There are many good reasons to rent a storage unit, like if you’re moving and your new place isn’t quite ready yet, if you’re downsizing and can’t bear to give up some of your favourite furniture, or if your business is growing and you need a place to store your stock.
We understand that using self-storage for the first time can be a little scary. Putting your things into storage, on the other hand, is a lot easier than you might think. It’s easy to plan, and you can keep your moving out date open by deciding from month to month if you want to keep storing your things.
Because storage facilities are available around the clock, there is no need to schedule an appointment to go in, and you never have to worry about needing anything you can’t get to. That’s the easy part, but you also need to be able to pack the unit well and use it wisely. That’s where these quick tips for self storage will come in handy.
Plan Ahead
Even if the other tips don’t stick with you, this is the most important one: always plan ahead. Taking care of how you store your household items or extra business stock can save you trouble in the near future. Make sure to put the things you use the most or know you’ll need soon near the front of your storage unit for easy access. It’s not rocket science, but this will help you a lot when you don’t have much time to spend in your storage unit.
You want to get in and out as quickly as possible, so this lets you grab what you need and leave without having to move boxes or other things out of the way. We know that there’s nothing worse than digging around for something you know is in there, but could have been put there from the start so you wouldn’t have to mess up your neatly packed things or even step on them.
Always Pack Vertically
If you plan to store larger items or furniture in your storage unit, like recliners, dining chairs and tables, sofas, or even bed frames and mattresses, you may want to make sure these bulkier, heavier items are stacked to make the most of the vertical space. By putting these bigger items on their ends, you can use the vertical space that isn’t being used and also fit more things into your self-storage unit.
The most important thing to remember when packing your storage unit is to put your larger items and furniture at the bottom. Always put the heavier, bulkier things on the ground and the smaller, lighter things on top of them. This will help keep your things from getting broken or crushed.
Use Shelving
When you think about putting something in a storage unit, one of the first things you should think about is shelving units or something similar that are built to last. First, it keeps your things safe, and second, it lets you see everything at once without having to move boxes that are on top of each other. Shelving in storage units can be important if you need to store fragile items because the structure protects them from falling items or boxes that might give way.
Also, try to use empty spaces like the insides of wardrobes, dressers, suitcases, and other larger items that could easily hold some of your things.
Allow For Changes In Temperature
When you put your things in a storage unit, it’s important to remember that even though it’s inside, the weather outside will cause the temperature to change. Even though this may not affect most customers, you should still plan for what could happen. Things like electronics can be especially vulnerable to moisture in the air if they are not stored properly, along with things like photos, vinyl records, etc. Some things can be hurt by colder temperatures, so make sure to wrap them more than once to keep them safe.
It’s best to keep things that could be damaged by moisture off the floor, like on wooden pallets or shelves, so they can be better protected.
Always Get A Strong Lock
To keep your self-storage unit safe, you will always need a padlock. This is something you should never try to save money on because it is the last thing that stands between a thief and your things. Even when storage facilities have state-of-the-art CCTV camera systems, it’s not easy to mess with locks made by reputable, strong companies. The best way to stop someone is with a good, strong padlock.