Tips for Successful Storage

Many people find, when relocating, that they have too much stuff. Some may be downgrading to a smaller house; others may be moving to temporary housing while waiting for a new house to be completed. Likewise, business owners may be seeking to expand without moving to a larger building. Whatever the reason, those of you who don’t have enough room for everything are going to need storage.

There are many benefits to storing your extra wares in a self-storage unit (as opposed to your mother-in-law’s house or your best friend’s garage). First, most storage units allow access 24 hours. You don’t have to call first or make an appointment, just go when you need to. Second, you have full control over your storage space and who goes in and out. Finally, you can choose the amount of space and length of time that will fulfill your needs adequately.

Finding the Perfect Storage Unit:

You’ve all seen the signs advertising “Storage Units Available” as you’re driving down the freeway, but rarely have you thought of them as anything you’d need. Until now. To find the perfect storage unit you need to consider the following factors:

• Location: If you will be accessing your storage unit frequently, you will want a convenient location, close to your house or business.



• Space: Storage rental units come in all shapes and sizes. Consider how much space you will need and rent appropriately. Remember that you can rent something smaller and jam-pack your stuff all the way to the ceiling. You don’t want to be paying for extra space you don’t need.
  
  
• Access: Most likely, you’ll want a storage facility that has unlimited access and no access fees. Be sure to ask facility employees about their access policies and if you sign one, read your contract carefully. Employees are there to help – ask questions if you need to.
  
  
• Climate Control: If you are storing anything of value, you may want to pay a little extra for climate control. Without it, storage spaces can get extremely hot and/or humid and cause wear and tear, if not total destruction, to your belongings.
  
  

Loading your Storage Unit:

To make the best use of your space, and to protect your possessions from wear and tear, you should consider some advice:

• Pack wisely: Label all boxes clearly so you’ll be able to find them easily. Make sure to use uniform-sized boxes so they will stack nicely, and fill them all the way to the top so they don’t collapse under the weight of other boxes. If you are storing any metal items (such as garden tools or filing cabinets), treat them with a rust protector.




• Organize your space: Try not to throw everything into your space without regard to location of items. Especially if you’re going to be accessing your unit frequently, you’ll want to know where everything is. Make sure boxes are clearly labeled and try to stack kitchen boxes with kitchen boxes, clothing with clothing, etc. If you have a lot that you’ll want to access, you may consider making aisles within your storage unit for easier reach.



• Avoid mold and mildew: If you are not paying for a climate controlled space, you may want to consider leaving space between your boxes or furniture and the walls of the unit so that air can circulate more easily. Any stored freezers or refrigerators should have doors left open so mold cannot grow inside.



• No flammables: Make sure you don’t have anything combustible or flammable in your unit. This includes gasoline, paint thinner, oils and cleaning products. Any tools that may run on gasoline should be emptied first.



• Get insurance: You are completely liable for all your belongings while they are stored in a self-storage unit. If you are at all worried about anything happening to any of your items, consider getting insurance.