Imagine you have a storage unit. Then imagine you need to retrieve something from it. You need that item urgently; it’s a crucial piece of equipment or some paperwork or a treasured family heirloom that you just can’t do without. So you go to the storage facility where all your things are, you open up your unit, and everything is a big mess inside. It’s going to take hours to find what you want because nothing is organized, and everything was just dumped inside with no reasoning behind it.
No one wants to have to deal with that, especially when they’re in a hurry and they only want to get one thing. This is why it’s important to organize your storage unit correctly from the very start. With that in mind, here are some of the best ways to organize your storage unit to help you create more space and find whatever you need at any time.
Make A List
It’s all very tempting to just throw everything you don’t need in your home into your storage unit without thinking too much about exactly what you are putting in there. However, this can lead to problems in the future and not knowing whether something has been stored away or not.
The best thing to do to get around this issue is to make a list before you begin to pack your ideal self storage near me. In that way, you’ll know exactly what’s inside it. Even better, if you then mark against each item on that list where in the storage unit it has been put, you’ll be able to find everything you need quickly and easily. When it comes to packing and organizing, this will save you a lot of time and stress.
Mark Your Boxes
Although having your list and ‘map’ of your self storage unit will help immensely, you might still find you have issues finding items – or being sure of where things are, at least – if you don’t also mark your boxes. If your list tells you there is a box you need in your storage unit, and it is sitting with several other boxes that all look the same with no labels, you’re still going to need to open each box until you find the one you want.
Instead of doing this, you can simply write what’s in the box on the side in a marker pen. If you want to be really organized, make a detailed list of everything in the box and tape it to the side so that you can see it and read it. In that way, you’ll go straight to the correct box every time.
Choose The Right Containers
You’ll have a choice between plastic and cardboard boxes when you pack your storage unit. Both have pros and cons, so you’ll have to think about what will work best for you and buy these containers before you start filling your storage unit.
Plastic containers are much more robust than cardboard, and therefore it is wise to use these for fragile items. You can use cardboard boxes for less delicate items, and many people like this because it’s better for the environment. However, cardboard can become damp in poor conditions, and that could lead to mold on your possessions – it might even ruin them completely. In a well-run storage facility such as Storage Area, you won’t find any dampness or mold, so you’re free to use the containers that suit you.
Store Heavier Items At The Bottom
If you have heavy items in your storage unit, these should be placed at the bottom of any pile of boxes or containers. Doing this makes the stack a lot more stable and will prevent anything from falling.
This also makes it easier to move the heavier items. Trying to move a heavy box from the top of a pile is much harder than picking it up from the ground – just be careful to bend your legs and not your back or get help if the things you need to move are particularly heavy.
Little Used Items
Some people essentially use their storage unit as an extension of their home or backyard shed, so they need to access it regularly. If you’re using it on this basis rather than as a place to store things until you move house or return from your travels, for example, it’s wise to think about what you use most when organizing your storage unit. When you do that, you can ensure that the items you’re not going to need are stored at the back, whereas the things you’ll need a lot more are at the front of your storage unit and easily accessible.
Consider Racking And Shelving
To keep things organized and tidy and to create more space in your storage unit, it’s a good idea to consider racking and shelving units. You’ll immediately have more room when you put these in place since you can stack things higher and clean potentially much-needed floor space. It’s amazing how much more space some racking in your storage unit can give you, and that can save you money as you can rent a smaller unit.
Racking will also help to protect your items since you won’t have to place heavy boxes on top of one another, which could lead to crushing and breakages.
Put The Biggest Items Of Furniture By The Door
When you’re using a storage unit for your storage solution needs, you may well want to store large items of furniture in there. If you do, the best place to put these items is by the door. Of course, if you intend to visit the unit to collect smaller items on a regular basis, as we’ve mentioned above, this plan is not quite so ideal. However, if you are using the unit as a temporary space for your possessions and you want to put them into a van in the best way once you move them out, having the larger furniture be the first thing you can get to is the best option. It will be the first thing that goes into the van, which makes everything a lot easier.