{"id":1643,"date":"2022-01-28T15:13:23","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T15:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.storagearea.com\/blog\/?p=1643"},"modified":"2022-03-10T13:56:01","modified_gmt":"2022-03-10T13:56:01","slug":"5-self-storage-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.storagearea.com\/blog\/5-self-storage-tips.html","title":{"rendered":"5 Self Storage Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Self storage is the ideal choice to ensure you are storing your belongings in a safe, secure way. No matter what reason you might need a self storage unit, there will be one that will be perfect for you. Perhaps you\u2019re moving home, and you need to store some items during the move. Maybe you\u2019re renovating, and you want to keep your furniture and other precious belongings safe. You might be going traveling, and you\u2019ve decided to end your lease or sublet your home, and you don\u2019t want anyone else touching or using your things. Self storage can help you in all of these situations<\/a> and many more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

However, simply going to your nearest self storage facility<\/a> and picking the first unit you see is not a good idea. Much like anything in life, the more research you can do first, the better the outcome will be. With that in mind, here are 5 self storage tips<\/a> to help you make the right choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always Plan Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you\u2019ll need to do when you are considering secure storage of any kind is to plan ahead and to do it as far in advance as possible. Start with determining what it is you want to store because this will help you understand what size self storage unit<\/a> you need. While doing this, you can also plan how to store the items. This is more important than you might think, and it will depend on what you want the unit for. If it\u2019s for short term storage, you probably won\u2019t need to access anything in the unit, so you can opt for a smaller one without so much space to move around as it won\u2019t be necessary. If it\u2019s much longer term storage, a slightly larger unit is a better idea, plus you\u2019ll need to consider racking and shelving, and you\u2019ll also want to ensure that little-used items are further back than those things you\u2019ll need more often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are other questions to ask, too; do you need climate controlled storage<\/a>, for example? A climate controlled unit can be useful if you\u2019re storing delicate fabrics and other materials that could be sensitive to changes in temperature. If you\u2019re unsure, you can always ask the experts at Storage Area<\/a> for advice, as we will know how to help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add Shelving<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve briefly mentioned how shelving might be useful above, but we can now go into it in more detail. When you need extra space, shelving could be the perfect solution, and it will save you money as you can rent a smaller storage unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you use shelving in your storage unit, you\u2019ll instantly be able to see everything you have in there much more clearly, allowing you to safely find and access anything you might need. Also, if you are storing more delicate, fragile items, you can place them on a high shelf so they won\u2019t get knocked or damaged when you are moving other things around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an extra tip, if you have items such as a closet or chests of drawers in your storage unit, you can use these to house delicate items too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Protection When Packing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll want to protect your belongings as much as you can; that\u2019s one of the reasons you\u2019ll have searched for a good, highly recommended self storage near me<\/a>. However, accidents can still happen, especially when you\u2019re not used to storing items and perhaps haven\u2019t stacked them quite right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to prevent any breakages, you\u2019ll need to protect your items even if they are in storage<\/a>. Treat them how you would any item that needs to be moved, even if they are just staying still in one room. That means packing fragile things in bubble wrap and paper and using soft packing materials in the boxes themselves. If you want to be more eco-friendly, you can use old newspapers and magazines. As long as you use something, the choice is yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember to never store any organic materials that can perish. It\u2019s likely that your storage unit will have a clause preventing this anyway, but it\u2019s a crucial point to remember. If you\u2019re unable to get to your unit for any reason or if you haven\u2019t thought things through, you might find that these goods spoil, and that could contaminate everything else. At the very least, it will make the unit an unpleasant place to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always Have A Strong Lock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the majority of self storage facilities<\/a>, you\u2019ll need to purchase a padlock to keep your unit secure. This will depend somewhat on the type of lock on the door already, assuming there is one, but if you do need to buy a padlock, make sure you get a strong one for the ultimate peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be tempting to try to save money, no matter what financial situation you might find yourself in, but saving money could be highly detrimental when it comes to a good storage unit and a good lock. In order to keep your belongings secure and to feel happy to leave them in place, the better the lock, the more comfortable you will be, and the safer your possessions will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when storage facilities have all the most up-to-date technology, guards, and other security in place, leaving your unit unlocked or with a weak, easily broken lock is never a sensible option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do Your Research When It Comes To The Storage Facility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are good storage companies and poor ones. If you want to ensure your belongings are kept somewhere safe and secure, you\u2019ll need to know which kind of storage facility you have chosen. It\u2019s crucial that you do plenty of research before making a final decision, as if you find you have made a mistake after you have already paid and moved your things, it could be expensive, not to mention time-consuming, to change to a different facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to look out for what type of security the facility has, the prices, any recommendations or testimonials, reviews, the condition of the facility and the units, and the location. If you\u2019re happy with all these things, that\u2019s excellent. If anything seems wrong and you\u2019re not comfortable storing your things there, it\u2019s time to look elsewhere.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Self storage is the ideal choice to ensure you are storing your belongings in a safe, secure way. No matter what reason you might need a self storage unit, there will be one that will be perfect for you. Perhaps you\u2019re moving home, and you need to store some items during the move. Maybe you\u2019re renovating, and you want to … <\/p>\n

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