As a popular local moving company, we see it happen all the time. People downsizing to a smaller place often turn to self storage options, but many are unprepared, and overwhelmed with options. Here are our top 5 tips for self storage!
- Choose wisely
Your storage unit should be accessible, secure, and free of unwanted insects and vermin. Ask about their pest control, security measures, and hours. Depending on what you are storing you may also need a climate controlled unit. Ask to see the actual unit you will be renting before you sign anything. You also need to make sure they have an approximately sized unit, so be sure to measure everything, and have an idea of the size you need before you shop around to help save you lots of time. - Protect your investment
No one wants to spend hard earned money every month storing things that end up disintegrating! Cardboard boxes degrade over time, so anything you plan on storing long term may be better off in plastic tubs with lids, which also keep pests out, and are easily stack-able. Any mattresses should be bagged, and furniture covered with plastic and shrink wrap. Put the heaviest boxes at the bottom of the stack to avoid damage (and a dangerous fall). You can also put pallets on the floor, to keep things elevated from extreme temperatures and dampness. - Read the warning labels!
Don’t plan to store anything flammable, combustible, hazardous or toxic. If you’re storing a car or motorcycle in an enclosed space, this also includes draining the fluids (which will also keep your engine from locking up). Double check to make sure you don’t have gasoline, compressed gas, propane, kerosene, fertilizers, paint, cleaners, weapons or ammunition. Things like paint and fertilizer are easy to overlook, but they are dangerous in this Texas heat! If you are storing large appliances, like a refrigerator, call ahead and make sure they’re allowed. - Organize before your move
Make sure you know what is going where in your unit. To make sure that common sense prevails, pack and plan what goes where inside of the unit before your move. Bulky items should go in first, and things that you’ll need easy access to go in the front, not in the back buried under other boxes! And don’t let all that empty space go to waste – fill appliances, armoirs, and drawers with smaller items. Make sure there’s a space where you can walk through to get to things in the back. You don’t want to decide to sell that old electronic equipment, only to spend half a day digging it out! When you can, remove the legs off of furniture. - Accessorize!
There are all sorts of useful tools you can add to your storage arsenal. Rodent bait and traps (just in case), moisture absorbers, deodorizers, labels, bubble wrap, the list goes on! Make sure to use those fancy labels on at least four sides of each box. Make it fun!
Be sure to check out our blog for more great moving articles, tips and tricks!