There are many reasons as to why you may want to rent a storage unit: maybe you’ve run out of storage at home, maybe you’re downsizing or maybe you’re moving into a new home and need a safe space to store some of your excess goods. It seems simple enough: rent a space and fill it. However, you would be amazed at what a difference a little preparation can make to the value you get out of your unit.
1) A little bit of planning can go a long way
While it may sound unnecessary, but drawing up a broad plan of how you are planning to pack your storage unit can seriously increase the efficiency of the space inside the unit, as well as keeping its contents safe and easily accessible.
Try to limit the variations in the box sizes that you are intending to store. The greater the variety of boxes, the more difficult it will be to arrange them efficiently. Your moving company should be able to provide you with any packing supplies you may need.
If you are using your storage unit for a mixture of long-term and short-term storage, make sure to place all the long-term items at the back of the unit. The same goes for any particularly heavy or bulky items you are planning to store. Large items can be used to form a foundation for other lighter and smaller items you are packing into the unit. Long, tall items, such as mattresses, should be packed along the walls and, if possible, on their ends to maximize the use of the headroom of the unit. Hollow furniture also offers useful packing space, for example, you can store smaller boxes inside wardrobes or refrigerators. Furniture that can be disassembled should be flat packed in marked boxes, along with any screws, Allen keys and tools needed for their reassembly.
No matter how confident you are in your memory, always label your boxes. Be specific and if boxes contain a variety of items, be detailed. This will save you a lot of time should you need to come back for a specific item or you send a family member to retrieve something. Placethe label clearly on every face of the box, allowing you to identify it no matter how it is placed. Make an inventory list summarizing all the boxes, their contents and where they are and hang this on a clipboard at the entrance to the storage unit.
Ideally, always try to get a storage unit that is slightly larger than what you need. This allows you the extra space to leave space in between your goods, giving you easier access to a much larger portion of the contents of your unit than if you had stacked everything wall-to-wall.
2) Prepare the Storage Unit
When you first inspect your unit, make sure that it is clean and dry. Not all owners take good care of their space.
It is always a good idea to raise your items off the floor of the unit if you can. The easiest way to do this is to get several pallets and strategically lay them on the floor of the unit before placing any goods inside. This can go a long way in protecting your goods from unforeseen spillages or pests.
3) Isaac’s Storage Options
Isaac’s Moving and Storage use portable self-storage vaults and also have climate controlled, clean and secure facilities. Since the storage vaults are smaller, it is possible to put many more items in a vault and do the same organization recommended above by splitting long-term and short-term storage items into different storage vaults. You can access the storage vault you need without disturbing other storage vaults.
You can fit the following items in one Isaac’s Storage Vault:
- Queen Size mattress and Foundation
- Couch (7′ 8″)
- Dresser
- Full size reclining chair
- 32″ Television
- Television Stand
- 2 Lamps
- Coffee table
- Night stand
- 10 Boxes averaging 18x18x24 in size
Always ensure that you make use of a safe and reputable storage service, such as Isaac’s Moving & Storage. With a 77% return and referral rate and more than 25 years of experience, we are the best in the business. Our weather-proof mobile self-storage vaults can be delivered directly to your front door, entirely removing the hassle of having to take your items to a distant self-storage lot.
For more information about self-storage units or recommendations on how to maximize their utility, as well as self-storage booking, contact us at Isaac’s Moving and Storage today.
