as a grand piano. Warning: shoving a Stephen King collection in one box can result in mental and physical injury.

Filler

While some people still get newspapers and magazines delivered to their homes in paper form, the more green (and notably cheaper) way to get subscriptions these days is through the internet. So you may not have a years supply of The New York Times sitting around, ready to put the Style section into good use by using it as protection for your dishes and other breakables. You may need to invest in filler. There are a variety of choices of filler to purchase. Some of the options include cardboard, recycled paper and bubble wrap. Warning: bubble wrap is not recommended if you have children. They will pop it, a bunch! For a very long time. And moving is enough head ache without your child making alarming popping noises in the background instead of helping moving the boxes in.

Um, so what exactly is in the box labeled 'junk drawer box' again?

Invest in some permanent markers, it is labeling time! The importance of this may seem obvious- but your life will be made dramatically easier if you label what is in your boxes and where your boxes should go. Nothing is worse then having to unbox something and sort through the box to try to figure out where it should go or how any of the box's contents are related. (Here is a riddle: what does a screw driver, spatulas, books and barbie dolls have in common?) Prematurely having to unbox something is especially annoying after you have moved this box out of your old house, into storage, out of storage and into your new home. You an this box may have built an intimate relationship in your travels from place to place, you may even build some sentimental feelings toward this box. But abstinence from opening the box before necessary I have found is less time consuming.

Besides marking boxes can be fun! It is the best way to tell your significant other that the various wires and cables that he has been saving "just in case", you consider to be "my husband's trash he insists on moving with us everywhere we go".

How to Find the Right Self-Storage Facility

2011-12-10T15:09:00.002-07:00

As property sizes become smaller, people who rent, lease, or own their homes are finding it difficult to manage their personal and business lives effectively. The items you accumulate over years and even decades can turn to clutter. For some people, the situation can become extremely stressful. If your home and office is disorganized, it might be a good idea to consider self-storage. It is flexible and cost-effective solution for people who just want a bit more breathing space.

Self-storage facilities are usually associated with people who are moving or who have just moved into town. This might be true in the past but the increasing demand for space has meant that even local residents can now benefit greatly from this service. Depending on your needs, the self-storage facility can be used to store everything from small boats to the inventory of a small business.

There are literally thousands of self-storage facilities that opened up in just a couple of years throughout the country. However, the choices that are available to you obviously depend on your location. In some areas, the competition is tough so you have myriads of choices. In other cases, there are only one or two self-storage facilities around. So that forces you to adapt according to what the facility offers. This article focuses on the former. We’ll outline some tips on how to find the best company for your needs:

Services packages
In an effort to meet the personal demands of clients, many self-storage facilities now offer flexible solutions. They can rent out spaces the size of a closet to those that can store the entire contents of a house. There are still some companies though, that can only offer standard units. If you have varying requirements (like in the case of business inventory storage), it might be a challenge. On the other hand, if you have a relatively accurate idea about how much storage you need over an extended period, standard units might be ideal.

24/7 access
Previously, a number of people preferred storage facilities that have an in-house staff. It provides a “personalized” feel of using the service. Traditional facilities come with several downsides though. For example, you can only access the unit during business hours. Self-storage facilities operates on a 24/7 basis. There is no hassle, no additional cost, and no time wasted. Basically, you can retrieve items or replace it whenever you want.

Pricing options
Self-storage contracts can be terminated at short notice. Unlike traditional storage facilities, it doesn’t levy a fee if you don’t provide notice within a certain period. There are options to help you save money though. If you intend to use the self-storage facility for several months or even several years, it’s better to sign a contract early on. This can give you massive savings.

There is no doubt that self-storage facilities have greatly evolved to meet the growing demands of today’s clients. They have a wider range of services, larger areas, and have even started to offer additional services such as administrative support, office space, moving services, and meeting rooms among others.

Tip: Save 5% off a Pods portable storage unit rental by using a Pods promotional code.

Traveling Fish and Airborne Matresses- Do I Need a Rental Truck?

2011-12-10T12:13:00.012-07:00

As the mattress takes flight across I-95 from the back of my ex-uncle in-law's pick-up truck , my parents foresee an accident that may or may not kill someone, and even worse an accident that will cause hours of traffic behind us.

Luckily, no one dies, and there is no traffic back up, and we rescue the mattress quickly from the side of the highway, feeling like bandits that will be arrested any at moment for attempted man-slaughter. My dad shows Mike, the ex-uncle in-law, that you need to bungee-cord objects down, to ensure they do not become inanimate death birds. Later it occurs to me that Mike is a moron- it'll take his wife a couple more years to figure that out.

Now that I recollect this mattress incident, I think fondly of every time we've rented a moving truck instead of resorting to using our own vehicles. Yes, I am related to those people who shamelessly use up fossil fuels to have the utility of a pick up truck. These trucks do come in handy (sometimes annoyingly so) when our family, friends and friends of friends want to move. Sometimes one budget doesn't allow for a moving van or one rather spend it for post moving "thank god we got through that relocation" celebrations. However, once we're on what feels like the one hundredth trip, transporting my mom's house plants to their new home- it seems between everyone's time, costs of incidental damage to furniture and gas money it would have been a lot easier to spring for a moving truck.

There are a lot of things to consider when you choose a rental company to move- this site will tell you everything you need to know about that and more.

U-Haul trucks have cowboys, fish and other fancy stuff painted on their vans- but are they the best price and value?

One of the first actions you should take is comparing prices and quality of moving truck rental companies. Some popular ones are Budget Truck Rental, U-Haul and Ryder. While I do enjoy the decorations of the U-Haul trucks- I have found Budget Truck Rental to have the best value. They are open 24 hours for a day and you can get a quote and reservation online. This is nice for those of us who do not like dealing with customer service representative who span from surly to chipper to incompetent.

Where are you moving?

Hopefully by the time you are renting a moving truck you know where you are moving to at this point. Whether you are moving in-state, out of state or cross country will help you determine what type of rental you should get.

If you are traveling far I recommend a one way truck rental- this means you pick up your rental truck at one location then drop it off at another location. When doing this make sure there is a location near to where you are moving so you don't end up having to travel far after you've gotten through the misery that is moving.

If you are moving to a different state, you should get an out of state rental. You can get a portable storage container, pack it and then have a professional drive your belongings to your new home.

If you are moving across town, across the street or relatively close to your old abode you should get a local truck rental- that means you pick up the truck and drop of the truck at the same location.

Sentimental Stuff You Don't Want to Put in your Van

While I assure you that most of your stuff will probably be safe in a moving van, you may not want to put a couple things in. So you may not want to pack grandma's wedding dress, your children or other valuable in your van. Pack up this stuff and put it aside. If you are getting help or hiring movers- make sure that you make it apparent that this stuff is not to be packed in the van. When I was a wee one I had a tank of pet fish that traveled under my feet in a bucket from Colorado to Virginia. They remarkably survived, the 25 cents fish we'd gotten from our Petsmart made it cross country! They lived to make offspring that they may or may not consumed half of.

When packing the van you should keep in mind things can get damaged! The best way to avoid this is backing things in tightly as possible. Bigger objects towards the back while smaller objects are best suited for the front. The best way to pack is to make sure there is little wiggle room as possible. While this is a tedious process it will be better than having to replace damaged furniture, mirrors, etc. Also, as my ex-uncle in law Mike learned too late, bungee cords are awesome for securing things.

Which van will my stuff fit in?

If you can't figure it out which van to rent I would recommend talking to the people at the Truck Rental Service. My father wasn't one to bother asking the experts, and preferred to figure out things himself. Because of this we ended up making two trips for a single move in a small van from northern Virginia to North Carolina, a six hour drive. The worst feeling is seeing a moving van gradually get filled up and get that sinking feeling that not everything is going to fit. Then what is even worse is when, after packing in mostly everything, having to take stuff out and rearrange it all more efficiently, only to realize even still not everything is going to fit. So we ended up making the trip again for the sake of some 10 odd boxes, very unfortunately- wasting time and money.

So, if you are moving locally, a smaller truck with multiple trips will probably be cheaper than renting a large van to make one trip. The drive from your old house to your new home provides a nice break between the labors of loading and unloading. A labor that we all could do without, but unfortunately is necessary.

How Self Storage Auctions Work

2011-12-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Self storage auctions are increasingly common in these times of economic recession. Their existence depends on renters falling too far behind on their payments and breaching the terms of their contract. Once this happens, the self storage company has the legal right to sell the contents of the lot at an auction.

Contrary to popular opinion, self storage companies usually try exceedingly hard to avoid the self storage auction which they deem to be a last resort. They will contact the owner and hold off for as long as is prudent. However, they will eventually need to free the lot and it makes no economic sense to allow a lot to remain tied up with no rent being paid. Their reluctance to hold the auction is demonstrated by the fact that they allow the owner of the property to show up and pay the rent on the day of the auction. There are three types of self storage auction:

    Sealed bid
    Live auction
    Blind auction

Sealed Bid
There is an element of mystery about sealed bid self storage auctions. You turn up and are allowed to see inside the lot. However, you are not allowed enter the lot and look around so it’s difficult to see exactly how much the property is worth. This could prove problematic because all bidders are then required to enter the amount they wish to pay in a sealed envelope. If you have the highest bid, the contents are yours. Bear in mind that the second highest bid wins if the winning bidder fails to pay within 48 hours.

Live Auction
This is by far the best type of self storage auction to attend but these are not as common as sealed bid auctions. Again, you can view the contents from outside the lot but this time, the bids are out in the open. A representative of the self storage company will act as auctioneer and allow the bids to be heard. Outbid the rest to claim your goods. Again, payment within 48 hours is mandatory.

Blind Auction
These are not the most popular form of self storage auction but they do happen. When you attend a blind auction, you have no idea what is inside the lot before you bid. There could be worthless rubbish in there or a hidden treasure trove. You bid blindly and the highest bidder is the only one who is allowed see the contents. This is a risky process and is not something that should be attempted by those with an aversion to risk.

With the economic outlook far from positive and so many self storage units being used in the United States, it’s likely that there will be no let up in the vast number of self storage auctions held in America over the next few years. If you’re attending a self storage auction, have a set budget in mind and do not deviate from it. You should also remember that the winning bidder is expected to empty the contents of the lot and clean it within a certain time limit imposed by the self storage company. You receive no help so have the requisite cleaning and moving equipment on standby if you’re bidding.

Options For Shipping Your Car Cross Country

2011-12-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

One would imagine that the simplest method of transporting a vehicle is to simply drive it yourself. However, what if this journey involved driving from New York to San Francisco for example? The United States is a continent-sized country and driving across it will take days. It is a journey that will be physically and mentally taxing. An alternative is to have the vehicle professionally shipped. Below are a few methods of safely transporting your vehicle cross country.

Open-Air Trailer
Car shipping companies transport vehicles across the country in open-air trailers that look similar to those used to transport new cars. The majority of car shippers will take between one and three weeks to get the car to its final location. If you decide on this form of transportation, be sure to ask specific questions about how the vehicle is being transported. It’s not unusual for these companies to unload the cars in several points across the country and place them on larger trailers as they travel as a means of improving efficiency.

Closed Trailer
The various states of America have very different climates. If you don’t like the idea of your car being exposed to weather extremes on the journey, you can place it on a closed truck. This is significantly more expensive (more than 50% above the cost of an open-air trailer) but if you’re transporting the car in winter or if it is an expensive model, this will be money well spent. A closed truck will provide a greater level of security but make sure that the carrier has the requisite insurance.

Use A Driver
There are organizations that can provide you with a professional driver if you don’t fancy making the long cross country trip yourself. Most of these drivers have decades of experience and know the shortest and safest routes to take. This is probably a better option for comparatively short distances. You can even place personal goods in the vehicle which will be guaranteed by the company. The main downside is the obvious mileage that will be added to your car.

Professional drivers can be expensive so if you’re in a bind, you may ask someone you know and trust to perform the honors for you. This is a viable option if you know students who are safe and responsible drivers as they will be willing to make the road trip for less. They will see it as a great way to see the country during a break in their studies. Make sure that you have insurance which covers accidents that occur when someone else is driving your car.

Over The Water
A final option is to use a cargo container though this is really only the best option if you have to transport the vehicle over water. Indeed, a cargo container is the only solution in this instance. Most containers are of a standard 20 feet by 40 feet size but special containers can be used when requested.

Although it can be a lot of hassle, transporting a vehicle across the country is worth it if it is a treasured and valuable automobile. People often become attached to their cars and leaving them is not seen as an option. This is why cross country transport solutions are sought out.

Find and compare car storage facilities across the US.

Insuring Your Items in Storage

2011-12-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

“Out of sight, out of mind” – this is something that self storage facilities want to provide their clients. But for people who are looking for a self storage facility, it is important to remember that nothing is foolproof. Even if you made the right choice, anything can happen when your belongings are stored in a remote location. The risks, inevitably, are high. It might be a good idea to insure your items.

While some self storage facility offers coverage, not all of them do. Their insurance policy mainly covers the damage to the storage building itself and this does not extend to your belongings. Additional self storage insurance is usually available at a low monthly fee. Ask the self storage facility manager if you can combine this fee with your rental free. Insuring your items in storage has notable benefits including the following:

•    Low Cost/Low Deductible – the cost of insurance is quite low. For example, if you’re renting a facility for $2,000, the cost of insuring your items can go as low as $8 a month or even less. The insurance covers theft, water damage, fire, and other accidental circumstances. The deductible is also low.
•    Separate Deductible – claims are filed through the facility’s insurance firm, instead of your own insurance firm. As a result, claims would not affect your homeowner’s insurance premium or cause your personal or business insurance to be cancelled.
•    In-Transit Coverage – in-transit insurance are not offered through homeowner’s insurance policies. But most insurance policies offered by storage facilities cover items that are in transit, up to a 50-mile radius. That means your risks are significantly minimized. Take note that a lot of damage to belongings occurs when the items are being transported.
•    Supplemental Coverage – business owners typically already have insurance that covers equipment and related items that are stored in self storage facilities. However, it may still be a good idea to invest in the insurance offered by the facility. It offers supplemental coverage of the stored items.

Majority of items that are stored can be covered by the self storage insurance policy. But there is an exception: vehicles. These firms would require your vehicle to be covered by an auto insurance policy. They will ask for the paperwork when you sign up for the lease. If you plan to get coverage for your items, estimate how much the items are worth. This calculation will give you the approximate amount you should pay for insurance.

Ask the self storage facility about the insurance and make sure to read everything including the fine print before signing the contract. Overall, getting an insurance policy for your items in storage is a good investment. The amount required for coverage is relatively low while the rewards are high.

Saving Money When Moving

2011-12-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

Moving is expensive. If you’ve been transferred by your company and they’re picking up the relocation tab, then you don’t have a problem. But for most home owners, it is essential to budget and save money where they can. This article will provide hints and tips on how to save money when moving:

Saving on Supplies
Boxes, tape dispensers, bubble wraps: all these may seem cheap by itself. When you add them all together, however, they cost a significant amount. Save money by borrowing items that can be borrowed and buying second-hand supplies from a friend or acquaintance that just recently moved.

Being creative will also help. For example, instead of using bubble wraps, you can use crumpled newspaper to protect breakables. Also, it may be a good idea to use blankets or linens for padding instead of renting padded blanket from the moving company. Keep in mind that you will need to launder these upon arriving at your destination. For items that you can’t source elsewhere, just look for the cheapest deals in town.

Saving on Labor
Consider packing all your belongings yourself; this will help you save on moving labor cost. The moving company will only arrive at your location to load, move, and unload your items. Call several companies to compare their offers. Make sure to read the fine print before signing any contract with the company.

There are also some moving companies that can provide cost reduction if they can consolidate your items with another customer’s belongings. The option is only recommended for individuals who can live without their stuff for awhile. If you have friends or relatives nearly, call them to see if they can give you a hand. If they pitch up to help, it is customary to provide the “volunteers” with food and drinks. Some people even give small cash gifts.

Saving on Travel
Where will you sleep the night before you leave? Most people overlook this question until the last minute so they end up staying in a hotel. But you can save some money if you plan beforehand. Ask a friend or relative if you can stay at their place the night before you move. If this is not possible, you may want to “rough it” on your own living room floor with a sleeping pad.

For people who need to go long distances, it is important to balance your comfort needs with your budget. Try to have one nutritious, sit-down meal each day. Purchase breakfast from a convenience store and eat it on the go. It may be a good idea to have a proper meal during lunchtime because restaurants often have a cheaper menu at this time compared to their dinner menu.

Simple decisions to save can go a long way. As you can see from the article, there are many ways to save on your everyday choices. You will get maximum value for every dollar you spend if you follow the recommendations above.

When to Use Climate Controlled Self Storage

2011-05-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

If you haven't had to purchase additional storage before, then you might be wondering when to use climate controlled self storage. In most cases, this option is more expensive than a regular storage unit and in some cases, you don't really need it. On the other hand, it could be exactly what you need to keep your items safe and secure. If money is not an issue, then choosing climate controlled self storage would always be preferential because these units tend to be better maintained. If you are still on the fence and don't know which option is right for you, then understanding when to use climate controlled self storage is essential. Here is a closer look at some of the variables that you need to consider before making your final decision.

1. What Are You Storing
The first thing that you need to consider is what you will actually be storing. In most cases, climate controlled storage units are particularly helpful if you are storing items that do not enjoy extreme temperature changes or varying levels of moisture/humidity. For example, if you are storing a couch, then you don't want it getting moist in a regular storage unit because it may never dry out. This not only leads to a wet couch, but is also a breeding ground for mold. On the other hand, if you are only storing plastic kids toys and lawn equipment, controlling the climate is probably much less important. If you only have a handful of items that need to be in a climate controlled storage unit, consider getting two small units (one with climate control and one without) to save money.

2. How Are You Storing It
Along with thinking about what you are storing, you also need to think about how it is being stored. If everything is being stored in air-tight plastic containers, then they will make sure that moisture is not a problem. In this case, a climate controlled self storage unit may not be necessary. However, if you are storing everything in cardboard boxes or boxes without lids, then the risk of damage from moisture or temperature changes is much more likely. There is nothing worse than getting ready to clean out your storage unit, only to find out the bottom of your cardboard boxes have become brittle from the moisture.

3. Overall Value
Another thing to consider is the overall value of what you are storing. If your storage unit is a simple catch-all, then you may not have anything of great value in it. On the other hand, if it has furniture, antiques, or more valuable items, then the additional expense of getting a climate controlled self storage unit would normally be considered a wise investment. Not only will this keep them safer in general, but self storage companies tend to carry higher insurance to cover any problems that would arise if their equipment malfunctioned and stopped controlling the climate, even for a very short amount of time.

In the end, deciding when to use climate controlled self storage is all about assessing risk. If you are storing items that are at little risk of damage, regardless of the temperature or moisture level, then a climate controlled unit is much less important. On the other hand, if your items can be easily damaged then shelling out a few extra bucks for climate control is a very smart investment.

The Pros and Cons of Using a Moving Company

2011-05-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

If you are about to move, there are more options available today than ever before. You can do it yourself, use a moving company, use a moving/storage container, and much more. With so many different options available, hiring a traditional moving company is still the most common option, however it may not fit every situation. Here is a closer look at the pros and cons of using a moving company.

Pros of Using a Moving Company

Time
A moving company can get everything loaded and unloaded much faster than you can. Not only do you get several people to help you move, but they move items all of the time, which makes them extremely efficient. This will not only make it easier to move in a single day, but can also save money by limiting how long you have to rent a moving truck.

Coverage
Another benefit of using a moving company is that your items are covered in the event that they are damaged. Professional moving services will replace or fix any damage that they cause. The only exception is that if they tell you that an item is not packaged properly. They will then give you the option to repackage it or have them move it anyways.

Stress
If there is one thing that moving does for everyone, it raises the stress level. Hiring a moving company is a great way to eliminate one of the largest stressors of the entire relocation process. Depending on what level of service you purchase, you can even have them pack and unpack all of your items for you.

Cons of Using a Moving Company

Personal Space
Some people simply don't like other people touching their stuff. If you fall into this category, then there is a chance that hiring a moving company will actually cause more stress than doing it yourself.

Risk
One potential drawback is that there is always some risk that you will hire a moving company that isn't professional. Fortunately, there are hundreds of online reviews that will let you know how they treated other people. While this doesn't eliminate the risk entirely, does minimize it greatly.

Schedule
Another potential drawback is scheduling. If you move things yourself or use a pods-like storage container, you can set your own schedule and move whenever it is convenient for you. With a moving company, you need to find a single block of time, normally 3+ hours, in which the moving company can take care of everything.

Cost
The biggest reason that people don't consider hiring a moving company is cost. In most cases, it will be several hundred dollars for the basic package, with even more added on if extra time is needed.

Once you take a closer look at the pros and cons of using a moving company and compare that to all of your other options, it should be pretty clear which choice is right for you. Most people could benefit from using a moving company, but it is not a one size fits all solution.

Should You Use a PODS Unit to Move?

2011-03-27T12:25:00.004-07:00

There is little doubt that moving can be one of the most stressful events of all time which may leave you wondering if you should go the traditional route or use a PODS unit to move. Each way will represent a cost, so why should you even consider PODS versus the time tested way?

Think about what the traditional move means. First you have to reserve a moving truck way ahead of time so that you know you will be getting it on the particular weekend that you need it for. Then you have to hope that the company didn’t overbook reservations leaving you with a truck that is more or less that you needed. Next you must bribe several of your friends to give up their weekends in order to move all your things, rush to load and unload the moving truck, and rush to get the moving truck back before the company closes, making sure it is filled with the right amount of fuel and has been swept out. Sounds appealing, doesn’t it?

If all that sounds like it is just too much, then consider a PODS unit. To start with you can call PODS toll free and talk with a customer service representative about how much stuff you have. They will be able to help you determine exactly how big of a PODS unit you need in order to adequately move all your things in one shot. If you have ever rented a moving truck thinking it was big enough, only to have to make several trips because your estimation was off, then you know the frustration it brings. This just doesn’t happen with PODS units as the customer service rep will know just how big a unit you will need eliminating any and all guesswork.

When you use a PODS unit to move, you also make the decision to move at your own pace. That’s because your PODS unit will be delivered to your driveway whenever you want and you can then load it up at your convenience. Take a day to do so or a week, it doesn’t matter. Because you pay for the time you have the unit, it is all up to you.

Once your PODS unit is packed full the company will come out and pick it up then deliver it to your new driveway, wherever that may be. Once there you can again take your time in unloading all your possessions. Once your PODS unit is totally empty you then only have to call the company one last time and they will take away the empty PODS unit.

When you take advantage of a PODS unit to move, you eliminate a lot of the headaches that traditionally come with moving. No moving truck to rent, no friends to bribe, no worry over driving the moving truck or doing anything else to it for that matter. Best of all, you can pack up and unpack your things during the week, a little bit at a time, and leave your weekend wide open.

Save 5% off PODS rentals by using a Pods promotional code.

Review of Packrat Portable Storage

2011-02-08T22:57:00.003-07:00

Do you have a hard time finding extra storage space to store valuable items and keepsakes? If you are like a majority of people, sometimes you may not be ready to throw everything away or give it to charity. This is where Packrat Portable Storage provides a viable solution to your problem. Imagine the convenience of being able to keep many of your items near your home and in a weatherproof self storage unit. Learn more about Packrat Portable Storage, as well as the benefits and pitfalls this shed provides.

The problem with many of the pay per month storage sheds is that they usually require a costly monthly fee. Most places charge at least $50 a month, in order for you to keep your storage shed. That is a total of $600 per year, which can add up to some hefty pocket change throughout the years. Another downside to storage sheds is that you have to drive to the location to deliver the goods.

Pros of Packrat Portable Storage

The great thing about Packrat Portable Storage is that you can take it anywhere you wish. You don’t have to worry about leaving your belongings behind or finding another way to tow belongings because this storage shed is ready to go wherever you go.

Another benefit the Packrat Portable Storage provides is that it is weatherproof. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about rain, sleet, snow or humidity. Since it is made of heavy-duty weatherproof steel, it withstands the many elements of nature. You can be rest assured that when bad weather strikes, your belongings will be safe, secure, and in one piece.

Packrat Portable Storage kit also offers moving kits, so when the time comes and you and your family have to move, you have everything you need to ship up and ship out. You don’t have to worry about packaging supplies, because at Packrat they make everything available to you.

Cons of Packrat Portable Storage

Although Packrat Portable Storage is a nice alternative to regular run of the mill storage, you will need to keep the outside of the shed free from trash, debris and any other items. Anything in a storage shed that sits by itself for a long length of time usually begins to attracts rodents and other insects and bugs. Therefore, it is important to maintain the inside of the shed from time to time.

Being able to retrieve items later can often be quite cumbersome. This is why it is important to organize items neatly, for easy accessibility later on when certain items need to be taken out or used.

As you can see the Packrat Portable Storage unit has many benefits. Not only can it help to clear up clutter and unorganized space, but also the items are kept in a weatherproof unit right on the premise of your home. Therefore, you can keep a watchful eye on your belongings. Just as with most things, the Packrat does have a few downsides, such as upkeep of the storage unit and careful planning on how items are organized. With the right planning and upkeep, the Packrat can make a wonderful storage alternative for you and your family.

Save 5% off portable storage units by using a Pack Rat promo code.

How Portable Self Storage Units Work

2011-01-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

At some point or another, everyone has experienced the need to use self storage and lately there has been a new phenomenon that has been gaining momentum; portable self storage units. Portable self storage units will help you to effectively store all that needs storing and eliminate the majority of headaches that are typically associated with self storage.

Normally when you consider self storage, you have to consider first what size unit you need. This will entail you going to self storage facility and taking a good deal of time to see what is available. Next, you will have to get all of your things to the storage unit and that may entail you renting a moving truck. Additionally, you will probably have to convince some of your friends or family to help you with your efforts and this may or may not be so easy.

Portable self storage units eliminate a great deal of the typical process and by doing so eliminate a great deal of the headaches as well. Here’s how portable self storage units work:

· Figure out What Needs to Be Stored: The first step in using a portable self storage unit is to figure out what you need to have stored. Then you can look online or call a portable self storage unit company and figure out what size unit you will require.

· Take Delivery of the Unit: Once you know what size portable self storage unit you need, the next step is to take delivery of it. This is as easy as scheduling a time for the portable self storage unit company you choose to deliver the empty unit right to your driveway.

· Fill the Unit: Next, you fill the portable self storage unit at your convenience. This can be done in as little as a day or as much as a month. Since you will pay for the time that the unit is with you, it is entirely up to you.

· Schedule a Pickup: Once your portable self storage unit is packed full you then need to schedule a pickup with the portable self storage unit company you are working with. With one call they will come out to your home and load the now full unit on their truck and take it away to their climate controlled storage facility.

· Manage Your Stuff: Should you need access to your stuff once more you only need to make another phone call and your portable self storage unit will be re-delivered to you. You can then make any adjustments needed and have it taken back when you are done.

When your portable self storage unit is in actual storage, you typically only have to pay by the month. In fact, if you run into a company that wants you to sign a contract for any amount of time, don’t. There are plenty of big name portable self storage unit companies out there that will allow you to store all of your items on a month to month basis with no problem at all.

Business Self Storage

2011-01-25T03:56:00.000-07:00

Business self storage can be an absolute life saver for your business no matter how big or small it may be. When you take advantage of business self storage you are taking steps to ensure that your office or workspace is clutter free. This in turn will ensure maximum productivity, which leads to more profits.

There a number of reasons that, as a business owner, you will want to consider business self storage including:

· Excess Inventory: If your business revolves around a lot of inventory then you know that sometimes that inventory can build up. When certain products don’t sell as well as others then there will be times that you build up excess inventory. When this happens, you need to clear out that excess inventory for incoming products that will sell at a faster pace, but you can’t just throw away your entire excess inventory. You can solve this problem by renting a business self storage unit to stow your excess inventory until you figure out what you want to do with it. Many business self storage facilities will even allow you to put up shelving units inside the storage unit making excess inventory storage even easier and much more organized.

· Vital Document Storage: Many companies have vital documents that need to be filed and some businesses are even required by law to file these documents for a period of no less than five years or more. If your business is one such business and your client list is growing, you will soon find that a simple file cabinet or two will not cut it. In this case a business storage unit is the perfect solution. You can start with a smaller business self storage unit and have all your vital documents packed in document boxes and stored away. If your needs grow, then you simply have to rent a business storage unit that suits your new needs and go from there.

· Office Equipment: If you end up buying new office equipment like desks, chairs, computer, and so on, what do you do with all of the old office equipment? You can probably sell of that old office equipment and recoup some of the costs of the new office equipment, but you may not be able to do this right away. Again, business self-storage comes to the rescue. You can rent a business self storage unit for a month or more and keep all of that old office equipment safe and sound until a buyer is located.

While most people only think of self storage units as something to use in order to help keep their homes de-cluttered, business self storage units accomplish the same thing only for a business. In many ways it is more important to have an uncluttered business than it is to have an uncluttered home since your business is ultimately what is paying all the bills. Using business self storage will allow your business to thrive uncluttered, which is key, as a successful workspace is typically one that is uncluttered.

The Advancement of the Self Storage Unit

2010-10-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

Self storage units have been around since the 1970's and have undergone a lot of changes since then. Today, a growing number of people and businesses are taking advantage of the convenience that self storage units provide. However, most people have no idea where self storage units actually came from and how they have evolved over time. Some units are still very similar to the original units whereas some have advanced a great deal in order to accommodate the changing needs of todays storage users. Here is a quick look at how self storage has changed over the last few decades.

Originally, self storage units had very few rules and were normally built off of the everyday path with no additional safety aside from the locks on the doors. Initially, the rules were fairly simple and few in number. They included: no one can sleep or live in their storage unit, they could not resale or sub-lease a storage unit, and could not store hazardous materials. That was about it.

Over time, the self storage industry has grown extremely rapidly and the services provided has expanded a great deal. They now range widely in sizes and accommodations Traditionally, self storage units had a very limited selection in regards to size whereas today, storage units can be as small as walk-in closet or large enough to store everything from a two-bedroom apartment.

Some of the most noted changes are in the features that a self storage unit has as well as the safety precautions that are taken. Some of the newer features include: climate controlled environments and cold storage. Climate control has proven especially useful as people are starting to store more fragile items such as finished wood and electronics. Climate controlled storage units are insulated and well constructed which helps them to prevent a variety of damage such as water damage and mold/spore damage.

Security has changed in a number of ways as well. Recent technology that is being used include: keypad access, 24-hour onsite security, a variety of fencing, and video surveillance. Before these types of security measures were used, self storage units were often left out in the open with the padlock being the primary means of securing the property inside. They also did not have fencing or any on-site or video security either.

As you can see, self storage units have already advanced quite a bit since the 1970's. The main advancements can be seen in the increased size, features, and security that are now provided as a standard service. It is expected that self storage will continue to advance as quality alternatives continue to join the marketplace, most notably PODS-style systems. To compete with the convenience of mobile self storage, traditional self storage units are primarily relying on advances that are being made to features, such as climate control, and guaranteed security.

Now that you have a better understanding of how self storage units have advanced over the past several decades, it should be easier to identify which services are more up-to-date than the rest. This will not only help you make a quality choice, but also help you identify what features are most meaningful to fit your needs.

Quick Tips For Effective Self Storage Unit Usage

2010-08-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

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.

Self Storage Facilities – Choosing the Right One for You

2010-08-08T12:58:00.000-07:00

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.

Mini Self Storage – A Growing Trend

2010-08-08T12:56:00.000-07:00

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.

Temporary Storage Solutions for Moving

2010-08-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

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.

Car Storage

2010-08-08T12:54:00.001-07:00

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.

Review of Public Storage

2010-06-03T18:01:00.000-07:00

One of the better known names in the self storage industry is Public Storage. Because they have been in business for so long they now boast over 2,000 locations within the United States and their numbers are growing at a good pace with each passing year. They are a very accommodating company and their unit prices start at only ten bucks a month. They even offer a move in special of only one dollar for the first month.

One of the nicest attributes with Public Storage is their interactive website. On their website they have many features that make it easy for you to determine what you need and where to find it in the world of self storage. These features include:

• Storage Facility Locator: On the website you will find an extremely easy to use facility locator. On the home page you simply type in your zip code and within seconds you are presented with a list of facilities that are near your area. This makes determining the location nearest you a breeze.
• Size Guide: Public Storage also has a visual size guide so that you can better determine just how big a self storage unit you will need to accommodate all of the things you wish to store. Public Storage has self storage units from five feet by five feet all the way up to 10 feet by 30 feet.
• Tips: Also included on their website is an entire section dedicated to storage and packing. Here they offer you easy to implement tips and tricks that will help you to get the most out of the self storage space that you rent with them.
• FAQ Page: Public Storage’s ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ or FAQ page is filled with the answers to many of the common questions in regards to self storage. A quick glance is all it takes and usually the answers you seek are right there.
• Customer Hotline: If you can’t find what you are looking for on the FAQ page then Public Storage has a customer hotline that can be reached by dialing a toll free 800 number. Once connected a customer service rep will be happy to assist you with any questions you have.
• Mobile Device Friendly: Public Storage works interactively with many mobile devices such as your iPhone in order to better assist you. With your portable device it is possible for you to reserve storage space and even pay your bill. Talk about keeping up with the times.

Because Public Storage has such a wide variety of self storage unit sizes there is more than likely a Public Storage unit that can accommodate just about any size need and any size budget. Their easy to use website allows you to find out a whole host of information in regards to self storage units and their commitment to helping their customers seems to be one of the best in the industry. Public Storage is defiantly an example of how personal touches can sometimes make a big difference.

Helpful Self Storage Websites

2010-06-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

When you are seeking out information on self storage facilities or even portable self storage companies a great place to begin your search is online. There are many high quality self storage companies both traditional and portable that have wonderful websites that are chalk full of great information.

The problem may lie in knowing which ones to look at. While each self storage website may offer something that is unique to its own services there are four in particular that offer a wealth of information not only on their services, but on the entire business of self storage as a whole. These four helpful websites are:

1. PODS.com: The website for Portable On Demand Storage or PODS is filled with insightful information. Unlike many other self storage websites, PODS.com will actually give you an estimate quote right online. They also have a section where they estimate the size of the container you will need to effectively store your things and have a toll free 800 number if you need additional help. The website also has a location map which is an interactive and easy way to find the PODS nearest to your location.

2. SelfStorage.com: SelfStorage.com offers information for those looking for a self storage unit and also contains information for those who own self storage facilities. Using their interactive map on the home page you can quickly and easily find all the various self storage facilities that are in your area. If you are interested in buying or selling a self storage facility then SelfStorage.com can help you out in that department as well.

3. PublicStorage.com: Public Storage is one of the most well known self storage franchises in the United States and their knowledge is well reflected in their website. The site contains a facility locator that is like the others in that it is interactive and easy to use. They feature a toll free customer service hotline so that you can have any of your questions answered before, during, and after you use their service. Additionally, the website will work interactively with your mobile device, such as your iPhone, and allow you to reserve a storage unit and even pay your bill all by pressing a few buttons.

4. 1800PACKRAT.com: 1-800-PACK-RAT is one of the fastest growing portable storage companies in the industry and their website is also full of useful information. They too have a section where they help you to determine what size container you will need and they also feature an 800 number that can be used to ask any questions you may have. They even have interactive videos that offer tips and insights to the whole portable storage business.

There are many other self storage websites for both traditional and portable companies that you will find if you conduct a Google or other search engine search. While you could spend all day seeking the information you are after, you can skip all the leg work and use any of these four and be sure to find all the information, and then some, that you seek.

How Portable Self Storage can be Moving Self Storage

2010-06-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

If you are getting ready to move you are no doubt under some stress, but you can make your life a lot easier and let portable self storage become your moving self storage. Unlike traditional ways of moving, when you rent a portable self storage container it can serve as a welcomed substitution to the whole ordeal of renting a moving truck.

By looking at portable storage as moving self storage you can cut out renting a truck, trying to figure out if you need that extra insurance, and then picking up and dropping off the truck. Forget also about getting the truck back by six o’clock and being sure that you have swept out the back and filled the gas tank. You can also forgo the whole ordeal of begging 20 of your friends to show up on a weekend to help you load and unload the truck and then be disappointed when only your two closest friends make the effort.

Portable self storage containers are the perfect solution because you can have the portable self storage company drop off the container in your driveway as far in advance of your move as you would like. This allows you to load up your things at your leisure and when your moving self storage container is full, you simply call the portable storage company and have them pick up the container and deliver it to your new home.

If you are not going to be ready for your things for a while that is no problem. You can have all of your things stored in a climate controlled warehouse facility that is owned by the portable storage company and there your moving storage unit will sit safe from the elements until you are ready for it. Take a week, take a month, you pay for the time it is stored.

Once you are ready for your stuff to be delivered to your new home then one call is all it takes and before you know it your things will be in your driveway. Now instead of rushing to unload a moving truck so you have time to get it back to the rental company, you can take a day or a month to unload your things and never feel one bit of pressure to get the job done as fast as you can.

Once your moving storage unit is empty then simply call the company to come pick it back up and they will take it away for you in a timely manner. Really there is no better or easier way to move these days.

With the ease of using a portable storage container as your moving storage unit, it seems silly to put yourself through the pains that typically come with moving. Face it, you are going to be stressed out enough with the move so why not cut out a big part of that stress and find a reliable and affordable portable storage company that can help you move at your own pace.

Use a Pods promo code to save 5% off your next Pods portable storage unit rental.

Different Uses for Self Storage Rentals

2010-06-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

Self storage rentals are obviously a great way to help free up your home or garage and take back control of your life, but there are many other things that a self storage rental can be used for. While the many uses are all legitimate, you still need to be sure that you check with your self storage facility before you implement any of the strategies.

Here are just a few things that a self storage rental can also be used for besides storing your stuff:

• Band Rehearsal: Many people who are in a ‘garage band’ find that it means having to worry about annoying their neighbors and also clogging up their garage with band equipment. By using a storage unit that has electricity supplied to it you can kill two birds with one stone. You can practice at the storage unit itself and when practice is over you already have your band equipment ready to be safely stowed away.
• Inventory Storage: If you have a home based business in which you sell multiple items on a daily basis then you certainly need a solution to your inventory needs other than leaving your items all around your home. By using a self storage rental unit you can effectively keep all of your items out of your home and even set up a packing and shipping station inside. This helps keep your business organized and running smoothly while keeping your home clutter free from your inventory.
• Office Space: Thanks to wireless internet cards it is now possible to set up an office space inside a self storage rental and get to business immediately. All you need is a desk, a chair, a file cabinet or two, and a lap top with a wireless internet card and before you know it your own little office can be set up.
• Business Supply Storage: Some businesses such as landscaping require you to haul around mowers and other lawn equipment that can clog up your home garage at the end of the day. Using a self storage rental to store all of these types of items is a relatively inexpensive way to safely store your expensive lawn equipment items and to keep your garage un-cramped.
• Document Storage: If you work for a big business or a big law firm then many times you will be required to keep document files that date back many years. If this is the case then you may eventually run out of space. By using a self storage rental you can quickly free up space and so long as you stay organized have an easy way to access any files that you may need as the years roll on.

Again, as great as all of these ideas are, they mean nothing if your self storage rental facility will not allow you to use your self storage rental space as such. Before you implement any of these ideas be sure to check with the facility’s management and let them know what it is you are planning on doing. This way, if you get the green light then you know you will be good to go and ready to use your self storage rental to help better your situation.

Factors that Help Determine Self Storage Prices

2010-06-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

Many people who have let their personal belongings slowly build over time eventually find it necessary to rent a self storage unit. These same people are often caught unaware that there can be a huge difference in self storage prices and there are a number of factors that will help determine this.

Of the many reasons that are used to factor in the price you will pay for your storage unit some are obvious and some are not so obvious. Here are some of the factors that can be used to determine self storage prices:

• Unit Size: As expected, the bigger the unit, the bigger your bill with the self storage facility will be. To ensure you are getting the most for your money, be sure to inquire about the right size unit for your needs so you don’t inadvertently rent a space that is too big. It also helps to actually look at the unit itself before you pay your first month’s rent.
• Climate Controlled or Not: If you have delicate items that you wish to store then you will need to go with a climate controlled self storage unit so that the temperature is consistent no matter how hot or cold it gets outside. By renting a climate controlled unit it is you the tenant who will have to pay for such a luxury and often times, a climate controlled unit that is the same size as a non-climate controlled unit will be much greater in price, maybe even double.
• Accessibility of the Unit: Some storage units are located outside and have a nice big roll up garage type door on them. This makes it easy to load and unload your items. Other units will be located inside of a building and will not feature the same easy access. If you are planning on having easy access to your stored items then you can expect those self storage prices to be a bit more on the expensive side.
• Amenities: Many self storage facilities are very accommodating and allow you use of their dumpster and even have a manager who lives on-site so any theft is deterred. While these amenities are nice to have you will certainly pay for them in the price of your self storage unit.
• Hours of Operation: Self storage prices can also be directly affected by the hours of operation of the self storage facility itself. If the facility is open extended hours then that means they will have to pay their employees for that extended time. Those costs will be passed through to you by way of higher self storage unit prices.

Basically you can expect anything that will cost the self storage facility more to cost you more in your self storage prices. When looking for a self storage facility to rent from you need to first know what you will and won’t require as far as services go. Remember, the less you can live with, the less you will pay each month to store your stuff.

Self Storage Security

2010-04-07T19:08:00.000-07:00

With many people trying to downsize their living arrangements or simply moving to another city, using self-storage facilities have become a popular option. However, many people often wonder how safe their stuff really is. There are security measures that both you and the self storage company can take to ensure that you do not need to worry about your stuff.

Self Storage Security – Your Responsibility

1. Lock

Almost every self storage facility will make you provide your own lock. Many people go out and buy the cheapest padlock they can find. Unfortunately, not all locks are created equal. To ensure the safety of your stuff, it is important to get a padlock that cannot be easily cut by bolt-cutters Additionally, never give you key out to people that you do not completely trust. Sometimes, you will need to give a copy of the key to the self storage company, however this is only to protect you in case you loose your key.

2. Make a Record

Everything that you place in a self storage unit needs to be recorded. If it is an electronic device then record the serial number, the same is true for any other good that has a serial number. If it is not traceable, then take a picture. All of these tools are essential in order for police to find anything that would get stolen. While this isn't necessarily a preventative measure, it is important to keep in mind.

Self Storage Security – Their Responsibility

1. Gates

Gates and fencing are a primary means of deterring crime on a self storage complex. Many times, the gates will include a keypad for you to enter the key-code to get in. This makes it much more unlikely that a self storage unit will be a target of theft.

2. Video Surveillance

Many self storage facilities are now using video surveillance to help maintain a safe storage environment. Make sure that find out what areas the cameras cover as well as how the videos are recorded. This information will give you a good idea of whether or not the technology is up-to-date. Cameras that are just for show, are of no use if a theft actually occurs.

3. Someone On Site

Some storage sites never have anyone around, while others have someone (either a manager or security) on site at all times. Having someone on site is one of the best deterrents to theft. If you are concerned for the safety of your stuff, make sure that you choose a self storage site with 24-7 on site staff.

4. Environmental Protection

When it comes to the safety of your stuff, theft is not the only threat. Make sure that your storage locker can keep out the elements, such as rain, ice, and snow, while also being fire-safe.

Most self storage complexes are actually more secure than most homes. Just make sure that they have the essential security features, while also taken on some of the burden yourself. If you do this, then your stuff will always be safe.

Car Storage Tips

2010-02-27T16:13:00.000-07:00

For some car owners, there comes a time when driving a certain vehicle just is not possible. This may be due to owning an expensive car that is not taken out in the winter weather, storing a vintage vehicle that only operates for a few months of the year, or when preparing a car to be worked on. Whatever the case may be, there are some necessary precautions that should be taken into consideration. There are several car storage tips available to help prepare a car for storage. There are some that are more in depth than others, but there are some general car storage tips that anyone can use.

Step 1: Choose the best place to store the vehicle. Remember, this is where the car will be sitting for a long period of time. Depending upon what will be done with the vehicle; there are different types of storage facilities. For some, a personal garage will be sufficient for keeping in a workable location. This is because it is conveniently located, and the owner’s tools are there as well. For others, a storage unit may be rented in order to provide sufficient space and security. One of the most important aspects of the location is the air quality. The air should be dry as to not cause the car to rust. There are climate controlled storage facilities that help with this.

Step 2: Be sure to fill the gas tank and add a stabilizer. There is a purpose for both of these actions. First, filling the gas tank with fuel prevents it from rusting on the inside. Second, whenever gasoline sits for long periods of time, it separates and can cause problems when the car is started again. Therefore, the stabilizer is very important to add.

Step 3: Get a set of tire jacks to place under the tires. This will help to take the pressure off of them and prevent them from developing flat spots. This can help to spare the owner from having to replace an expensive set of tires.

Step 4: Wash and wax the car. This helps to remove any grime that could eat away at a car’s finish as well as preventing general corrosion.

Step 5: Disconnect the battery. As batteries sit, they can leak battery acid that can corrode the inside of the car. It also helps to prevent the alarm from going off. This is a quick and simply procedure, and can help to save a lot of trouble in the long run

Step 6: Invest in a good car cover to place over the car during storage. Even though the car should be stored in a controlled environment, there are still chances that something may land on it.

These are the most basic car storage tips available. They are simple and easy to follow, yet they are effective for preparing a car to be kept away for a long period of time. Even though it may be slightly time consuming to store a car properly, it will be well worth following these car storage tips when driving season rolls around again and the car is in mint condition.

Self Storage for College Students

2010-02-23T18:00:00.002-07:00

College students nowadays are much different than they used to be back in the roaring thirties or the explorative sixties, being an entirely different breed by intellect and responsibilities alone. In this day and age, college students go through the pain staking trouble of sometimes carrying their school work out of school premises and in many cases involving projects, they are forced to rent a building or space to use for that exact purpose. The lengths through which education takes our students nowadays bring us to a new venture of business targeting self Storage for college students.

Students would usually gather up their cash and rent for a place to keep their instruments or experimental apparatuses which they pay for on a monthly basis. These storage units or buildings are usually flats or apartments meant for big families or such and would need to be paid at a high rate, it is for this reason the students join their pay to cover their half of the rent per month while they have to use the place.

The other is in fact storage for the college student’s belongings. Students flock back to their respective states or homes during the summer vacation and have to secure a storage unit within school campus to place their belonging in until they return; the problem is that not many units would be very available if the students are too late. One tip for students to be prepared for during that hectic moment of looking for a storage unit is to book one in advance. The prices of the self storage units for college students during the school terms is much lower than those being sold off during the coming of summer since there would be more available units.

Booking a unit is quite tricky as most students would have booked reservations during the beginning of the year to have it ready by the month of April when there are nearly no more units left available to rent. Students have a choice between renting a temperature-controlled room or a non-temperature room. It’s best to choose the room most accommodating with your belongings as a television set will not function correctly if the summer heat had already melted internal parts of it, these things should factor into your decision to rent a temperature-controlled or non-temperature room. Self storage for college students has become quite a well invested business move for many people that it could rake to hundreds of thousands of dollars every summer when nearly all units are sold out.

Room sharing is permitted and is usually done with two students paying the rent cost jointly however there are consequences to have joint-controlled units; you are not the only person who can access it. It’s only recommended to keep simple items or items too big to take with you in such shared units. Take in consideration that you are storing things away for the summer so its common sense not to keep clothing in a container that could not air them out, when clothes do have ventilation in a very hot place; they somewhat perspire and start to smell unwashed which also goes for when you store refrigerators without leaving the fridge door open, they would stink up the unit and if you were sharing, that would’ve been a big problem leading to bad misunderstandings.

How to make money from PODS Auctions

2010-02-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

What are PODS? They are a transportable form of storage that you can take with you anywhere you go that is in proper size to fit the back of a truck, stay in the garage of your home or even easy shipping as is a ship container. PODS stands for Portable-on-demand Storage and is a new innovation for those people who want to bring their business along with them at their own pace and not the pace of most shipping details. Understanding this growth in PODS usage is useful knowledge in understanding how to make money from PODS auctions.

A lot of profit can come from marketing PODS in service to many entrepreneurs. They rely on storage areas heavily and cannot help but know that safety, accessibility and flexibility to having the products move around is key essential to their business, with PODS you can easily help their business flourish and with that in tow, you can easily boost yours when PODS become a heavy reliance. Auctioning PODS is messy though, every entrepreneur out there would want to have their hands around one and if you were the manufacturer and auctioneer, you could easily rake in big money holding these out in front of them at arms length without assurance that it is theirs.

How to make money from PODS auction is to start the bid off good, pull the significance of the PODS right out of the manual and see who among them chases after it, bait a bidder with knowledge that their business can be much more efficient and actually travel alongside them if they owned one.

Business men and small time business owners would love to get their hands on your commodity and would gladly sit through an auctioning off of the PODS to try and be lucky enough to get one before your hot product runs dry and this is how to make money from PODS auctions. The key to this to target your buyers with consideration to what they sell and choose your clients well. You need to search for those business men who carry goods needing shipping containers and need speed over quantity when it comes to delivery. Shipping products takes at least a month for the items to reach their distribution areas and some businesses which aren’t so popular need to spread their products fast. It falls more in favor for you if they had bid for multiple PODS containers to ship their large number of items at once in a simple PODS convoy towards the distribution areas.

A smart way on how to make money from PODS auctions is to also invite home movers who wish to avail at least one of your PODS units, any sale is a good sale and to keep that in mind you can cater to the general populous as a helpful moving service aside from being a storage and delivery system already. PODS are the newest thing and to everyone, it beats calling a moving truck when you have a portable moving truck/storage unit that you can even attach to the back of your car or trailer.

Save money on your next Pods portable storage rental by using a Pods promo code when you reserve.

Other Uses for Self-Storage Units

2010-02-22T21:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in life people find themselves almost buried in their own belongings and then find that it is prudent to rent a self storage unit in order to keep their excess stuff safe and to free up some space at the home front. However, there are actually other uses that a self storage space can be utilized for.

Self storage units can offer a cheap an effective way to pull off a multitude of actions provided you are allowed to do so in accordance with the self storage unit facility. Here are some alternative uses for a self storage unit besides just storing your stuff:

• Store Inventory for Your Home Based Business: If you have a home based business in which you buy and sell things for a living then you know how difficult it can be at times to find space for your entire inventory. This will usually create a cluttered home and a frustrated spouse. The perfect remedy is to rent a self storage unit and store your business’ entire inventory in it. Many self storage units will even allow you to install shelving in the unit itself so you can organize and put away your inventory as you see fit. Then when you have a handful of sales you can go to your storage unit and retrieve the items needed for packing at home or if you have enough space within the unit you can set up a packing station there and prepare the packages right where the inventory is.
• Affordable Work Space: If your storage unit offers electricity then it can be utilized as a perfect work place that will be both effective and affordable. While storage units that have electricity are generally more expensive than those that do not, they will still be a lot cheaper than renting office space somewhere. Inside of your storage unit you can set up a desk, a chair, some file cabinets, and by adding a lap-top with mobile broadband you are in business. This gives you the space you need without having to claim the spare room or the living room of your home and will still be cost effective as well.
• Band Practice: So many times with ‘garage bands,’ the problem is that nobody’s garage in the band is available for band practice. A storage unit is the perfect solution. You will need to be sure that it is alright with the facility itself and be sure that you are staying within the sound ordinances of your area, but a nice storage unit will not only allow you and your band mates to jam away, but you will also leave you a place to store all of your band’s equipment afterwards.

Once again, to pull any of these ideas off you must first check with the management of the facility to be sure that it is alright. However, if the first pace won’t let you, try another. There are many self storage unit facilities that will not mind if you use your storage unit for something other than storing your stuff. Just be courteous and stay within the rules and you should be all set to utilize your self storage unit to your advantage.

How Self Storage Auctions Work

2010-02-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

When someone has their items in a self storage unit and they neglect to pay their rent for a certain amount of time, many times the self storage facility will have the right to auction off their belongings in a self storage auction in order to recoup their lost rent money. This can represent a great opportunity for you if you are looking to pick up some items at a rock bottom price. But how exactly do self storage auctions work?

There are different ways that self storage auctions are conducted and the process is strictly up to the self storage facility that is conducting the auction. Here are the different ways that self storage units are auctioned off:

• Sealed Bid: This is the most common way that self storage auctions are conducted. In a sealed bid auction the facility manager will open up the self storage unit that is having its contents auctioned off and let people look to see what is inside. Once everyone gets an opportunity to see the contents the manager will accept everyone’s bids in a sealed envelope usually accompanied by their name and phone number. The highest bid gets the contents of the self storage unit and will then typically have 48 hours to pay for and remove all the contents from the self storage unit. In the event that the highest bid falls through, the next highest will be taken.
• Live Auction: A live auction of a self storage unit is rarer to find, but a lot more fun to attend. As with the sealed bid auction the unit is opened up so it can be inspected for contents and at a certain time the auctioneer will begin his rant. The highest bid will win and usually will have 48 hours to pay and then clear out the unit.
• Blind Auction: This is not a popular type of auction but it does occur. This is where the manager will simply post that there is a blind auction happening for a self storage unit’s contents and the unit will not be opened up, hence the term ‘blind.’ The only person who will see the contents of the unit is the one who wins the blind auction. Other than the size of the unit there is little information that can be obtained. Some places will list, ‘general items’ or ‘tools’ as an example, but most will not say anything about the contents. The manager will usually take sealed bids for a certain amount of days and the highest bid will win. Sometimes they will have a live auctioneer insteadl, but not likely as a blind auction will bring in much less than one where everyone knows what they are getting into. The same rules usually apply as to 48 hours to pay and clear out the items.

To find out where these auctions are you only have to call the self storage facilities in your area and ask them when they conduct theirs. Some will do it once a month and others will do it twice, but it is all up to each facility. While you are finding out when the auctions are you will also want to find out the format so that you can be sure it is the type of self storage auction that you will want to attend.

Most Expensive RVs

2010-02-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than loading up the family in your RV and taking off for some fun adventures somewhere across the country? The answer is yes, but only if you have half a million to $2.5 million to spare.

If you do have that kind of ‘spare change’ lying around then you too can enjoy one of the top three most expensive RVs. While these may look like other RVs in the traditional sense, the amenities and features offered are anything but typical. Whoever built these super RVs certainly subscribed to the ‘spare no expense’ theory. When it comes to comfort and extras, these three offer them all:

1. Vantare Platinum Plus: Coming in at number one, the Vantare Platinum Plus will set you back $2.5 million. It is by far the most expensive RV in the world. This rolling mansion features Swarovski crystal to compliment custom sculptures up top on the ceiling, steps that are made out of marble that lead into the cabin, leather sofas and chairs, and interior room galore. The gas tank can hold 235 gallons which makes for a hefty fill-up, though if you can afford this beauty then the price of gas is probably the last thing on your mind. Best of all the Vantare Platinum Plus has a sports car carrier that is hidden underneath the RV itself. That’s right; you can be in tow without having to show it.
2. Country Coach Prevost RV: The silver medal for the most expensive RVs goes to the Country Coach Prevost RV. At $1 million plus, this luxury RV has it all. These are the same bus conversions that you see many of the rock stars and NASCAR starts travelling around in. With room for up to ten people this RV has tons of space and comes with flat screen televisions that are bigger than the ones you would find in a typical American household.
3. Unicat Amerigo Series: Rounding out the top three is the Unicat Amerigo Series. This RV is for all you that want to be able to take your RV off road; seriously. From the outside it looks like an armored truck that is filled with money and on its way to the bank, but on the inside you would be hard pressed to find such luxury elsewhere. At half a million dollars this on and off road RV is not as spacious as the top two but it does have a full kitchen and lots of leg room. This RV can be taken down some pretty rough terrain and allows for its owner to camp in luxury at places where the standard RV would get stuck in a heartbeat. No more hiking necessary.

While there are many RVs that you can choose from if you are in the market, none will offer the comforts, the looks, or the price of these top three most expensive. However, if you can afford one of these ultimate RVs then you will certainly get to enjoy plenty of looks both while at the campground and while on the road to the campground as well.

Find RV storage facilities across the US and Canada.

Finding a Cheap Self Storage Unit

2009-11-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

At some point in life you are going to find yourself up to your eyeballs in stuff and your quest to find good, cheap self storage will begin. While you may not be ready to part with your belongings you may also not be ready to pay a lot of money to store them. You might think that the words good and cheap don’t go hand and hand but in the world of self storage they sometimes can.

There will of course be certain factors you want to look at before you give any of your money away. You will want to consider things such as security, gated or not, and access to the unit for yourself, and these are questions you should ask every storage unit facility you talk to in order to help you make your decision.

Finding a cheap storage unit can be a daunting task or it can be an easy task, it just depends on how you go about it. Here are some ways for you to find good cheap self storage:

• Online: To find a cheap storage unit in your local area all you have to do is conduct a Google, Yahoo, or Ping search for ‘cheap storage units’ followed by your zip code. This will bring up any storage unit facilities in your local area that use the word ‘cheap’ in their description. You can also try ‘low cost’ or ‘affordable’ in your search as well as many business owners will shy away from the word cheap in their advertising. Once you locate a handful of storage unit facilities in your area call them up and ask all the questions you want answered.

• Yellow Pages: This step will require just a bit more leg work on your part. You begin by searching in the yellow pages under ‘self storage’ and then just start dialing numbers. Your first phone call will be nothing more than asking how much they charge for your ideal size storage unit per month. After you have called a couple dozen or so you can see which ones offer the cheapest prices and then call those specific storage unit facilities back and ask all of your questions then.

• Hit the streets: This step will obviously take you the most amount of time. It entails you getting in your car and driving to the different storage facilities and acquiring price information. One advantage to this type of searching is that you actually get to see firsthand how the facility looks. You can simply look around in stealth mode or you can actually ask all the questions you want and request to see the storage unit you are considering renting. If you are not in a talkative mood, go with the stealth operation and be sure to get a business card so that you can call the cheaper storage unit facilities at a later time.

If your area is like most areas in the United States these days, there are a number of different storage unit facilities that you will have to choose from. This is a good thing for you as they will all be trying to undercut one another. With just a little bit of work and a handful of questions asked you too can find a good cheap self storage unit.

Review of Mozy Online Storage

2009-11-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

Every year people just like you lose countless documents and important files because of the unforeseen, but with online storage companies such as Mozy, this scenario can be avoided forever. With Mozy, everything on your computer is backed up and encrypted so if anything happens such as a hard drive crash, a flood, or theft of your computer, your files are easily accessible and ready to be restored. What are all of your files worth to you?

Here is how Mozy works to protect your important files:

• Sign up for an account: Before you can begin to start backing up your files you must first open an account with Mozy. Once that is completed you can then go about getting Mozy on your PC.
• Download software: Mozy software downloads in seconds and is simple to use.
• Back-up files: Once your software is loaded up you can back up all the files you want. You can simply click on files to be backed up or you can designate specific files and or directories that you want backed up. Mozy will back up your files whether they are open or closed.

Now that your files are backed up, you are probably wondering how Mozy keeps them safe; what are the advantages?

• 128-bit SSL Encryption: Mozy uses the same type of encryption that banks use to keep your files safe.
• Extra precautions while in storage: They further use 448-Blowfish encryption while in storage so that your files remain untouchable even to the most skillful hackers.
• Automatic backup: Mozy allows you the flexibility to decide when you want your files to be backed up. Once you set the time you can forget about it as Mozy will handle the rest. You can change this preference at any time.
• Saves even the little things: Mozy seeks out and finds even the smallest changes and is sure to backup the newest version of your documents every time.
• Backs up Outlook: Mozy can even back up your Outlook files so that all of your e-mail information will be kept safe.
• Only backs up the new: Mozy’s system distinguishes between files that are already saved and new ones that need to be saved or changes that require files to be resaved. This makes all subsequent backups lightning quick.

Should you ever need to retrieve your files, Mozy makes it as easy as a few clicks of your mouse. Mozy offers you unlimited online backup for less than $5.00 per month and what’s more, Mozy offers you a way to try before you buy. Mozy actually lets anyone store up to 2 GB of files absolutely free so you can store a good number of files with them and test the waters so to speak. Best of all, this free trial requires no credit card information to be given.

Really for less than $60 per year there is no excuse not to have your important files be protected from being lost forever. Mozy makes it easy and affordable to have peace of mind 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Read Mozy reviews to see what Mozy customers have to say about their service.

The Top Three Mobile Storage Unit Companies

2009-11-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

Mobile storage units are fast becoming the way that many people choose to go when it comes time to move their things or to store them. Mobile storage units are great because they are brought right to your driveway and allow you to take your time when packing up your things. The convenience continues when you are all packed up as you simply call the company and they pick up the storage unit for you and either transport it to your new home or store it for you in their facilities.

Because of the growing number of people beginning to see the benefits of mobile storage units and their increase in popularity there seems to be a growing number of mobile storage unit companies popping up. So which ones are worth their salt?

There are pros and cons with most companies, but the three that always seem to stand out as far as service and reliability go are:

1. PODS: PODS stands for Portable On Demand Storage and when it comes to mobile storage units these guys are one of the best. They have facilities in 58 States, Provinces, and Territories in the United States, Canada, and Australia so weather you are moving down the street, across the country, or across the globe, PODS will have you covered. They have outstanding customer service and an 800 number that can be called at any time to assist you. You can get a free quote with them online or by calling their 800 number.
2. 1-800-PACKRAT: 1-800-PACKRAT is somewhat smaller than PODS but they are quickly gaining momentum in the world of mobile storage unit companies. They too offer a toll free number that can be utilized to get answers to the questions you may have. They can handle a move within the city and they can also handle a move across the country. Just like PODS, you can get a free quote online or by calling their 800 number which is of course their name too.
3. SMARTBOX: SAMRTBOX is another fast growing company in the industry. They can handle a move within your city or they can move your things for you across the country. As with the other top two they also offer an 800 number that can be called at any time to assist you with anything that you may need. You can also obtain a free quote online or by calling their 800 number. Their website is very user friendly and there are even a couple of tutorial videos that show the entire process of how SMARTBOX works from A to Z.

There is no doubt that moving or storing your stuff with a mobile storage unit company is the wave of the future and probably a great idea for you should you have the need. But you must be sure that you select a reputable company that will not only give you a good price, but outstanding service as well. You can search the Internet all you like but you will be hard pressed to find other mobile storage unit companies that offer you more than these top three.

Save 5-10% off a Pods storage unit rental by using a Pods promo code.

PODS Units are Popular for a Reason – Actually Several

2009-11-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

In the world of portable storage units there is no name that is more recognizable than that of PODS. PODS stands for Portable On Demand Storage and when it comes to convenience and great customer service these guys are tough to beat. Their growing popularity seems to have no bounds but they are not just popular because their name is recognizable, they are popular for a reason.

Actually, PODS is popular for many reasons, here are just a few:

• Convenience: PODS will drop off your portable storage unit right at your doorstep and leave it there for as long as you want. You can then take your time and load up your things and when you are done they will come and pick up the packed up unit from you. You then choose whether you want PODS to move the unit to your new home or whether you want them to store your things for you in their climate controlled warehouse. You can store your things for a day or for a lifetime; it is all up to you.
• Customer service: As with any business, it is the customer service that often makes or breaks it. PODS offers a toll free 800 number that can be utilized and there is always someone on the other end that is knowledgeable and that can answer your questions in a timely fashion.
• Free quotes: Before you go with PODS for your portable storage needs you can obtain a free quote for how much their services will cost you. You can choose to get your free quote online or by calling the toll free 800 number and speaking with a customer service representative.
• Availability: PODS currently serves 58 States, Provinces, and Territories in the United States, Canada, and Australia. What this means is that you will probably not have a problem trying to find a PODS service in or near your local area. This also means that PODS is a true international company and can handle your move down the street, across the country, or even across the globe.
• User friendly website: The PODS website is one of the easiest to navigate in the entire industry. They have several interactive tools such as video tutorials which makes the entire process a lot easier on you. They break down the dimensions of the different units and tell you how much you can expect to fit inside them. If you get lost at any time or have further questions, remember that help is but a toll free phone call away.
• Trust factor: PODS has over one million moves under their belts and that number grows with every passing day. When you go with PODS you know you are not only getting a great price and great service, but you are also going with a company you can trust.

There is no doubt that in the world of portable self storage units that PODS is one of the best, but they have certainly earned their popularity with unbeatable reliability and unmatched service.

Save up to 10% on a Pods rental by using a Pods promo code.

Self Storage Checklist

2009-10-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

People get self storage units for a number of different reasons. Some get them because they need a place to store their belongings while they are in between places due to a move. Others simply realize that they have too much stuff lying around their homes but don’t want to get rid of that stuff and instead opt to store it. No matter what your reason is for wanting to get self storage there are several things that you should be sure are considered before you rent your unit or move your things into that unit.

Before you decide too hastily on a storage unit there is a checklist of items that you should complete before you make your decision:

• What size unit do you need: Figure out how much you need to store and then go look at the different sizes of storage units. This way you will be sure that you are renting the right amount of storage space.
• AC or not: What will you be storing? Do the items require storage in a climate controlled environment? This is a big decision to make as an air conditioned unit will cost more than a regular unit will so you need to be sure that you know what you want ahead of time.
• How will you move the stuff: This is a factor that many people tend to overlook. If you do not have a big truck, or access to one, you may be stuck making endless trips to and from the storage unit. The only other alternative will be the costly one of renting a truck. Look for storage units that are either closer to your home so that the trips to and fro won’t be so bad or look for a facility that allows you to use their truck.
• How secure is the unit: This goes beyond the lock, but you need one of those too. Does the storage unit have a fence around the property? Is there barbed wire on the fence? Do you have to have a code to open the gate? Is there even a gate? You have to look at all these factors to ensure that your belongings will be as safe as possible.
• Hours of operation: What time does the storage unit open in the morning and how late does it stay open? If your hours at work are nine to five and so too are the storage unit’s then you may have a hard time accessing your unit to get at your stuff.
• How expensive is it: While price should never be the first thing that you factor in, it should be factored in eventually. If you are pleased with everything else and find yourself with a choice of three good storage unit facilities to pick from then there is nothing wrong with letting the price be the determining factor.

When it comes to self storage, knowing what it is you are looking for and what you are getting before you hand over any money or move any items in will save you possible head aches and may also save you money in the end.

Find Denver self storage units at EasyStorageSearch.com.

Things to Hate About Moving

2009-10-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

Is there anything that is more fun in life than moving? Yes that is a totally sarcastic comment because really there can be nothing in life that is more of an aggravating headache. Ah moving, how do we hate thee, let us count the ways.

There are so many things to hate about moving, here are just a few:

• Packing: Before you can move all of your stuff to your new place, you have to pack it all up. This is a hassle from the get go. First you have to find boxes to pack all of your belongings into which means plenty of trips to the grocery stores asking for their left over boxes. Then you have to make sure that you pack everything just so to ensure that nothing gets harmed in the move. Finally you get a good slap in the face from reality when you realize you will need a moving truck as big as a tractor trailer to haul all of your stuff to your new residence.

• Renting a moving truck: Just what you want to do on your weekend off, rent a moving truck. After you figure out what size you need you have to make sure it is available and then go pick it up and listen to the salesperson try to sell you a bunch of add-ons that you don’t need like a moving dolly or packing blankets. And what is with that smell that is always in the cab of the moving trucks don’t people know about the wonderful invention of deodorant? Then you get to experience the joy of actually packing up the moving truck. There is no way to do this without absolutely sweating off about 20 pounds and you are inevitably going to break something while trying to squeeze boxes here and there.

• Bribing friends: The time to see how many friends you really do have is when you are moving. You may think you have hundreds of buddies, but good luck getting two or three to commit to helping you for a fun filled weekend of moving your stuff. The ones you will be able to convince will more than likely require some form of compensation like beer and pizza. What’s worse is that once they help with your move you are now on their list of people that owe them one and you know they will cash in before too long.

• Unpacking: When the rental truck has been swept out, filled with gas, and returned and your friends have all left with full stomachs of pizza that you bought, you sit back and let the dust clear. But not so fast, you still have the daunting challenge of unpacking all of your belongings. You try in vain to find a home for all of your things but before too long you realize that everything won’t fit into your new place.

After all the fun you realize that you will either have to have a yard sale or rent a self storage unit. This is where you scream at the tops of your lungs and realize just how much you hate moving.

Wine Storage Tips

2009-09-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Some people simply enjoy drinking an occasional glass of wine with a nice dinner, but to others wine collecting is a serious hobby. Actually, wine collecting is a lucrative hobby for some – did you know fine bottles can fetch over $1000? Of course, other collectors are simply passionate about wine and love having a collection to choose from when they are in the mood for glass.

If you are interested in starting a wine collection, there is a lot to learn. First, one of the most common misconceptions is that all wines taste better with aging. In fact, cheaper wines are meant to be consumed within six month to one year. The more expensive wines are designed to mature over time and are best when aged. It can be very frustrating to the amateur trying to start on a budget. There is considerable expense involved, not just in the bottles of the wine, but proper storage as well.

For wines that will be consumed within a year or so, you don’t really need to worry so much, but if you intend to collect bottles to age, it’s best to consider a special storage space. Sizes can vary from a small wine cabinet all the way to a full wine cellar. There are commercial refrigerators available specially designed for wine storage. Large units have two temperature chambers so that some remain at room temperature and others are chilled. The other variables, which are discussed below, may also be controlled by commercial refrigerators.

Wines continue to change over time. It’s important to ensure your wine changes for the better and avoid conditions that can lead to undesirable changes. There are four main conditions that need to be controlled for proper wine storage: air, temperature, light, and humidity. It’s best to have consistent conditions, although keeping those surroundings at desired levels is best to ensure wine matures properly.

1. Temperature. Temperature is perhaps the most critical factor in proper storage. Ideal temperatures are between 45-55 F, but can range from just above freezing to almost seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Going to the extremes can cause problems. If stored too cold, the cork may shrink, letting in air, but if the temperature is too warm the wine may age faster than it should. What ever temperature you choose – keep it consistent. Recurring temperature changes can be detrimental. Fluctuations over a season of 5-10 degrees are acceptable, but avoid frequent and rapid changes.

2. Humidity. Another factor that can impact the cork is humidity. If humidity is too low the cork can dry out, while high levels of humidity encourages growth of micro-organisms. Strive for 70% humidity to keep the cork properly moistened. However, make sure to keep air circulating to discourage mold.

3. Air. With all bottles of wine, there is a portion of the bottle that is void of wine and is filled with air. This air space, known as ullage, is required to ensure proper aging. The key is making sure no additional air enters the bottle. Since glass is impermeable to air, it all comes down to the cork. For this reason it’s best to store bottles horizontally to keep air exchange to a minimum. By storing the bottle horizontally, the cork remains moist thereby preventing cracking or shrinking that may admit additional air.

4. Light. While colored bottles do a good job shielding wine from light sources, its best to store your wine in dark conditions. Failure to do so may result in a condition known as light struck which results in an unpleasant aroma.

Find climate-controlled, secure self storage units at EasyStorageSearch.com

PODS Unit Loading Tips

2009-09-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Portable On Demand Storage, or PODS, units are a great alternative to renting a moving truck and snookering a bunch of friends to help you load it up and then unload it at your new place all in the same day. With PODS, they deliver the unit to you, you load it up at your convenience, and then they pick the unit back up from you and take it to your new place or they can even store it for you. To make the most of your PODS unit you have to be sure to load it correctly.

Here are some tips on how to load your PODS unit:

• Use a dust sheet: To help protect your items you should first put down a dust sheet. This can be either a painter’s drop cloth or even an old bed sheet you no longer use. This is an even more important tip to follow if you plan on storing your items for an extended period of time.

• Put fragile items to the side: If you have fragile items to load, put them to the side and load them as you go when an opportune place emerges, being sure to pad up the items as best you can. Wherever the fragile items end up in your PODS unit, be sure they are secure and won’t be able to slosh around when being moved.

• Load boxes first: To maximize the space of your PODS unit you should begin by loading up all of your boxes. Start with the heaviest and fullest boxes and place those on the bottom and stack up from there. The lighter the box, the higher on the stack it should go. Try to arrange the boxes so that when the stack is complete you are as close to the ceiling of the PODS unit as possible. Begin at the back of the unit and work your way forward.

• Load furniture second: After all of your boxes have been loaded, you can then begin to put in your furniture. Be sure to properly pad up any glass, like the dresser mirror and try to place it in-between two objects that won’t be moving around while being transported. To maximize space again you can load the couch first, and then flip any chairs upside down on top of the couch. Whenever possible stack items so long as they are stable.

• Load everything else last: Load all of your other belongings last. If you have objects that will fit into a void left by the boxes or furniture make sure that the item will be secure when doing so. Keep all sharp items like lawn equipment towards the front so it is the first thing you unload. This way you will be expecting the sharp objects and won’t get caught off guard and cut.

• Consider another dust sheet: This is mainly if you plan on storing your items for a prolonged period of time. If this is the case, then you can cover you items with a dust sheet from the top this time to help keep dust and dirt off of them.

Remember when loading up your PODS unit to be careful and lift with your legs and not your back. If something is too heavy, don’t be a hero, get someone to help you. A PODS unit that is loaded properly is one that is loaded safely.

Find professional moving labor near you to help with loading and unloading your Pods unit or moving truck. Save money on your next Pods portable storage rental by using a Pods promo code when you reserve.

2009-09-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

At some point in everyone’s life they are faced with fact that they have too much stuff lying around and are in need of a self storage unit but which is best to go with, traditional or portable? While you can store your extra belongings in both there are certain advantages to going with a portable unit as opposed to going with a traditional unit.

Here are some of the advantages you will find with storing your stuff in a portable storage unit as opposed to the traditional way:

• Convenience: This is probably the biggest advantage. When you store your things at a traditional storage unit you have to own a truck, rent a truck, or borrow a truck from a friend in order to get your stuff to the storage unit. This can be an unwelcomed hassle. With a portable storage unit however, the portable storage unit company that you decide to go with brings the storage unit right to you and you can then fill it up at your leisure with no time constraints whatsoever.

• No driving: Not only does the portable storage unit company drop off your storage unit to you, they also pick it up when you have filled it up and take it to their climate controlled warehouse where you can store it for as long as you need to. Because they drop off the storage unit and then pick it up that means that you have to do absolutely no driving at all.

• Helps the moving process: many times people will store a number of items because they are moving to a new home and simply don’t know what they will keep and what they will sell or throw away. Once the move is complete and you decide you want to tackle the project of going through the storage unit you again have to either own a truck, rent a truck, or borrow a truck from a friend in order to get you stuff to your new place. Not so with a portable storage unit. When you are ready for your things, you simply call them and they will deliver you belongings to your new home and allow you to unload all the stuff when you want to. Then when the storage unit is empty, call them back and they will pick it up for you once again.

• Saves time: One thing you can never make more of and that is time. A portable storage unit may cost a bit more because they do all the driving, but if you think about all the time you will save, not to mention the gas money, it is still probably in your best interest to go with the portable storage unit.

All of this is not to say that the traditional self storage units have no more use, but they have met their match. Unless you only plan on storing a few items that can easily and conveniently be transferred to a traditional storage unit by you, then getting a portable storage unit is really a no brainer.

Save money on your next Pods portable storage rental by using a Pods promo code when you reserve.

The Best Business Online Storage Services

2009-09-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

These days there are more and more files and documents that are vital to keeping safe to ensure that a business runs smoothly, so how do you find the best business online backup services? Data storage is vital to any company’s success and even though files and documents may not be used on an everyday basis it is important to make sure that they are readily available as a business can never be sure when the unforeseen will happen. Each and every year businesses lose countless files due to fire, flood, theft, and many other unforeseen incidents. Having your business files backed-up and stored with an online storage service is the best way to make sure that your business is always protected and never caught with its pants down.

These days there are many online services that can offer to store and protect any number of your files for you business but just as with anything else in life, some are better than others. While a simple Google or Yahoo search of business online storage services will yield you thousands of returns, there are three that stand you from the rest, have been around for a while, and have the reputation to be considered one of the best:

• Mozy: Mozy has affordable solutions when it comes to online storage for both individuals and businesses as well. Mozy is already being used by over 40,000 businesses worldwide. Their prices are set according to how many users will be storing information. If it is only one desktop, the charge is $3.95 per month plus $0.50 per GB and you can protect anyone on your server for $6.95 per month plus $0.50 per GB. Mozy keeps files and documents safe and double encrypted for maximum security.

• Carbonite: Carbonite, like Mozy, also double encrypts its files and between the two companies you will probably find none as popular. If you have a small business then Carbonite may be the solution you need for online storage. Carbonite starts at just $54.95 per year for unlimited storage and its customer service is second to none.

• iDrive: iDrive for businesses is also another great solution. Their prices for small to medium businesses start at just $9.95 per month and go up as high as $49.95 per month. It all depends on the size of your business and the level of storage that you need. Their flexible pricing schedule ensures that there is something for every business no matter what size it may be.

There are many others out there and if you find that none of these has what you want, then by all means search elsewhere. But for the price, the service, and the comfort, there are few companies that can offer you what Mozy, Carbonite, and iDrive do. While it is imperative to ensure that your important business files and documents are always secure and ready to be accessed by using a business online storage service, it doesn’t mean that you should have to spend and arm and a leg to do so.

Review the best free online storage sites.

Differences between PODS and PACK-RAT

2009-09-12T19:47:00.001-07:00

When it comes to portable storage units there are perhaps two names that are more commonly used than any others; Portable On Demand Storage, or PODS and PACK-RAT. Both companies offer portable storage units that make a wonderful alternative to the hiring of a moving company or the hassle of renting a moving truck and all the mess that goes with it. Both have been around for quite some time and offer great services and value, so what are the main differences between the two?

Both PODS and PACK-RAT are tops in the portable storage industry but they do differ to come degree in some ways:

• Sizes: Both PODS and PACK-RAT offer different sizes for you to choose from but the number of sizes each company offers differs. PODS has three sizes to choose from that include 8X8X7, 8X8X12, and 8X8X16 all measured in feet. PACK-RAT offers two sizes that include a 12 foot and a 16 foot container. Each company offers you a guide online to help you determine how much can fit into each container or you can call a customer service representative and they will be happy to assist you.

• Storage unit construction: Both PODS and PACK-RAT feature steel frames and aluminum skins, but the PODS containers have a polymer top that allows light to shine in and the height is a bit taller than that of PACK-RAT’s. PACK-RAT containers feature a built in rack for hanging cloths that need to be moved. The doors on the units also differ as PACK-RAT uses a door that swings open and is lockable and PODS has a lightweight roll up style door that is also lockable. Again, the two are virtually identical but there are small differences.

• Number of locations: Though PACK-RAT is quickly closing the gap, there are currently more PODS locations throughout the United States. Still either company can offer you a cross-country move at an affordable price.

• The lift: The way that the two companies lift and unload their portable storage units also differs. While there is not one that seems to be better that the other, it is none the less a difference.

• Price: This is of course the number one concern on peoples mind no doubt. Price is indeed important but there is no set fee as each person’s moving and storing needs is different. That being said, there may be a situation in which PACK-RAT is more affordable and there may be a situation where PODS comes out with the price advantage. The only way to know for sure is to take advantage of the free quote system that both companies offer online. If you find yourself getting all discombobulated, then you can also call either company’s toll free 800 number and ask a representative for assistance.

For every fan of PODS, you will find a fan of PACK-RAT. Both companies offer award winning service and support but there are differences between the two. While the differences may seem insignificant to some, to others it may be the difference on which company they ultimately trust to move or store their stuff.

Save money on portable storage units with a Pods promo code or a Packrat promo code.

RV Storage Tips

2009-09-12T19:06:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest investments you may have made in your life would be that of an RV and when it comes time for you to store your RV there are many things to consider. Many people simply park their RV on the side of their house or at their local storage unit facility and call it a day. These same people are surprised when several months later they go to use their RV and their rolling investment doesn’t want to start.

While there are no set rules for RV storage, there are certain factors that should be considered before you do so. Here are some tips for your RV storage needs:

• Consider a storage facility: First thing first, you may want to consider an RV storage unit facility to store your RV. Here you RV will be able to rest with plenty of space and best of all your drive way will be freed up of space and your house will be freed up of blight.

• Cover the tires: Any time you are not using your RV, especially when storing it, be sure to use tire covers. This will protect the rubber and keep your tires from cracking and dry rotting doe to prolonged sun exposure. You can go a step further and remove the tires while your RV is being stored and store the tires in a cool dry place that is free from sunlight, gasoline, and oil.

• Consider an RV cover: Many people will put a big blue tarp over their RV and consider it covered when in reality this can be doing more harm than good. The dark blue material will actually attract the sun’s heat and this could lead to heat damage. Because the tarp is not made to fit the RV, there will be many places for moisture and water to accumulate thus causing even more possible damage. There are many RV covers available nowadays that are costumed fit to your RV. These will repel water, actually reflect sunlight, and leave water no were to hide. These covers can be rather pricey, but also well worth it in your time of RV storage.

• Remove batteries: Remove the batteries from your RV after you have parked it for storage. Make sure that the batteries are kept clean and cool until you need them again. This will keep your batteries fresh and ready to go when you are.

• Gasoline: If you can it is best to drain your gas tank when storing your RV. When gasoline sits around for prolonged periods of time it actually gunks up and this can cause hundreds of dollars in repairs if not caught. If you cannot empty your gas tank before storage you can use a gasoline stabilizer, which is a chemical that you pour into your gas tank that keeps the gasoline from gunking up for several months.

Your RV storage experience shouldn’t be a difficult one, but you should be sure that you are properly storing your RV to ensure that your big rolling investment will continue to pay you dividends of fun for many years to come.

Car Storage Options

2009-09-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons that you may want to store your car. Perhaps you have too many vehicles in your driveway and you need to free up space. Maybe you have a collector’s car and you do not want it exposed to the elements day after day. Whatever the reason is that you want to store your car, there are a few things that you should know before you do so.

It is important to note that there are different levels of car storage and each level will of course come with a different price tag. Here are some things to know about storing your car:

• Outside storage: If you have an extra car in your driveway that you do not drive all that often and you want to make space in your driveway, then an outside car storage spot is for you. An outside car storage spot is exactly what it sounds like. It is usually nothing more than parking space sized and many times there is even a parking space block to show you exactly where you will park your car. The pros here are a very affordable cost. The cons are of course that the car is exposed to the everyday elements such as wind, rain, sun, etc. If this is the route you decide to take, you should consider buying a car cover as this will help to better protect your vehicle.

• Inside storage, non-climate controlled: An inside car storage unit that is non-climate controlled is usually a space that the car is driven into and then there is usually a garage style door that closes giving the car garage style storage. Your storage unit can then be locked and your car will not only be protected from the wind, rain, and sun, but also from break-ins. The only drawback to this type of storage is that it can get quite hot inside a unit that is not climate controlled. Because this type of car storage totally covers the car, it will cost more money that the outside storage unit.

• Inside storage unit, climate controlled: Just like its non-climate controlled counterpart the car is totally covered in this type of car storage unit. The difference is that the unit is air-conditioned so that the temperature usually stays at a nice cool level. This type of car storage is usually use by those that have a collector’s car and do not want anything to happen to the vehicle including heat damage. This is obviously the most expensive type of car storage there is.

As a side not, you should always be sure to perform regular maintenance to your stored car even if you do not use it often. For example, regular oil changes at the interval of three to five months no matter how many miles are put on the car will help it run its best no matter how often it is run.

Storing your car can be a great alternative to clogging up your driveway or garage, but you should know what level of storage you require before you begin to look around. Always make sure to call several storage unit facilities and try to obtain the best possible price for your car storage needs.

Office Records Storage

2009-09-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

Many times in business office records storage is a necessary evil. Having all of your records backed up can save you in the case of litigation, natural disaster, or anything else that can be unforeseen. But you need to make sure that you go about it the right way in order to ensure that you are protected, so what should you do?

You could store your records the old fashioned way by loading up boxes of paperwork or getting a few file cabinets, but how safe is that from the unknown? Should your office experience a flood for example, your records could be lost forever. This is in addition to the extra space that the boxes and file cabinets will take up. At some point in time you may have to face the fact that you need a little bit of help with your office record storage needs.

There are many companies that specialize in office records storage and they can help you store your records whether your records are online, on paper, or both. Here’s how many of these companies work:

• Provide an assessment: Most companies that specialize in office records storage will come in and asses your record keeping needs. They will work side by side with you and show you what you are doing that is working and what you are doing that is not working. This is sometimes free and sometimes there is a fee it just depends on who you go with. Once the company sees what they are working with they can accurately tell you what level of service you will require.

• Organize: An office records storage company will go through with you and tell you what needs to be saved, what needs to be shredded, and what needs to be backed up both online and on paper. Many times there are documents that simply don’t need to be kept and these companies can help you to pinpoint what is not needed so that it can be sent to the shredder.

• Store your records: Once the company has determined what type of storage you need they can then offer you a solution as to how to store it. Many companies offer a service where they will store for you your records online and they will also store any paper documents in a secure and temperature controlled environment. Many times it will be necessary foe the company to actually scan paper documents that are then stored online as well as on paper.

• Provide you access: Once all of your records are stored the only job left of the office record storage company is to provide you access to the records should you ever need it.

Sometimes it is just better to hire a professional and there is no one more able to handle your office records storage needs than a company that does it on a daily basis for many different clients. If you are sick of tripping over the file cabinets and boxes full of unorganized papers, you too may want to call in the experts.

Find climate controlled self storage units nationwide at EasyStorageSearch.com.

Tips for Moving with Pets

2009-09-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

They may not be able to tell you but when you move with pets your little furry friends are just as nervous and anxious as you are. When you think about it they are probably more nervous as to what is happening because they have no idea what is going on. All that they do know is that the world they have always known –your house- is rapidly emptying and they are being shifted into a new and scary environment. But there are a few things that you can do to make this new transition as smooth as possible.

Follow these tips when moving your pets and they will surely thank you:

• Secure your pets: All pets should be crated when you are moving them, especially if it is a long distance move. Make sure that the crate is a well ventilated one and that you put in your dog or cat’s favorite toys so that they feel more comfortable. You can also put in their favorite blanket should they have one. Never leave the crate loose in the vehicle and treat your pet as though it were a child and be sure to use the seat belt and buckle the crate in.

• Update tags: Make sure that your pet has an updated tag for its collar before you move. If your pet doesn’t usually wear its collar they need to for the move. The new tag should have all the information of where you are moving too and not where you are moving from. This way if an anxious pet takes off once you arrive they are more likely to be returned safely to you.

• Prepare your new home: Before your pet ever steps one paw in your new home you should have the home prepared for your pet’s arrival. For a dog, prepare a bed and a play area and for a cat place the litter box where you want it to be and introduce the feline to it as soon as you arrive. Show your pet where it’s food and water dish are and have a little something in the bowl. This makes the move much easier on the pet as the animal comes into a new environment but does so with many familiar things.

• Keep your pet out of the action: On moving day, keep your pet in a quiet room and close the door. Any place that will not have any traffic and as little commotion as possible is best. If you pet has a familiar bedding, place it in the room with the animal to make it feel more cozy.

• Show lots of love: When you move with a pet, remember they may think you are going to leave them behind. Show them a little bit of extra love and reassure them that they too get to go to the new home. Though you may be stressed out trying to move, make sure it doesn’t come out in your voice as a pet will key right in on this and become stressed itself.

Remember, your furry friends have feelings too and it is very important to take those feelings into consideration when you are moving with pets.

Get quotes from the top moving companies.

What Size Self Storage Unit Do I Need?

2009-08-28T13:00:00.001-07:00

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.

Getting Your Stuff to the Self Storage Unit Facility

2009-08-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

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.

Self Storage – Air Conditioned Unit or Non-Air Conditioned Unit

2009-07-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

If you are like me then you undoubtedly have amore than a few things cluttering up your home and it may be time for you to consider renting a self-storage unit. Once you have sized up just how much stuff you need to store and you have figured out the perfect size unit for that stuff you still have one more very important decision to make.

That decision is one that will be asked as soon as you go to the self-storage facility of your choice, ‘Do you want an outside unit or a temperature control unit?’ So what’s the difference? In layman’s terms an outside unit has no air conditioning and a temperature control unit does. Oh, and the unit with air conditioning is going to cost you more money. Why? The storage unit facility will be paying more to cool off you stuff and you can bet that they will pass that on to you.

Which unit you need is really a personal preference but it usually is dictated by what you are storing. For example, if you were storing antique furniture that you don’t want getting exposed to major summer heat, then you would obviously not want a unit that is not temperature controlled. On the flip side, you probably don’t want to pay the extra money for a temperature controlled unit if all you are storing is lawn equipment such as a lawn mower and weed whacker that would normally be stored in a garage or shed anyway.

A good rule of thumb is asking yourself where the items that are going to storage were kept before. If they were stored inside your house, then you may want to go with a temperature controlled storage unit, but if the items were stored I the garage, attic, or shed, then a hotter outside unit will probably suffice. Again, it is a personal preference, but knowing what to consider may assist you in making your choice.

Search for self storage units near you.

Self Storage – Insuring Your Stuff

2009-07-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

A common mistake made when storing your stuff in a storage unit is assuming that your belongings are insured by the facility. Wrong! The storage facility is simply providing you with a place to stow your belongings and usually makes it clear, though sometimes in small print, that they are in no way, shape, or form responsible for your belongings. So what can you do?

If you own your home, check with your insurance company. Your homeowner’s policy may cover your items that are being stored, but then again, it may not. Never assume you are covered because the time may come when something happens to your stuff in storage and you find that you aren’t insured and something valuable will be lost forever. If you are a renter and have renters insurance, the same applies. Call your insurance company and ask if your items that are being stored are covered I your policy. What if the answer is no?

If you are not covered by your existing policy you can always ask them if they do offer protection for self-stored items and how much it will cost. Then you can ask the manager of the storage unit facility if they recommend any insurance agency to handle insuring your things. Believe it or not, there are actually insurance companies that specialize in insuring self stored items. Once you have all the information in front of you look at things like coverage and cost and make your decision accordingly.

Just remember, your self storage unit facility does not insure your stuff, you have to do it. But don’t feel overwhelmed, as finding cost effective insurance for your possessions is nothing more than a few phone calls away.

Packrat Promo Code

2009-07-04T13:57:00.001-07:00

Packrat Portable Storage and Moving

Packrat offers all-steel containers and a 24 hour delivery guarantee. 1-800-PACK-RAT also offers 24 hour emergency response for fire and water restoration companies.

They deliver an 8×12 or 8×16 all steel, weatherproof, lockable PACK-RAT container. Take your time and pack it at your own pace. When you’re ready, they come and pick up a full unit and transport it to your next location or to their climate controlled secure warehouse.

Use a Packrat Promo Code to receive 5% off the delivery cost.

Top Self Storage Companies

2009-07-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

People seek out self storage for a number of reasons these days. Many times it may be a move that requires some personal items to be stored during the transition. Perhaps it is a case of too much stuff, or even an office that needs to store old documentation. Whatever the reason you need self storage, you of course want to know the top self storage companies in the industry.

In the recent years, there are a great number of self storage companies that have cropped up. Some are great and some are not worth a darn. That being said, there are three companies that have been around for a great number of years and have a wonderful reputation and service record to go along with their names. These three champions of self storage are:

• Public Storage: Public Storage has been around since 1972 and now has over 2100 company run sites both here in the United States and in Europe. Public Storage offers a number of different sized storage units both air conditioned and non-air conditioned. On their website they have an interactive guide to help you decide what size will accommodate your needs. Still need help? They also offer a toll free number for you to call should run into a snag. A great feature with Public Storage is that they require no credit card or long term commitment for renting.

• U-Haul: That’s right; they aren’t just for moving trucks anymore. U-Haul has actually been offering self storage for a great number of years, but many are unaware that the company that they trust most when it comes to a moving truck will also give them access to a wide variety of storage units. Like Public storage, U-Haul has a toll free number that can be called if you need advice on what size storage unit you need. Some of the nice features with using U-Haul as your storage facility include, online bill pay, 24/7 security, and access to your unit even on weekends and holidays.

• U STORE IT: Of the three companies listed, U STORE IT is the baby of them all, but is rapidly catching up. U STORE IT has over 400 locations nationwide and is growing every year. U STORE IT offers online deals and even has a price match guarantee. Like its bigger counterparts, U STORE IT also offer a toll free number which can be called for advice and tips.

No matter where you are in the country you are bound to be close to one of these powerhouses in the self storage industry. If you need more assistance in finding a location near you, you can either use the location finder found on each company’s website, where you simply type in your zip code and have the closest location listed for you, or call the toll free number and simply ask where a close location is.
Storing your personal effects can be somewhat worrisome; they are after all your personal effects. Going with one of the best storage companies that are available makes you decision not only a little easier on your time, but on your mind as well.

Get rate quotes from the top self storage units in your area.

Self Storage Rates - How Much Should You Pay for Self Storage?

2009-07-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

When determining self storage rates, there are several factors that should be considered. Of course every self storage company will offer different rates and many will offer different deals as well. Knowing what to look for and what to expect can save you time and more importantly money.

There are several factors to consider before you can accurately find self storage rates, these include:

• Size of Storage Unit: It stands to reason that the bigger something is, the more money you will pay for it. This is also true when it comes to self storage units and self storage rates. If you rent a self storage unit that is five feet by five feet it will obviously be cheaper than a store unit that is 25 feet by 25 feet. In a nut shell, the more stuff you have to store, the more you can expect to pay.

• Air conditioned or non-air conditioned: When taking two equally sized storage units, the one that is air conditioned will cost you more than the one that is not. Why? Generally if you have personal effects that could be ruined by heat, then you will have to rent an air conditioned storage unit. These units are typically located inside as opposed to outside. The storage facility will be running huge air conditioning units to keep all of the indie units cool. This will cost the facility more in electricity and maintenance and you will pay a higher bill as a result, so you need to know whether the items you are going to store will be alright without air conditioning or they need constant cool.

• Length of stay: When it comes to determining self storage rates you can often be helped or hurt by the time you stay. Some storage facilitates will have a higher per month rate than the rate that would be charged for the commitment of six months or more. Most are month to month these days, but even those types of storage facilities will often give you a better rate if you commit to a longer stay. If you know for sure you will be storing your items for six months or more, see what type of deals is available for you. If you are not sure, then just go with a month to month as more times than not, along with a better rate, comes a contract to sign.

Once you know the size unit you need, whether it needs to be air conditioned or not, and how long your things will be stored you are ready to determine the actual rate of the self storage unit. This is the time to call multiple storage facilities and do what is known as ‘price shopping’ in order to get the best deal available.

Many storage facilities will offer better rates when you rent online or pay your bill online so be sure to ask all the companies you call. Also be sure to look for companies that offer a price match/beat guarantee as this can be another way for you to save on self storage rates.

Lastly, make sure you are going with a self storage unit you are comfortable with. At times you may pay a touch more for as bigger and more reputable facility, but when it comes to your personal effects, a little price difference sometimes isn’t a big deal.

Storage Pod Cost

2009-06-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

A sure way to get your friends to cringe is to ask for help moving your stuff to a new house or a storage unit. What a pain! First you have to rent a truck, round up some willing or not so willing friends, load the truck, drive to the new house or storage unit, unload the truck, return the truck, and then you have to buy everyone dinner. Fortunately with the advent of the storage pod there is an easier way.

A storage pod is a portable storage unit so to speak. The company that owns the storage pod will drop off the pod to you at your home. You then fill up the pod with your belongings and the company will come and pick it up from you whenever you are ready. You have the choice now of having the company store your pod at their facilities or they will take it to your new house where you can unload it before they pick up the emptied pod. Almost takes the hassle out of moving and storage doesn’t it? But what is the cost?

The cost of a storage pod will of course vary from company to company, but with each company there are three rules that will apply that will determine how much your storage pod will cost you. The three rules are:

1. Size: Just like with renting a moving truck or storage unit, the bigger the truck or unit, the bigger the cost. Before you rent your storage pod, you need to first determine how much stuff will go into it. You don’t want to rent a storage pod that can fit all the belongings of a three-bedroom house if you are moving out of a one-bedroom apartment; that’s overkill. If you let the storage pod company know exactly what is to be moved they should be able to give you an idea of how big a storage pod you will need.

2. Duration: The longer you need to utilize your storage pod the more it will cost you. If you only need the pod for a couple of days to complete a cross-town move, then you will of course pay less than if you need to store your pod for several months. Some companies even offer specials such as your first month storage for a dollar or even free when certain conditions are met; so don’t be afraid to ask if there are any specials that are going on.

3. Location: Since the storage pod company is footing the bill for the gas to drive your storage pod to and fro, you can bet that the farther they have to drive, the more you will have to pay. If you are moving right around the corner, you won’t pay much, but a move from sea to shining sea will ring the bill up in an awful hurry. If you are renting storage space on a monthly basis, then you should use a storage pod company that is in your area as most have the price of delivery and pick up built into the monthly rent.

All the bigger storage pod companies have toll-free numbers that you can call to get a quote of how much you can expect to pay. Knowing first though how big of a storage pod you need, how long you will need it for, and how far the pod will travel is key if you expect to get the most for your money.

Save on Pods portable storage units by using a Pods promo code.

Online Storage Space - Insurance for Your Computer Files

2009-06-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

There you are at the most important business meeting of your life. You are dressed to impress and your presentation couldn’t be any better prepared unless Warren Buffet himself was the creator. Then all of the sudden you realize that you forgot your jump drive with all the files you need to make the presentation back at your office and the sweat begins to pour as if you had just run a the Boston Marathon. What can you do?

You can avoid this nightmare from ever happening by backing up all your computer files using online storage space. This is accomplished by using an online file storage service, which is also known as a file hosting service or online media center. An online file storage service is an Internet hosting service specifically designed to host static content. This content is typically large files that are not web pages. They can be optimized for serving many users, as is implied by the term hosting, or be optimized for single-user storage, as is implied by the term storage. Once a user’s files are stored, those files can be accessed from any computer that has a connection to the Internet. The user’s files can then be shared publicly or can be password protected if the user so desires.

Online storage space is quite simply a back-up plan if all else fails. Think of it as insurance, you hope you never need to use it but it is nice to know that you have it should a situation arise.
While there are many advantages to having your personal files backed up with an online file storage service, here are just a few:

• Little to no cost: Many online file storage services charge per gigabyte and some have a bandwidth cost component as well. While there are plenty that will charge for their services, there are plenty more that are free up to a certain point. While it is up for debate as to which service is better, the biggest difference seems to be that the freebie services have more ads for you to look at.

• Easy to access: Once your files are stored all you need to access them is a computer that is online. Your files can be accessed from anywhere whether you are in Atlanta, Australia or Timbuktu.

• Piece of mind: Never again will you have to worry should you forget to bring your files on your jump drive or any other format such as disk or cd-r. Your files will always be ready to be accessed should you need them, even if your personal computer crashes.

In today’s business environment being prepared is key, but being ready for anything, even the unexpected, is what separates the great from the good. Let’s face it, in life the unexpected can and will happen. Computers crash and jump drives get left behind, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be unprepared. Having your personal files backed up with an online file storage service is quite possibly the easiest and smartest business decision you will ever make. The piece of mind that comes with knowing that your files are always at hand is priceless and if you play your cards right the service is anything but.

Review sites offering free online storage space.

What to Look For In A Rental Truck

2009-06-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

Eventually, one of these things happens to us all: you have to move from your house to a new home, you need to get rid of a lot of extra trash in and around your house, you need to move a car from one place to another or you need to pick up some supplies that just won’t fit in your car.

What do you do? You rent a truck that’s what you do.

The question now is what to look for in a rental truck? How do you know what exact type of rental truck you need? Herein we shall go over a few different types of rental trucks and for what jobs they are most suited. This way, when it comes time for you to rent a truck, you have a better idea of what to look for.

Pick-Up Truck
The pick-up truck is the most common type of consumer truck you see around. These are ideal for hauling small loads of things such as trash, some furniture and building supplies for a household project. You don’t really want to try to move an entire household with a pickup truck because you’ll end up making dozens, if not more trips. Pick-up trucks are perfect for hauling concrete bags, mulch, yard supplies and smaller furniture.

The Stake Body
A stake body is an oversized type of pickup truck with a specialized back. These backs are larger than your normal pickup truck and are normally a good few feet taller. This allows them to hold more material which means more stuff hauled per trip. Stake bodies are perfect for larger haling jobs for trash, old furniture and things of that nature. These are very common rental trucks, as most people don’t own their own.

Dump Body
A dump body truck is more typically known as a dump truck. These come in different sizes are a perfect for hauling large loads of loose material such as sand, dirt and mulch. These are also perfect for hauling large piles of trash and refuse for deposit in a landfill because you can just tilt the body up and dump all the stuff out of it.

Aerials & Buckets
If you have a large tree in your back yard that needs some work done to the top of it you really don’t want to try to climb up there because, well, you would fall. This is why you will want to rent a bucket or aerial truck. These have the extendable arm with a bucket on them you ride up in to reach higher objects like treetops. You should always use these with someone else as a spotter for safety.

Snow Trucks
You’ve seen them and you can rent them if you have a large area that needs to be plowed of snow as well as salted. These types of trucks do double duty in this regard and are good to get if you need to get a lot of snow plowed in a short time.

There’s a truck out there for every job so, the next time you need to know what to look for in a rental truck keep these few examples in mind.

Save on Budget truck rentals by using a Budget promotion code.

Home Storage Ideas

2009-05-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

You are in need of home storage ideas if you are finding yourself worrying less about your dirty carpets now that you can’t even see them under all the clutter. Surely there are cost-effective ways to utilize the space we have without needing a bulldozer or a second home. For those organizationally challenged in the world, the following paragraphs offer suggestions for getting the best use out of your space and organizing your clutter.

Each individual home owner has the “room from hell.” Try as we might, we can’t figure a way to organize the bathroom. Or, is it the kitchen? Looking at each room of the home, here are a few home storage ideas to try out. They are affordable, so if they don’t fit the bill, not much time and money were lost.

Bathroom
• There are now towel racks that hook onto cabinet doors. This will save the wall from the dreaded screws but will also lower the profile of the towels, giving the room a larger feel.
• Secondly, there are many affordable storage units that fit over or beside the toilet, not to mention the shower caddies that come in enough varieties as to suit any shower size and design.
• Stackable units are available to group soap, tooth brushes and tooth paste. In this way, the counter space is increase and has a more streamlined appearance.

Kitchen
Apart from the typical stacking containers and hanging pans, there are many ways to organize a kitchen.
• Rolling pantry shelves really help in the modern kitchens built with limited cabinetry and no pantry. These shelving units can be spun sideways when unused and tucked in between a counter and a table or slid out of view.
• Within the cabinets, there are expandable “steps” for cans and spices and also shelves that fold out like rollaway beds. These inventions and many like them can almost double the usable space in an average cabinet.
• Recycling = good. Pesky plastic grocery store bags = clutter. A wall-mounted plastic bag holder/dispenser frees up the drawer or cabinet space that the ever-growing mountain of grocery store bags presents in the modern kitchen.

Closets
• Space saving hangers allow the user to hang clothes vertically, as well as using the horizontal bar. In this way, they provide room for twice to three times as many articles of clothing.
• Wall-mounted trouser racks can accommodate up to 10 pair of slacks without taking up any closet bar space!
• There are various shoe racks on the market. Look to see what works best for your space. There are free standing, wall-mounted and ones that hang on the back of the door.

There are home storage ideas and devices for every room in the house. There are even heavy duty wall racks specially made to hold the weight of laundry detergent bottles without hurting your walls. For the bedroom, there are jewelry racks and containment boxes made to fit easily under a standard bed. Employing even a few of these home storage ideas should go a long way to cleaning the clutter and presenting a usable, enjoyable space to the occupants.

Find a self storage unit at http://www.EasyStorageSearch.com, where you can also quickly locate moving companies and truck rentals near you.

Tips For Using Storage Pods

2009-04-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

The first thing you need to know about PODS may be exactly what are they? A POD (Portable On-Demand Storage) is a storage and moving system where the POD is dropped off at your home or office and you fill it up with stuff. Once you have the POD filled, you call the company back and they come and pick up the POD and put it in storage for you.

PODS aren’t just for moving from one location to another and there are a number of ways you can utilize this ingenious system for other needs. Some of the benefits of using PODS versus a typical moving company are that you can take all the time you need to fill your POD and you can get it back when you are ready. Essentially, for moving purposes, this allows you to move your belongings back into your house at your own pace.

Here are some tips on using PODS to make your life a little easier:

1) Moving: Instead of having a moving truck show up and having to fill it all up at once, you can rent PODS weeks or months before your move and get the process started slowly and at your own pace and then bring everything back room by room. It sounds a lot better than having a house full of boxes for a few weeks.

2) Storage: These are not just for moving, if you have a lot of stuff that you want to keep but don’t have the room for them in your current space, you can rent a POD and just use it for storage. This is particularly useful if you have a growing family and are running out of room in your house. You can store old clothes and toys until they are needed again as well as summer items like above ground pools, bicycles and other yard equipment.

3) Visitors: If you have a big extended family and they are all coming over to you house for the holidays you may need to get rid of some of your clutter for a few days or even weeks. PODS are a great way to put all that stuff in storage without you having to haul it all back and forth to the storage center. This way, you can take a week or weekend to choose what you want stored and move it all in at your own pace and they will bring it back when your guests are all gone.

4) Remodeling: Are you remodeling your house? Maybe doing a lot of painting and you don’t want to get paint on some of you furniture? Using a POD you can store these items outside the house and know they are protected from the remodeling process. PODS all have locks on them so your belongings are safe. Once the remodel is done, simply move the items back in and the company will remove the empty POD from your driveway.

PODS allow for a number of uses and all you have to do is search online for the PODS Company nearest you and get a free quote online.

Bonus Tip: You can use a current pods promotional code to save 5-10% off the cost of a Pods portable storage unit. Find self storage near you.

Boat Storage Tips

2009-04-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Most people would love to own a boat. Those who do not sigh with envy when they see that truck pulling a boat behind it are living in denial. They long for a warm afternoon in the sun spent cruising around the waves. Unless you own a boat yourself, you may not realize that it is not as easy to store as your car.

If you're considering fulfilling a long-awaited dream of buying a boat, you should consider where you will store it first. Chances are that if you own a home in a modern subdivision, there will be rules prohibiting you from storing your boat in your driveway. What would your alternatives be?

Obviously, you have to have a trailer to take your boat anywhere. Your trailer can double as a storage unit for your boat if your subdivision allows you to keep it in the driveway or in the backyard. If your garage is big enough, you may be able to store the boat in the garage as well. The nice thing about storing your boat on your own property is that you don't have to pay any rental storage expenses.

If you're your own property is not an option for storage, there are storage sheds that will store your boat on a rack when you're not using it. The boat is transported to and from the rack by means of a fork lift. Before you buy your boat, check with your dealer for the names of boat storage facilities.

One of the best ways to store your boat is at a boat marina. Imagine taking your fishing equipment and your food for a trip out on your boat. You don't have to load the boat on the trailer because it is already there on the water. This option can get pricey so it is best suited for those people who can afford it. Slip ownership is another possibility for those who do not wish to rent their boat slip. Prices and availability vary by locale.

Good marinas will have access to water, electricity, and showers. Are you concerned about the winter? Some marinas will service and store your boat during the off-season for an extra charge.

Storage units are one other option to consider. Many inland communities do not have access to a marina. Modern subdivisions in residential neighborhoods often prohibit the storage of boats or RVs on neighborhood properties. Storage facilities usually have covered parking or enclosed storage units that give boat owners an extra option for off-season storage. Check with local storage companies to see if they will allow boat storage.

Storage is one of the most important things that a potential owner has to consider before they ever set out to buy a boat. Your storage options include leaving your boat on the trailer including it in your driveway or in your backyard, buying or renting a boat slip at the local marina, or stowing your boat away at a storage facility.

Owning a boat is a big responsibility. Under the right conditions, boat recreation can leave a family with lasting memories for years to come.

Find boat storage facilities near you.

Keys to Having a Great Self Storage Experience

2009-02-26T11:36:00.001-07:00

The concept of self storage is very simple. Pay the facility the required fee. Drop off your stuff, put a lock on the door and come back to get it when you want it. However, as with almost everything, there are problems that can occur. By following these keys to having a great self storage experience, you will ensure that you do not experience any of these problems.

• Make sure the location you choose is well-lit with adequate security, and has humidity control to ensure your items are not exposed to moisture and mildew.

• Pay your bill promptly. Set it up to be paid automatically because failing to pay your self-storage fee will result in late fees and eventual confiscation of your stored belongings.

• Place pest control traps and bait in your unit to ensure that your items do not become home to unwanted residents.

• Take out rental insurance on your items.

• Label your containers to make things easy to find.

• Place as many things as possible in plastic sealed containers to prevent water and moisture damage, as well as pests from getting at them.

• Cover all items that are not in boxes with plastic for protection.

• Consider using a shelving unit to make organizing easy.

• Place items in the unit in the reverse order you expect to need them.

By using these helpful hints, your items should leave the self storage unit in the same great condition they arrived in. Protect your belongings by planning ahead.

4 Tips For Using Storage Pods

2009-02-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

Why Use a Self Storage Unit

2009-02-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Self storage units may seem like an unusual thing to use for many people. Those with large homes, sheds, basements, garages and large, easily accessible attic space typically have the room to store extra items that they do not use on a regular basis. So why even bother paying for storage space?

• When homes are being put on the market, the first thing real estate agents recommend is to declutter. This opens up the home and frees the space within it, so prospective buyers can get an accurate idea of size and be able to imagine their own things in the home. Uncluttered homes look bigger and cleaner also.
• When people are moving from one location to another, especially if the move is temporary or the final destination is not ready, putting items in storage for a period of time is a great option instead of selling everything and starting over.
• For students away at college, putting belongings in storage between semesters saves time, cost and inconvenience.
• For those who are downsizing but do not want to get rid of certain belongings, a storage unit is a good option to safely keep items that they may want in the future or may want to leave to their heirs.
• Units are also used by those who inherit items that cannot be incorporated into their homes. While looking for a better destination for such items, a storage unit does the trick nicely.
• Businesspeople with excess stock on hand often use storage units to hold such items, until space becomes available in the business for them.
• Businesses that have tight quarters store non-essential items and old files in self storage units.

There are endless reasons that a person or a business might need a self storage unit. They fill a need that is created by today’s society. We all have too much stuff and need some place to put it.

How to Avoid Self Storage Late Fees & Losing Your Stored Stuff

2009-02-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

All self storage facilities in North America have standard contracts that state that you must pay a certain amount monthly in order to keep your items in the unit that you have rented. If you are late with your payments, late fees will be charged and after a certain period of time with no payment, your items become the property of the landlord who in turn liquidates them to pay your bill. If the sale does not cover the amount you owe, you must pay the difference. Failure to do so may result in the debt being turned over to a collections agency.

All these steps can adversely affect your credit. However, there are ways to make sure this does not happen to you.

• Set up automated monthly payments from your bank account or your credit card account to the self storage facility. Alternatively you may be able to leave post-dated checks with the facility.
• Write down the contact information for the facility and keep the information about the location, cost and contract on the unit in a secure place. This should be somewhere that you check regularly, so that if you move you will be prompted to let the facility know of your new address.
• Let others know that you have items in storage, where they are stored and where to find the information about it. If something happens to you, others will be able to find your belongings and pay the fees or remove them from storage.

By following these tips you can be assured that your items will not be left behind or surrendered by accident. Secure your items by organization of your affairs.

Find a convenient self storage facility that fits your needs.

Optimizing Your Self Storage Space

2009-01-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it, self storage costs money. It may also help you save money by allowing you to rent or live in a smaller place than you would have to if you didn’t have the storage unit, but it still constitutes a monthly bill. The cost of storage varies according to the size of the unit you rent; therefore using your rental space to its maximum is very important. It will save you from the extra costs of the next size up. Follow these tips to help get the most out of your space.

• Stack your items as high you safely can. By packing items in boxes and listing what is in them you will be able to do this much more effectively. It will greatly help if you know which boxes contain books and other heavy items to put on the bottom of the pile. Make sure that breakables are up higher and that boxes above them contain nothing that would crush the ones below.
• Fill all empty spaces. If you are storing dressers, fill the drawers with smaller items. If you have ovens, dishwashers or refrigerators in storage, put kitchenware inside them. The same goes for washers, dryers, trunks, chests, coolers and anything that has a space inside it.
• If storing linens, quilts, clothing or any type of material, use vacuum storage bags. These bags provide an airtight enclosure for such items. Your vacuum sucks air out of the bag after you have put your items inside, protecting them from moisture, mold, insects, dust, odor and germs. It also makes bulky items much more compact therefore allowing them to be stored more easily, taking up much less room.

Keep your self storage costs down by opting for the smallest size unit you can get away with, by putting these valuable tips to good use.

Compare Atlanta self storage facilities easily.

Find the Best Self Storage Unit for You

2009-01-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

As many as one in ten Americans use self storage units for a variety of reasons. However, whether you are using one for a transition in your life, because you are moving, to hold excess business records or inventory or just because you have too much stuff, it is important to find the right unit for you.

• Visit several self storage facilities in your immediate are. Proximity and easy accessibility are very important to your choice.
• By visiting such facilities, you can also get an idea of the level of cleanliness that is kept there. This may save you from having an unpleasant infestation of who-knows-what in your stored items.
• Make sure the facility has humidity control in order to prevent mold growth on your items.
• Weigh the pros and cons of the accessibility of each self storage facility. Ones that are single-story and have a door that opens to the outside for each individual unit offer the easiest access for loading and unloading. People who live in urban areas may not have this option and may need to use a multi-story building with units accessed from inside.

Choosing a self storage unit that best fits your needs will ensure that your mind is at rest concerning the housing of your belongings. Never choose a facility sight unseen. Your stored items may never be the same again.

The Best Online Storage Sites

2009-01-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

Online storage sites have become more and more popular as we have more of our important personal, work and financial documents on our personal computers. The invention and popularity of digital cameras has also meant that we often have a large amount of unprinted digital photos on our hard drive that can be devastating to lose. Having such data backed up at an external site that is completely safe in case the worst were to happen and we lost all computer data has become very important. Online storage sites do just that, they provide a totally secure site for all your electronic files, so even if your home is completely destroyed, you will still have access to those precious documents.

Much competition has sprung up in terms of online storage sites, however there are several which have definitely risen to the forefront as being amongst the best. Each offers something different and is worth checking out.

Mozy: This site offers an impressive 2GB of secure encrypted free online storage to home users. Unlimited storage is also available for a small monthly fee. Mozy also offers a Pro version for businesses. Mozy is such a great program because you can preset backup times and dates and all the work will be done for you. It does require downloading the Mozy software onto your computer.

Carbonite: This website is completely free of charge for the first 15 days and offers unlimited free storage. However, there are limitations on the size of files you can store there. It continuously backs up new data on your PC. The data is then encrypted and stored at their remote backup center. Others can also access your files if you give them this option and allow them to share your files. There are more enhanced versions that have fees for use, but the basic Carbonite service is an uncharted diamond in terms of useful websites.

Box: Box.net is an online storage site that specializes in offering freedom of access and easy manipulation of files from anywhere. Only 1 GB of information can be stored free of charge and after that there are multiple levels of pricing. The flexibility in the use and manipulation of your online documents is what makes Box stand out amongst other companies of its type.

Dropbox: This storage site has a unique feature that other similar services do not. You can use your account on multiple computers and they update simultaneously. Whenever you use the downloaded dropbox to update a file all the other dropboxes on your account automatically update because they are in sync. This is one of the easiest online storage services to use

In a world where years of work can be wiped out by a hard drive crashing or a virus infecting your computer, online backup can mean the difference between disaster and slight delay. Take the time to research the options available for online storage and save yourself lots of potential headaches.

How to Find A Pods Coupon Code

2008-12-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

You’re shopping for a Pods portable storage unit and you find the perfect container. You get a great price quote and proceed through the virtual checkout line. In the final stages of the purchasing process, you notice a little field requesting a pods coupon code. Of course, you don’t have a coupon code.

Have you ever wondered where you find these coveted coupon codes? When you find yourself codeless at that crucial moment, you can’t help but feel like you’re on the outside of an inside joke. They’ve dangled the discount carrot in front of your face, but you failed to seize it.

Believe it or not, there is a way to ensure you always have a pods coupon code to type in those little boxes. Taking advantage of online pods coupon codes can lead to great savings and excellent discounts. Typically saving you 5 to 10%, pods coupon codes are worth a little bit of time and effort to seek them out. You just need to know how to find them.

Pods coupon codes aren’t listed on the site for which the discount is offered. That would just be too easy, right? Because of this, you have to go elsewhere to find the desired code. However, to find one, simply do a search for the desired pods code in your favorite search engine.

For example, if you’re looking for a Pods coupon code, simply search for “Pods coupon code”. If you’re looking for a Pack Rat coupon code, search for “Pack Rat coupon code”. However, you may have to sort through the listings to find the most up-to-date coupon codes.

However, the best way to maximize the savings you can enjoy from using pods coupon codes is to search for them before you begin your shopping. These days, there are many sites that exist merely to document and update the most current coupon codes. By searching these sites before you begin your shopping, you can seek out items and vendors that offer the most substantial discounts.

Also, always sign up for newsletters from your favorite vendors and coupon sites. Coupon sites will keep you updated on the latest discounts and retailer newsletters often include limited time coupon codes. These subscriptions will keep you in the loop on the latest coupon codes delivered right to your inbox. No searching required.

When you reach the point in the check out process when you’re asked for a pods coupon code, simply enter the code into the field. From there, the discount should be automatically applied to your order. You’ll receive instant savings on moving and/or storage using these super convenient portable boxes.

It’s easy to be inside the discount loop when you know how to find pods coupon codes. They are easy to find and readily available. With just a few minutes of shopping for codes, you can enjoy fantastic discounts when shopping online.

Find the latest Pods coupon code at PodsPromoCode.com. Savings on Pods portable storage units will be 5-10%.

Tips to Help You Find the Best Self-Storage Facility for Your Needs

2008-12-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Choosing a self-storage facility is not a casual decision. By choosing to use a given facility, you are entangling yourself in a serious contractual commitment, one that you might find hard or at least inconvenient to disentangle yourself from, should you be dissatisfied for one reason or another. There are, however, some handy tips that can help you avoid a scenario where you end up making the wrong choice.
First, you need to look security. You need to really look at the security features offered at the self-storage facility you are considering. Ideally, the self-storage facility should have enough security to ensure the safety of your stuff, but preferably not features which might hamper your access to your stuff when you need it.

Secondly, you need to go for a storage facility that is practical. For example, while you might need a self-storage facility that offers cold storage facilities if you have perishables to store, the same facility might prove to be superfluous (and probably too expensive) for non-perishable items. At facilities where there are more perceived features, the unit rent for ALL units (whether you receive those perceived features or not) tends to be higher. A facility that offers the most basic units is likely to be cheapest.

Lastly, you may want to consider the facilities location. A savings of $5 per month on unit rent may not be the deal you think it is if you end up spending an additional $10 per month on gas to get back and forth. Plus, it is always reassuring to have your belongings closer to you.

Remember, the nearest self-storage facility or the first self-storage facility you come across may not necessarily be the best for your needs. You need to shop around and compare features/benefits.

How to Write a Self Storage Classified Ad

2008-12-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

It’s amazing to think that in this age of overwhelming technology, texting, and the internet that newspapers and classified ads haven’t become completely obsolete. There are lots of advanced ways to advertise a self storage facility these days, but you probably aren’t going to buy a banner ad on the web.

Believe it or not, the classifieds are still a great way to advertise your self storage facility. But so many classified ads are so poorly written that they’re a waste of everyone’s time, money, and ad space. Writing a successful classified ad isn’t rocket science, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

If you’re looking to place an ad in the classifieds, it’s important to put a little thought and effort into what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it.
Here are few tips on how to write a self storage facility classified ad:

Leave Your Contact Information

Sounds like a no brainer, right? It’s amazing how many people place classified ads and don’t leave the reader anyway to get in touch with them. Whatever the means, be sure to give your interested readers a way to pursue your advertisement.

Proofread

The newspaper should tell you when your ad will run and for how long. Be sure to follow up and ensure that your ad is printed in the proper section and that it’s printed correctly. The simplest error can give your short and sweet classified ad a completely different meaning. If there are typos, follow up with the newspaper.

Keep it Short but Detailed

Classified ads aren’t free so there’s always the temptation to keep it short and to the point. It’s true that readers don’t have the attention span to read a small novella in the ad section, but you don’t want to leave out important information. Include information that is sure to pique the interest of your readers. Words like ‘rare’, ‘brand new’, etc. are usually winners.

List a Price or Rate only if it’s a Steal

List your rental rates with pride. Also, give your readers an idea of your position on the price: if it’s negotiable, say so, if it’s not, let them know.

Create a Sense of Urgency

If you’ve taken the time to place a self storage classified ad, you’re probably ready to take action. You want to rent empty units with haste. Let your reader know that you’re ready to act and they will to. Phrases that encourage readers to act quickly will help you get more response.

Use Keywords Over Generic Phrases

Be specific with titling your ad. Paying for bold type and specific wording is worth it. Saying ‘Affordable Self Storage’ or ‘First Month Free’ is more attractive to classifieds readers that generic phrasing. Let them know exactly what you're offering.

When writing a self storage classified ad, it’s important to include as much information as you can in very few words. Tell your readers what you have for rent and what’s in it for them. The power of the classifieds to help everyday people exchange goods and services is still alive and well.

You can also place self storage classified ads on dozens of high quality internet websites for free. Go here for a directory of the best free classified sites. You should also consider listing your facility on a directory of self storage facilities.

Storage Pod Pricing is Flexible Enough to Fit Your Budget

2008-12-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, if you wanted to move, you had to rent a truck. Renting a moving truck meant driving to the truck rental store, picking it up, bringing it home, loading it yourself, then driving it to your destination, unloading it, and then delivering it to the nearest truck rental. It’s exhausting just talking about it.

Once upon another time, if you wanted to store a few things, you had to rent a storage unit. Renting a storage unit meant loading your stuff into a truck (either your own or a rented truck), driving it to the storage facility, and then unloading it. It’s enough to make you want to leave your stuff by the road for the garbage truck.

However, with the invention of storage pods, all of these storage and moving headaches have been made much simpler. These brilliant little inventions make storing easier because the storage company delivers the container to your home, you load your things, then they come and get it. They store it for you until you need your things again.

Just imagine what storage pods have done for moving. When you use storage pods to move, you load the pod, and then the storage company picks up the container and delivers it to your new home. Most of the time, it’s waiting for you when you get there. How cool is that?

Because storage pods are a more advanced way to store and move your belongings, storage pod pricing is a little different than traditional methods as well. In a nutshell, the cost of your storage pod will be determined by the size and location of your container as well as how long you’ll be using your pod.

Storage pods come in a variety of sizes and dimensions to suit the needs of every pod user. In fact, there aren’t very many items that you can’t store in a pod. However, smaller pods cost less than bigger pods. Therefore, people with more stuff will invest more in their storage pod system. But traditional storage units are priced the same way. You can also rent multiple storage pods of need be.

Location is another factor in storage pod pricing. Storage pods across the company are priced differently for various reasons. If you’re using a storage pod to move, the cost will also be determined by how far that pod will need to travel to reach your new home. If it’s just around the block, it will cost less than moving coast to coast. To get an idea of storage pod pricing in your area, go to your storage pod rental company of choice and type in your zip code to get a quote.

Duration is also an element of storage pod pricing. Renting a storage pod for a few months will cost less than renting for a few years. However, that’s a factor when pricing the rental of pretty much anything. Even video rental fees cost more if you keep it for an extra week.

Storage pod pricing is determined by three main factors: size or quantity, location, and duration. These three factors allow you to mix and match the terms of your storage pod rental to fit your budget. You will love the convenience, ease, and affordability of storage pods.

Be sure to use a current pods promo code to save 5-10% off the cost of a Pods portable storage unit.

When Stuff Takes Over, Atlanta Self Storage Facilities Can Help

2008-12-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

Atlanta home owners and renters alike know that sometimes your stuff can get the better of you. As you go through life, stuff just seems to find you. Hand me downs, inherited furniture pieces, and holidays galore mean that it doesn’t take much at all to find yourself up to your ears in stuff.

But unless you’re a minimalist, most people don’t mind having a lot of stuff. Stuff personalizes your home and helps you express who you are. Stuff is a part of life and part of who we are.

However, there comes a time when you realize stuff has taken over your house and it’s just letting you live there. When you reach that point, it’s time to get an Atlanta self storage unit.

With a self storage unit in Atlanta, you don’t have to choose between which hand-me-downs and family heirlooms you want to keep and which ones you want to get rid of. You don’t have to decide which items are more important to you than others. You don’t have to admit that you love some of your stuff and only like the rest of your stuff.

With an Atlanta self storage unit, you get to have it all. You can keep your precious things and reclaim your sanity and your home. Self storage units create a win-win scenario for you and your stuff.

You might be thinking that the stuff you put in a self storage unit is labeled second-class stuff. When your mom finds out that her mother’s 19th century buffet that’s been handed down for years is in storage, you’d think that she’d be upset. But you might be surprised.

With a self storage unit, especially in Atlanta, you can feel confident that your stuff will be taken care of just as if it were still in your home. In Atlanta’s hot, muggy climate, many self storage facilities offer air-conditioned and climate controlled units that will keep your precious antiques and valuables in top condition. If you have something truly special that just doesn’t fit in your home, just make sure that you go visit it every once in a while and give it the care it needs.

Also, Atlanta self storage facilities are perfectly secure. Even the facility staff probably won’t have access to your unit. You can relax knowing that the only person that will touch, move, or see your stuff is you. Your self storage unit and the facility itself should be locked tight.

Everyone has more stuff than they need. There’s no need to feel bad about displacing some of your stuff to a storage unit. Your stuff will be safe and protected. And if you do need access to the contents of your Atlanta self storage unit, you have the key and you can remove one thing or everything any time you want.

Atlanta self storage is a great solution when you have furniture, clothing or other items that you have to keep but you just don’t have room for it. There’s no reason to feel like a guest in your own home. Self storage facilities in Atlanta are here to help.

No More Watery Graves for Your Stuff with Seattle Self Storage Facilities

2008-12-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Seattle is arguably the wettest place in the continental United States. Have you ever watched a movie set in Seattle? If you have, you might have noticed that it is always raining. When it’s not raining, it’s fogging. You could say that people in Seattle are okay with everything being a little—damp.

But the truth is that most people don’t like wet stuff. Wet stuff is messy and if it stays wet for very long, it’ll probably be ruined. Moisture spells death for most stuff.

However, people in Seattle are like everyone else across the country. They have too much stuff.

You could say that a person’s age is directly proportional to how much stuff they have. Assuming that they aren’t a pack rat, your average adult is going to have accumulated a fair amount of stuff in their day. If you add a spouse and kids into the mix, you’re talking about a lot of stuff.

What’s to be done with all that stuff? In no time at all, the average Seattle home is packed to the gills with stuff. That is not to say that there’s no need for all that stuff, but maybe it isn’t used every day. Stuff gets crammed in closets, under beds, in the garage. Worst of all, a serious overflow of stuff might get stored in the shack by the back fence.

There’s nothing worse than opening a box of winter clothes or retrieving a beloved piece of furniture only to find that it’s damp and mildewed or warped and ruined. It’s enough to ruin your day.

Because almost everyone in Seattle needs extra storage at some point in their lives, Seattle self storage facilities are the way to go. Not only do they help solve your storage problem at home, but they also keep your stuff safe and protected until you need it again.

When you get an affordable self storage unit in Seattle, your stuff woes will come to an end. Many Seattle self storage facilities have climate and moisture controlled lockers. When your stuff is cool and dry, it lasts longer. You won’t have to worry about ruined heirlooms or soggy boxes when you employ the use of a Seattle self storage unit. It’s time to retire the leaky back yard shack as a storage solution.
Not to mention, Seattle self storage facilities enable you to safely and securely store your belongings. Many Seattle self storage facilities have security measures and each unit is carefully locked and secured by you. Each time you return to your storage unit, you can feel confident that your things will be exactly how you left them.

Best of all, many Seattle self storage facilities are capable of storing larger items like cars, boats, bikes, and other motorized vehicles that would surely perish in the rain. With a self storage unit, you won’t have to choose between your car, your boat, or garage space any longer.

Seattle self storage facilities provide much needed solutions for city-wide storage issues. Keep your items dry and protected and love living in a clutter-free home.

Your Car Will Love Houston Self Storage Facilities

2008-12-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Many people in Houston—and many cities, for that matter—face a similar dilemma. It happens to everyone. All it takes is a little bit of time and before you know it, you’re up to your ears in stuff. We’ve all been there.

Between birthday parties, weddings, Saturday morning garage sale excursions, trips to the antique fair, and window shopping, it’s easy to accumulate a lot of things in a short amount of time. Even if we don’t really need the stuff, it’s still so very hard to get rid of it.

Here’s where the real dilemma comes in. If you aren’t going to get rid of it, you have to find a place to put it, right? No matter how big a home is, many of us still manage to accumulate more things than the house can hold. Before long, the garage becomes a storage warehouse. The cars end up sleeping on the proverbial couch, otherwise known as the driveway.

Then, the time comes to reminisce about the days when you could park your cars in that three car garage like ‘normal’ people. It’s a common tale.
Luckily, in a city the size of Houston, Texas, there’s a solution for everything. People in Houston with a stuff overflow situation are in dire need of a self storage facility. All those things that are taking over your home—and your life—can find their very own home at a second location.

Many people in Houston disregard self storage for a number of reasons. First of all, they think it’s too expensive. Contrary to popular believe, Houston self storage is actually quite affordable. For just a few extra dollars a month, you can get a storage unit for that extra stuff that’s displaced your car and spilling out of your hall closet.

Second, they worry about having limited access to their stuff. True, your stuff isn’t as available to you in the self storage unit as it is in your garage. But many Houston self storage facilities allow 24-hour access to your storage unit! And if they don’t, it’s probably just as well. Who really needs their Class of ’89 letterman jacket in the middle of the night?

Third, they keep thinking, “Why do I need Houston self storage unit when I’m getting ready to have a garage sale?” Garage sales are great and they do solve the I-have-too-much-stuff problem. Garage sales, or donating the stuff to charity, giving it away, or throwing it all in a bonfire will help clear some much needed space in your home. But then you must decide what to get rid of and what to keep. Most people would rather walk on hot coals than endure such agony.

In Houston, self storage facilities create a win-win scenario for those suffering from too much stuff. You can find a safe, secure place for your things that won’t bombard you closets, garage, and under your bed. Also, you can enjoy a more spacious, organized home until you’re ready to get rid of some of your stuff once and for all. Best of all, your cars can enjoy being tucked into the garage every night. With Houston self storage, everybody’s happy.

Las Vegas Self Storage Provides Many Benefits

2008-12-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas, Nevada isn’t just a place for gambling, entertainment, and other such merriment. Sin City has maintained its worldwide reputation as the ultimate party town, but it’s also a major center for business.

Many companies and industries have conventions, meetings, and events in Las Vegas because of its capacity to host large amounts of people with relative ease. Because of the constant hustle and bustle of business and commerce, business men and women are always coming and going from the fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas is also a popular spot for the retired community and long term vacationers. Lots of people don’t necessarily want to live in Las Vegas, but they enjoy it enough to want to spend a season or even half the year there. That being said, it’s not uncommon for people to buy vacation or retirement homes in Las Vegas only to spend part of the year living in them.

So what do they do with the house the rest of the time? Lots of part-time home owners in Las Vegas—whether they’re business people, retirees, or vacationers—get smart and save money by renting their homes when they’re not using them. This is where a little Las Vegas self storage comes in handy.

Furnished rentals are great. They save everyone time and money. But lots of people feel more comfortable living in someone else’s home if they’re able to furnish that home with their own things. People putting their homes up for rent in Las Vegas don’t want to move their stuff across the county twice a year, so a lot of them rent self storage units.

Las Vegas self storage units are a life saver. Many of them are climate controlled, so valuables that might not do so well in the dry Las Vegas heat are protected in self storage units.

Self storage facilities are also safe and secure. Business people that only spend a few months in Las Vegas each year can feel confident that their much needed valuables will still be in their self storage unit when they return. Even if you’re gone for a year, the contents of your self storage unit will be just as you left it.

What about the entertainment community in Las Vegas? Yes, all those talented people actually have homes in Las Vegas, they don’t perform 24/7. But what if a show decides to go on tour? Las Vegas self storage facilities have come to the rescue of many a performer. Travelling entertainers simply rent a self storage unit, secure their belongings, and they’re on their way to share their talent with some other town. And because all roads lead to Las Vegas, they’re stuff will be safely waiting for them when they return.

Not a Las Vegas performer, business person, retiree, or vacationer, but just have too much stuff? Las Vegas self storage can help you too. Clear out that cluttered garage and self storage facilities will be your friend for life.

Orlando Self Storage Units Can Have Home-like Appeal

2008-12-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

Even the most organized person can run into the issue of too much stuff. No matter how you pack it, organize it, or store it, every house has a limited amount of space. Everyone is in danger of accumulating more things than your house can actually hold.

Organized people actually have a head start. With an organized home, even if it’s packed to the gills, you’re more likely to know what you have and whether it’s worth keeping. Disorganization usually breeds the worst kind of clutter: useless clutter.
When your reach the point where your house, your closets, under the bed boxes, and garage can’t hold even a paper clip, it’s time to get a self storage unit.

In Orlando, Florida, there are literally tons of self storage facilities to choose from. Many will have features like climate or humidity control that you can choose from to give your things a little added protection from the Florida climate. But best of all, they can give you some relief from the clutter overload you’re living with at home.

If you’re an organizational junkie, organization doesn’t have to end with your Orlando self storage unit. You can still employ your organization skills to ensure you get the most out of your self storage unit.

Organizing your self storage unit in Orlando has lots of benefits. First of all, you’ll be able to find what you need when you venture back to your self storage unit to retrieve something. There’s nothing worse than tripping, falling, and smashing your fingers while you unsuccessfully search for something in a dark storage unit. A little organization can make this process much easier.

Also, organizing your Orlando self storage unit will help you get more bang for your buck. When you throw your items into your unit and they land in a jumbled mess, your unit is going to fill up quickly. Then the self storage unit, that seemed like it was big enough to hold all of your things, only has enough room for half of it.

Self storage units in Orlando can hold a lot more stuff than you think. There’s no reason in the world why you shouldn’t use every inch of that storage container. Carefully organizing and packing your self storage unit can help you fit all of your items in a single unit without having to incur the cost of renting a second space.
Stackable shelves, drawers and clear plastic containers can all be very helpful in organizing and packing your Orlando self storage unit. Shelving allows you to use space all the way up to the ceiling rather than relying only on floor space. Floor space runs out quickly and when you have a lot of stuff, you need all the space you can get.

Of course, for the true organization guru, labeling your boxes, shelves, and items only adds to the fun of packing a self storage unit in Orlando. This way, instead of your self storage unit merely acting as a container for your over flow of stuff, it will feel like a distant extension of your home.

Deciding If You Need Climate Controlled Self-Storage

2008-12-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

A trend which has fast caught on in the self-storage industry is the emergence of climate controlled self-storage facilities. Climate controlled self-storage facilities were developed mostly in response to complaints that goods stored in non-climate controlled self-storage facilities were getting damaged by moisture and humidity, which brought about molds and mildew. Climate controlled self-storage facilities are built with specialized features to prevent moisture and the problems it comes with, including and especially mildew and molds. Although climate-controlled self-storage facilities represent advancement in self-storage, they might not be necessary for everyone. Furthermore, space in these climate-controlled self-storage facilities is typically more expensive than in non climate-controlled self-storage facilities.

When deciding whether or not you need climate-controlled self-storage, your main consideration is likely to be the type of goods you plan to store. If, for example, you are looking for a self-storage facility to store goods that are not affected by moisture and related conditions, then going for climate-controlled self-storage may be superfluous. On the same note, even if the goods are affected by moisture and related conditions, but are in a reliable moisture proof packaging, then going for a climate-controlled self-storage facility might still be superfluous for you.
Another factor you might consider is how long and in what season of the year you need self-storage. If, for example, you are just looking for a self-storage facility to store your household goods for a day or two between moves or over the weekend to create space for house decoration during a dry summer, then a climate controlled self-storage facility might be superfluous for you -- even for goods that are likely to be affected by moisture-related conditions, as a couple of days is not usually enough time for these conditions to start taking their toll.

Find self storage near you at EasyStorageSearch.com

How to Promote Your Self Storage Website

2008-12-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

These days just about any business – large or small, or even an independent contractor, has a website. So, that means a lot of competition faces you as you try to find clients out on the Internet. As a result, you must look to ways to make your website stand out from the others. Here are some methods you can employ to do just that:

Search engines and SEO. First off, you need for people to know you exist. So, get your website listed on the most popular search engines out there – Yahoo, Google, MSN, and so forth. You can go to the site individually to do this, or you can go to SubmitExpress to do them all simultaneously. You want your site to be SEO – that is, search engine optimized. That way, if someone goes searching for whatever it is you do, your website will be among the listings they get. There are many components to having a properly SEO’d website, but the following basics will get you started.

• Meta Tags. Make sure that you include a META tag in your homepage header. The most important ones are Title, keywords, and description. These tags make it easier for the search engines to index and rank your site.
• Keywords. Along those same lines, put plenty of keywords in your header and in the first paragraph of your body text. Also include plenty of your keywords in your hyperlinks.
• Links. Linking your site with other similar sites helps with search engine a lot. Contact the webmasters of other self storage sites and ask them if they are interested in swapping links with you. Since they want their site to be optimized as well, they’ll probably agree.

Website Directories. There are also all kinds of directories on the internet including search engines directories (Yahoo, MSN, etc.) and more specialized ones. Submit your self storage website to as many as possible. Most are free to list with, but others charge a small fee. Many of the paid directories tend to be of higher quality, thus search engines value their links more, thus it’s a good idea to list with them. Some of the better directories include GoGuides, maxlinks, and RankDir. And one of the best directories out there is Best of the Web. Many professionals consider a link from this site vital to achieving high search engine rankings.

Blog. One of the more effective means of attracting visitors to your website is to start and maintain a blog. Blog about what it is you do, and be sure to post to it regularly. A simple thing like that can generate a lot of hits to your site. You can start a free blog at Blogger.

Article Marketing. Another great way to spread the word about your site is to write and distribute articles related to your industry. Are you a writer? Try writing some articles or short stories or even movie reviews and get them posted on other websites. Are you an architect or engineer? Try getting some jobs you’ve done listed on professional websites that talk about recent projects of note. Or, maybe write some articles about projects in your area. Even if they’re not about projects you’ve done, it’ll get your name out there. You’ll also get yourself known as an expert in your field, so people will be more likely to come looking for your services because they trust you. You can provide a direct link back to your site in author boxes at the end of your articles. A very cost effective means of widely distributing your articles is by using Isnare, which send your articles to hundreds of directory site for about $2.

Classified Ads. Yet another means of getting the word out about your self storage website is to post ads on free classified websites. The most famous ones are craigslist, backpage, and kijiji, but there are hundreds of other ones out there now. Post to as many of them as you can, starting with the ones that have higher page rank. Visit a directory of free classified sites to see a complete list along with the pagerank of each.

Videos. Also, think about making a promotional video. You can either do one yourself, or hire a firm to create one. Simply by posting it on some of the free sites like YouTube you can generate enormous interest in you and your business. You can also create a viral video, which is a brief video that you can attach to an e-mail and send out to prospective clients. It’s called a viral video because it can be easily spread by forwarding it on to others.

Offline Promotion. There are also things you can do in the real world to promote your self storage website. For example, you can print up flyers about your site and give them out or post them at the library, bookstore, coffee houses, and other public locations. You should definitely get some business cards made as well because they’re such an easy way of spreading the word about what you do (as well as your contact information.) You never know when you’ll run into a potential client or customer, so have a business card with you at all times. You can get some really professional, inexpensive ones at Vistaprint.com. Be sure to include your e-mail address and website on the business card.

With plenty of patience and persistence your website will be ranked by the major search engines and people will begin to visit your site. Now be sure to give them a meaningful experience and deliver quality service and they’ll return. They’ll also gain more customers for you by telling their friends about your great website.

Big Self- Storage Companies vs. Smaller Self-Storage Companies

2008-12-08T10:20:00.001-07:00

Anyone looking for self-storage facilities is likely to be spoiled for choice between the many companies that offer this service. While there are thousands of companies that offer self-storage facilities, in many cases your choice is likely to boil down to choosing between a big self-storage company and a smaller self-storage company.

On the whole, bigger self-storage companies are ideal if you are looking for a lot of self-storage space, as they are more likely to have available units – especially if there are several chains in your area. Furthermore, due to wider capital bases, bigger self-storage companies are generally able to purchase the latest and most recently updated security and surveillance tools on the market, which can go a long way in ensuring that your goods are safe and sound when you aren’t around.

On the other hand, some of the smaller self-storage companies, in a bid to build up their brands, may offer complimentary services, which ultimately might make them cheaper than bigger self-storage companies. One of the most popular marketing techniques being used by smaller self-storage companies include offering removal services -- where the company provides a free truck or van to help you move your goods to their self-storage facility -- that could significantly lower your total cost of moving. Big and established self-storage companies, on other hand, don’t usually feel compelled to offer such complimentary services; however, some are trying to compete by referring customers to movers in their area during their self-storage purchase.

Smaller self-storage companies may also offer more personalized customer care, which big self-storage companies -- due to their size -- find difficult. In fact, many people who use the services of big self storage companies come away feeling as if their business wasn’t appreciated and cite advanced security and surveillance benefits as the only reason they would consider returning.

But, as technology becomes more affordable and smaller self storage companies are able to invest heavily in it, they will continue to give the big self storage companies a run for their money -- putting themselves in an equal position when it comes to such features.

Find self-storage units near you at EasyStorageSearch.com.

Reasons to Use Storage Pods

2008-12-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

Storage pods are an ingenious invention put on the market in recent years. Previously, if you had some extra stuff hanging around your house, your only option was to get a storage space. The problem with that option is that the space may be too big and too expensive for your needs.

Fortunately, someone have a unique idea and decided to give people a new choice. Storage pods are convenient for those who need them. Here are a few reasons that a small storage pod available from a local moving and storage company may be the right choice for you.

• Storage pods may be a good choice for you if you are not planning to stay in one place for very long. For instance, if you have recently sold one home and are living in an apartment until your new home is available, a storage pod may give you just enough room to keep your belongings safe until you're ready to move.

• You don't have enough extra stuff to put into a regular sized storage unit. If your extra stuff will fit into a small closet, then a storage pod may be the perfect fit for your stuff. Why spend extra on unneeded space?

• You are renovating your house. If you want to get some things out of the way while you remodel an area of your home, the temporary storage pod may be a great option for you. They can take your stuff and put it in a place where it will be safe. Then when you are ready to have them bring it back, the process is much simpler than unloading the full-size storage unit.

• You are lazy. Maybe you don't feel like taking your stuff down to a storage unit and then unloading it. A storage box is dropped off at your home, you fill it up, and the company comes and takes it back to the self storage facility. This is a lot simpler than rounding up a bunch of friends to load your truck and then unload it at a storage facility.

• Your wife told you to get your junk out of the garage. You love all your junk but your wife does not. What choice do you have? You know that the storage unit would be too expensive, and your wife would object. An easier and less expensive compromise is to rent a storage pod. Just don't forget to make the rental payments, or you will lose your stuff.

Once you have chosen the company that you want to rent your storage pod from, call them and make arrangements for pick up. Gather all of your belongings and make sure they are boxed and organized. When the storage company comes, inspect the pod to get an idea of how you will place your items in the box. Then, load the box. The storage company will come back, load the storage pod, and take it away to the facility. It really is that simple. Be sure to use a pods promo code when you order your storage pod and you will save at least 5% on the cost.

How to rent a storage pod.

Deciding on the Right Self-Storage Unit Size

2008-11-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Getting the right sized self-storage unit is a concern for most people who are looking for self-storage, since you typically don’t see the units before renting one – especially now that it is possible to rent a unit online, without stepping a foot inside the facility beforehand. Although approximation works in many cases, it is wiser to actually take measurements, as many things have this uncanny tendency to appear smaller or bigger than they actually are. While getting a slightly bigger self-storage space isn’t bad, paying for it might be if cost is a concern for you.

Most self-storage units come in almost standardized sizes, making the selection of the right self-storage unit size easier, but it still might be hard for the average person to determine what might be too big or, worse yet, too small to fit all of their stuff. On the smaller side, there are the 10 foot by 5 foot self storage units, which may be ideal for storing furnishings from a dorm room, studio, or 1 bedroom apartment. Then there are the 10 foot by 10 foot self storage units that, when properly packed, may be ideal for storing furnishings from a 2-3 bedroom apartment. There are also the larger 10 foot by 15 foot and the 10 foot by 20 foot self storage units, which may be ideal for storing furnishings from a house.

When deciding on the right self-storage unit for your needs, it might also be wise to think from a long-term perspective. This means considering whether your storage needs are likely to increase or decrease with time, and whether -- in the case of a projected increase -- the self-storage facility will allow you to easily transfer to a larger unit.

Considering Using Pods

2008-11-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

After complaining to a friend about the hassle of moving, I’m considering PODS for my next long term move. Think about a typical move:

1. Go pick up a moving truck.
2. Load everything into a moving truck.
3. Unload everything into a storage unit.
4. Return the truck.
5. Weeks or months later, go pick up another moving truck.
6. Load all your stuff back into a moving truck.
7. Unload the truck into your new place.
8. Return the truck.

By using PODS (Portable On Demand Storage), you can cut the process into two steps. All you would have to do is load the unit and then unload it. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had some very bad luck with moving truck rentals. Several times, even though I’ve made a reservation online, they don’t have the size of truck I’ve reserved. In a few instances they haven’t even had an alternative available. I would love to avoid that step in my next move. When considering the cost of using a service such as PODS, I’ll keep in mind the time and frustration you’ll save…it might be worth it! And by using a PODS promo code, I know I'll get a 5% discount off the cost!

Nine Essential Moving Tips

2008-11-22T19:49:00.000-07:00

How many times do you have to do something to become an expert? I’ve moved 9 times in the last 9 years….an average of once a year. You’d think by this point I’d be a pro, right? Well, this last move was by far this worse. Probably because it’s the first time I moved out of a house. It’s amazing how much you accumulate living in a house.

Here’s some issues I encountered, yes even in my 9th move, hopefully you can learn from them.

1. I under estimated the amount of stuff I had. When you live in a home, don’t forget about things in the basement, the attic, shed in the backyard, and in my opinion…the deadliest of all, the garage.

2. Loose items. Those random items that you don’t really pack take up a lot of space..things like brooms, snow shovels, and bikes.

3. Going cheap on the truck. A 24 ft truck just sounded enormous. I in no way thought I’d need anything that big. Instead I got a 16 ft rental truck and ended make two trips. It ended up costing even more because in addition to the cost of renting the truck, you pay a fee for each mile.

4. Hired help. You can find help on sites such as craigslist, but you never really know what to expect. One of the helpers I found avoided carrying anything heavy…which is really why I hired him. I felt uncomfortable confronting this guy, so he really didn’t end up helping much at all, but I had to pay him anyway.

5. Books. It’s tempting to just sit at the bookshelf and fill a box with books, but that is going to end up being a very heavy box. Only fill a box half full with books and then put light items such as towels or Tupperware.

6. Used boxes. I got all the moving boxes I used for my move second-hand. Be selective about the quality of the box and what you put in it. Some of my heavier boxes were falling apart due to the weight. Also, when so many boxes say “fragile” , it’s hard to know which ones really mean it. I’d consider getting colored packing tape to differentiate the truly fragile boxes.

7. Where is….? Don’t think you’ll remember which box certain items are in. Think about what you’ll want right away in your new place….towels, cleaning supplies, a few kitchen items. Put those in a box and somehow mark it so you can just open one or two boxes to get what you need instead of going through all your stuff.

8. Cold water. Isn’t it always hot on moving day? Moving into a new place you won’t have cups or ice readily available. I made this mistake on a day in the 80’s. All I could do was drink from the kitchen sink. Get some bottled water and have it handy!

9. Stacking boxes. My nice stereo, which I’ve moved a handful of times, got damaged in this move. Even though I had it padded with bubble wrap, that doesn’t necessarily protect against weight. I think a heavy box (like a box of books) was placed on top of it. Keep this in mind when stacking boxes.

Selling Your House Yourself

2008-11-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

So, you are thinking of selling your house yourself. It’s a project, but it can mean significant savings. Before you decide whether to sell your own home, you should consider some of the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.

By selling your own house, you can save thousands of dollars. There’s no brokerage fee or commission to a realtor- all the proceeds of your home or your own. Of course, this is the best benefit of selling your own home. You also have total control of the transaction. You don't need to worry about someone else making errors. You're always available for showings answering inquiries, etc.

However there are some disadvantages to selling your house yourself. After all you must rely on your own instincts you don't of the education or experience of a realtor. When you're selling your own home, all of your marketing and advertising costs, come out of your own pocket. This can add up in a hurry. However, there are several online programs that can help you list your own home for free. Keep in mind, though, when you as a free service, you won't be able to access multiple listing services and you will have to seek out buyers one at a time.

Another mistake many people make in selling their own home is not knowing how to price the house. You don't want under price and lose value, but if you price too high you won't be able to get buyers, especially in a tight real estate market.

There is a lot of paperwork involved in selling a home. Remember you will need to handle the legal and financial forms on your own. Another problem, you can run into is buyers often think that if you're selling your home yourself and not paying commission, they should be saving money. This can make negotiations difficult.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things of selling your house on your own is disconnecting yourself emotionally, try to remember you're selling a house not a home. If you can’t remove your emotions from the building, you will have a much more difficult time selling it on your own.

Before anyone looks at her home make sure you clean everything thoroughly. Remove all clutter and distractions and pack up and put away most of your personal possessions. A buyer will be more likely to see themselves living in the house, if your personal belongings are put away.

Don't forget the outside. Make sure all the landscape is looking fresh and neat. Finish any small repairs that need to be done. A new buyer certainly doesn't want to look around and see nothing but projects he has to tackle winning moves in. Even if you don't use a realtor you're still going to need some professionals involved in your transaction. You need to be prepared for a first-time buyer. You may need to help your buyer choose a mortgage broker, broker as well as all other details right through the closing. It's a good idea to make connections with a mortgage broker before you begin to show the whole. They will often have a list of approved clients that haven't found a house yet, so this can be a great way to find a qualified buyer. Your broker can also estimate closing costs for your home and help you with financing tips for marketing, such as no money down, interest-only options and other financing strategies.

Make sure you know who you are marketing your home to. Who is your most likely buyer? Is a first-time homeowner, an empty nester or a family? By figuring out who your ideal buyer is, you can make the most of your advertising budget.

You need to advertise your home. Classified ads, a sign in the front yard, free home listings, and a brochure box all will help you get the word out that your home is for sale.

Your buyer has the right to have your home inspected. It's a good idea to have the home inspected before you ever advertise it for sale. You're obligated to make any major repairs, so it's a good idea to them all before you ever begin to show your home.

When you're selling your house yourself, be prepared for closing once an offer is made. You need to take it to your lawyer. If you don’t like the offer, don’t just turn it down. Make a counter offer. Don't be afraid to negotiate in ways other than dollars and cents in a tight real estate market. Maybe you can leave the window treatments or appliances. You're better off making a few concessions than to wind up with another six months of mortgages payments on a house you no longer want to live in.

It is possible to sell your own home, effectively. You just need to have a few tricks of the trade up your sleeve before you start.

One more thing: you should consider getting help with selling your home yourself at ForSaleByOwner.com. You can also create a free home listing at FREEhomeownerlistings.com.

You can use a current pods promo code to save 5-10% off the cost of a Pods portable moving and storage unit.

How Much Do Storage Units Cost?

2008-11-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

In our mobile society, people move to different homes or to different cities more often than in the past. This has created an entire new industry, because people need a place to store their belongings, either temporarily or for more long-term time frames. The self storage unit industry was born.

There are a variety of different companies that provide places where people can store their goods. Some of the bigger recognizable names in the industry are U-Haul and Public Storage. There are also independently owned storage operations. Storage facility units can be movable storage boxes that can be picked up from your home and stored in an enclosed facility that are about the size of a bedroom closet. Fixed storage units are also available with a garage-like door and enough room to fit the entire contents of your home, a car, or even a boat.

Determining the cost of his storage unit is entirely up to you. Because rates for these units vary widely around the country, you will need to do some legwork by comparing the rates and amenities for different storage companies in your vicinity. Typical rates for the smallest removable storage box are $40 per month, but again, rates do vary around the country. Once you've done your comparisons, it would be wise to visit the facility to see where your goods will be stored firsthand before you sign any rental or lease agreement. You will need to decide what options are most important to you because extra amenities cost more money. Here are some tips to consider:

• Do you want your goods to be stored in a facility with extra security like security cameras? Some companies have electronic entrance gates, security cameras, and the 24 hour employee at the facility. Others simply have a locked gate and the high fence. You will pay more for extra security.

• What size unit will you need? Do you only have enough belongings to fit in a closet? If that's the case, the smallest unit will suffice. You will need a larger unit. If you have most of belongings from your house. Some people choose a large unit, only to find out that if they stack things carefully, they have more room than they need. This situation can be avoided by organizing your stuff before you procure your storage unit.

• Will you need utilities in your storage unit? Some storage units offer a climate controlled environment and electrical service. Some people have items that need to be in a temperature controlled environment. If this is you, get a space that has heat and electrical service available.

After you've completed these steps, you should have a good idea of the unit size needed, the amenities you want, and the best price per month. Before you sign any lease or rental agreement, be sure to read the fine print. If you have to move your stuff out of the unit, you want to make sure that you will not pay some kind of penalty fee.

Find and compare self storage units near you at EasyStorageSearch.com. Save 5-10% on Pods portable storage units by using a current pods promo code.

Need to store your boat. First consider boat storage basics.

Benefits of a Toll Free Number for Your Self Storage Business

2008-11-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

Are you concerned about the accessibility of your self storage business to customers in this tough economy? Are you worried that your customers will not place an order and will not communicate with you by phone because they are unwilling to spend a few dollars to make a call?

If you have these concerns, consider the merits of a toll free number to make you more accessible to your clients. Contrary to what is generally believed, getting such a number is not an expensive investment. For as little as $10, you can get 100 monthly minutes and for twice that, you can receive 500 minutes per month. If you have a more active business, you can get about 2,600 (almost 50 hours) for as little as $50.

Due to its affordability, you can now level the playing field with large self storage businesses. Much of the success of your business depends on your image and the professionalism you project. Toll free numbers attract customers to your business because they give it an air of professionalism. They also increase the customer’s confidence in the security of financial transactions with your company. With a toll free number, you can create a virtual office in your home-based business.

One of the greatest benefits of a toll free number is the ability of your company to increase its customer base because you can now sell your goods and services to those who live outside the area in which your business is located. People do not need to hesitate before contacting you and there is no longer an advantage for them in dealing with local businesses.

You can also provide better customer service. Should a customer have questions or concerns about a product, they can call without hesitation, providing your business an opportunity to build a relationship with or troubleshoot with clients. Otherwise, those long-distance clients who have issues with your products or services may just remain silent, never to be heard from again.

Perhaps one of the most critical benefits to having a toll free number is its portability. If you have to move your business for some reason, you can still be reached by your customers, without any interruption in the services that you provide. A related benefit is that you can be mobile in your day-to-day business activities, as your toll-free number can be forwarded to your cell phone, pager, email address, and even you home phone.

Another perk to having a toll free number is that you can have a plan in which you only have to pay for the usage and the calls made to your number. Thus, your bills don’t shoot up if just a small number of calls come in. They only go up once usage of your toll free number goes up as well. This is great news for small, start-up businesses that do not yet have a large customer base.

Toll free numbers are also easy to set up and come with a lot of features and bonuses. These include the capability for audio conferences, professional voice announcement feature, call screening, call recording, call forwarding, auto attendant, and many other features.

Most significant, however, is that having a toll free number is a guaranteed means of staying in touch with your customers. This will keep you attuned to their needs and will boost customer service. Taking good care of your relationship with your customers is a surefire way of keeping them and enticing more to expand your clientele by way of referrals from your old customers. By making it easier for your customers to reach you, you get to stay up-to-date on trends in the market. Obviously, customers love toll free numbers because they wouldn’t have to spend anything to get certain information or to comment on your goods and services.

Get an affordable, professional toll free number and improve the professional image of your self storage business.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Self Storage Unit

2008-11-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

When you have the need to use a self storage facility, you also need to make sure you ask the right questions in order to make the best decision on a self storage facility that will meet your requirements. Whether you are storing your household goods, precious belongings or need extra storage space for your office or business, making an informed choice at the start can save you headaches later on. Your first step in making the choice best suited to your needs is to either speak in person or on the phone to the manager of the self storage facility and find out some facts against a checklist of questions.

What are the critical elements you need to consider in a self storage facility?
There are five critical areas that you should think about when you are choosing a self storage facility. These are:
1. Size
2. Security
3. Costs and insurance
4. Environmental control
5. Access

Do the size options at the self storage facility meet your needs?

Size matters, especially when you are looking at placing things that are valuable enough to pay for storage. Self storage units come in a variety of sizes, so the first thing you need to find out is the size of the units available at a particular facility. Picking the wrong size unit can either cause you headaches on the day your moving things in or be uneconomical if what you’re storing is much smaller than the unit size. Here is a quick guide on common self storage unit sizes and their storage capabilities:

Self Storage Unit Size and Typical Storage Capacity
5x5 – size of small bathroom 30 file boxes on shelves or a few bits of furniture

5x10 – size of large closet 84 file boxes or furniture from one room

5x15 – size of a walk in closet 130 file boxes or furniture from three rooms

10x10 – size of a mid-sized bedroom 180 files boxes or furniture from four rooms

10x15 – size of small garage 295 file boxes or furniture from fives rooms

10x20 – size of car garage 379 file boxes or furniture from 2 bedroom house

10x25 504 file boxes or furniture from 2-3 bedroom house

10x30 – size of a 1.5 garage Contents of 3 bedroom home plus misc items

If you’re still not sure, make an appointment with the self storage facility manager to come and view the options available. As a double check to your own assessment, ask the manager what size unit they recommend. It is best to take along a floor plan/size estimate of your items so the manager can help you decide on the size you need.

Ensuring your goods are secure at all times while in a storage unit

The levels of security that different self storage facilities have on offer also differ along with the size. This may be because they specialize in the types of goods they store. The level of security that you need for your household belongings and goods will also differ depending on their value (both sentimental and replacement cost). Ask the manager of the self storage facility what their security arrangements are for the facility as a whole along with the individual units. You can also check to see if you can add your own security, such as padlocks to the unit. Lastly, ask who will have access to the units and if the facility can also gain access (in an emergency) which personnel would hold the key or access information. As the levels of security will probably also impact on the costs, you want to make sure that your not over or under valuing the goods you are storing. If your storage needs are for a business, most likely you will require a facility that runs state of the art security across its site.

Comparing costs and insurance options to fit your self storage needs

Whether your self storage needs are short or long-term, the costs will need to fit your budget. Some factors that will impact on the costs at each self storage facility are size of the unit, security of the unit and facilities and whether or not the unit is climate controlled. Each contributing factor that adds to the cost should be balanced against the amount of goods you need to store, value of the goods and level of risk your willing to accept during the storage. When you’re interviewing self storage facilities to determine the best value for your needs, find out the following:
1. Your size requirements
2. Your security requirements
3. Costs for each size of unit available, if you require more than one unit will the facility offer you a discount? Check to see if two smaller units are more economical than one larger unit. Are there different costs for climate controlled units?
4. Short and long term rates, also if you can rollover and reduce costs if your goods are stored longer than expected
5. Are there any costs for accessing the facilities? Are there any extra costs for accessing the facilities after hours?
6. Is insurance covered in the lease or do you need to buy a separate insurance policy? If insurance is included check the fine print to ensure it covers events such as fire, floods and natural disasters.
7. Does the storage facility offer moving services as well? Will this reduce the overall costs of storing your goods?

Environmental control of your self storage unit

Each type of climate comes with its own problems for goods in storage. Too damp and your goods can be exposed to mold and mildew, too hot and dry and your goods could crack and warp. When your discussing the options available at a self storage facility, be sure to ask whether or not they have climate controlled units available and if they do, will you be able to have control over your particular unit/s with an independent control. The other kind of environmental issue you may face are pests such as rodents, ants and cockroaches. Ask the facility manager what their pest control measures are or whether you will be responsible for any pest control in your own unit? Do they have a facility wide pest control procedure in place?
Check also with the types of goods that are NOT allowed to be stored at the self storage facility. This may include any flammable or hazardous materials.

Access when you want it at self storage facilities

Even with the most careful planning, sometimes there is something you need urgently and find that it’s in storage. Ask the self storage facility manager whether or not you will be able to gain after hours access in an emergency along with what their normal and weekend operating hours are. This way you know that if you are caught short – you can get what you want, when you want it. Lastly, ensure that you will be able to get hold of personnel who can help you on the day that you are moving your goods into the facility. Ask for the managers cell phone number as part of the contact information you have for the facility.

Knowing what your needs are and what self storage facility options are available to you, ensures that your goods can be stored safely, securely and that you have peace of mind during your lease.

Find Denver self storage or Chicago self storage or Nashville self storage or anywhere else nationwide at EasyStorageSearch.com.

How Much Do Storage Pods Cost

2008-11-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

A question I am commonly asked is how much do storage pods cost? The convenience storage pods offer is undeniable. Instead of having to load your belongings into a moving truck, then perhaps a storage unit, then another moving truck, and finally your new home - with storage pods you simply load the container once and unload it once. The company can either store your belongings for as long as you'd like or deliver them right away to your new home. And this can all be done locally or across the country.

But how much do pods cost?

The answer is of course dependent on a number of factors. First is the size of the storage pod you choose, which of course in turn depends on the amount of stuff you have to move and/or store. Then there is the matter of the moving distance involved. And if you will be storing your stuff the cost will be greater the longer it is in storage. The best way to get an accurate quote on the storage pod cost is to go right to the source and ask them. Go to http://www.pods.com and enter the details and you'll get quote in about a minute. Oh, and be sure to use the Promo Code R101 and you will save 5% off the 1st Month storage rental or 5% Off long-distance moves.

Moving, Self Storage, and Other Miserable Affairs

More on "Why Can't it be Spring" Cleaning: Emptying the Garage

'Why can't it be spring' cleaning: clean out the garage clutter.

Who turned out the lights? A lesson of utility.

Storage PODs: To Pod or not to Pod?

Move Out Cleaners- Modern Super Heroes

Moving Scams- How to protect yourself!

Unpack the Rat: Junk Removal Teams, Grandma Pirates and Yard Sales

Finding a Pods Promotional Code that Really Works

Finding a 1-800-Packrat Promotional Code that Really Works

Dumpster Diving- Thinking Inside The Box

How to Find the Right Self-Storage Facility

Traveling Fish and Airborne Matresses- Do I Need a Rental Truck?

How Self Storage Auctions Work

Options For Shipping Your Car Cross Country

Insuring Your Items in Storage

Saving Money When Moving

When to Use Climate Controlled Self Storage

The Pros and Cons of Using a Moving Company

Should You Use a PODS Unit to Move?

Review of Packrat Portable Storage

How Portable Self Storage Units Work

Business Self Storage

The Advancement of the Self Storage Unit

Quick Tips For Effective Self Storage Unit Usage

Self Storage Facilities – Choosing the Right One for You

Mini Self Storage – A Growing Trend

Temporary Storage Solutions for Moving

Car Storage

Review of Public Storage

Helpful Self Storage Websites

How Portable Self Storage can be Moving Self Storage

Different Uses for Self Storage Rentals

Factors that Help Determine Self Storage Prices

Self Storage Security

Car Storage Tips

Self Storage for College Students

How to make money from PODS Auctions

Other Uses for Self-Storage Units

How Self Storage Auctions Work

Most Expensive RVs

Finding a Cheap Self Storage Unit

Review of Mozy Online Storage

The Top Three Mobile Storage Unit Companies

PODS Units are Popular for a Reason – Actually Several

Self Storage Checklist

Things to Hate About Moving

Wine Storage Tips

PODS Unit Loading Tips

The Best Business Online Storage Services

Differences between PODS and PACK-RAT

RV Storage Tips

Car Storage Options

Office Records Storage

Tips for Moving with Pets

What Size Self Storage Unit Do I Need?

Getting Your Stuff to the Self Storage Unit Facility

Self Storage – Air Conditioned Unit or Non-Air Conditioned Unit

Self Storage – Insuring Your Stuff

Packrat Promo Code

Top Self Storage Companies

Self Storage Rates - How Much Should You Pay for Self Storage?

Top Car Rental Questions and Answers

Storage Pod Cost

Online Storage Space - Insurance for Your Computer Files

What to Look For In A Rental Truck

Home Storage Ideas

Tips For Using Storage Pods

Boat Storage Tips

Keys to Having a Great Self Storage Experience

4 Tips For Using Storage Pods

Why Use a Self Storage Unit

How to Avoid Self Storage Late Fees & Losing Your Stored Stuff

Optimizing Your Self Storage Space

Find the Best Self Storage Unit for You

The Best Online Storage Sites

How to Find A Pods Coupon Code

Tips to Help You Find the Best Self-Storage Facility for Your Needs

How to Write a Self Storage Classified Ad

Storage Pod Pricing is Flexible Enough to Fit Your Budget