Moving and storage often go hand in hand, although there may be other reasons that you need to rent a storage unit. These storage tips can help you better manage the space in your unit and to select a unit that is ideal for your unique situation. Renting a storage unit is a fairly straightforward process, but first we recommend you compare storage unit prices to make sure you are getting the best price. While it is safe in most instances to store your belongings in a self storage unit, one of the most important storage tips is to choose your facility carefully so that you can minimize the risk of damage or loss of your items.
Storage Tips for Selecting the Best Storage Facility
When you begin evaluating storage ideas, the best thing that you can do is to seek out a location that is in a safe part of town and that you are able to access frequently. Preferably your storage unit should be close to home, and you should be able to access your unit for free 24 hours per day if you choose to do so. You should also be able to choose from a range of sizes so that you can select the best unit, and most of the best storage facilities offer climate controlled and non climate controlled storage units. If you are storing valuable, delicate, or fragile items, it is important to ensure that the unit has proper climate control to prevent damage from the weather.
Storage Tips for Packing Your Unit
Once you have your unit picked out and you are ready to load your belongings into the unit, mapping how you would like to position your items in the unit is a great way to help you get organized. It is best to use as many uniform boxes as possible. This will make it easier to stack boxes on top of one another, but also keep the heavier boxes on the bottom and lighter boxes on the top. When you are loading your belongings into the unit, make sure to leave small spaces so that you can get in and out of the unit. Pack half filled boxes with any material (even if it is newspaper or other packing material) to prevent them from collapsing. Treat any metal objects with rust prevention to keep them in the best condition, and try to keep the humidity level low by leaving space for air to circulate so that you can prevent warping and mildew.
Other Storage Tips and Storage Ideas
It is also very important to label all of your boxes so that you can easily access what you need. You may want to remove a few things from storage before you remove everything from the unit, so it is best to thoroughly label everything so that you can easily find what you need when you need it. Make sure not to overcrowd the boxes, use a good quality packing tape, and maximize space in the unit by disassembling certain furniture pieces or other items. Plan to keep all of the items that you frequently use or will need access to at the front of the unit as well.