The Do’s And Don’ts Of Using Self Storage
The Do’s And Don’ts Of Using Self Storage
Whether you’re a homeowner, student or business owner in need of a place to keep your items, you need to make sure that you utilize self storage units effectively. These facilities are affordable and come in various sizes but you have to choose the right one for your needs.
Here are some tips then that can follow to ensure that you pack your personal belongings properly and transport them safely to the self storage facility of your choice. These are the basic steps that will help make the process of moving stuff from your home or office to the rental unit a lot easier.
List your items. The first step towards organizing your things is to list the items you want to keep in the rental unit. You can classify them according to clothing, decors, books, electronic devices and so on.
Check the facility. It is a good idea to visit the facility to help you determine the size of storage unit you’ll need. If you’re not sure about the size to rent, show your list to the manager and ask for assistance.
At this point, you may also want to get information about their lease terms and conditions. This will give you an idea of what they require, the rental fee, deposit if any and what they don’t accept.
Schedule your mover. If you’ll be utilizing a moving company to transport your boxes, set an appointment early such as a month before your scheduled move.
Plan how to utilize space. Once you have packed your possessions in their proper boxes and labeled each of them, you can make a floor plan as to how you are going to arrange them in the rental unit. This is a good organization technique so that you don’t waste time moving them when you’re already at the facility.
Keep boxes off the floor. Use pallets and plywood on the floor before putting your boxes. You need to avoid any moisture buildup that can come from the concrete flooring. You may also want to use freestanding shelves if you want to avoid putting boxes one over the other.
Place boxes with frequently used items in front. If you’ll be accessing your items there every now and then, make sure that the boxes containing items you’ll be using are in front.
Disassemble items. Furniture and electronic appliances should be disassembled for easy storage. Wrap each of them and label properly. You can do some color coding for the wires and their matching appliances for easy identification.
Avoid using plastic. If possible, do not use plastic to cover your items. This will only cause moisture buildup overtime. Use moving pads, sheets or light blankets instead.
Don’t use printed newspaper. Printed newspapers are a no-no because they can cause stains on your items including clothes and linen.
Don’t put heavy items in one box. Try to distribute the bulky belongings in several boxes to make it easy for you or the moving company’s staff to carry them. This is true in the case of books.
Never store food and flammable items. Remember not to include paint, oil, gasoline and food in your personal belongings as they’re dangerous.
