Storage Tips For The Fall

Spring isn’t the only season to get organized; autumn is a perfect time to de-clutter your home and get things in order for the colder months. As much as we try to keep things in order after the spring-cleaning season, there’s always a list of things to prepare for the next season. Soon the days will be getting shorter, now is a great time to use the extra time you have indoors to organize your home? To get you started, check out our favorite fall home preparation tips below. You can free up valuable storage space—both inside and out—and get set for a clutter-free winter.    

Swap Out the Seasonal Stuff

One simple way to free up closet space and dressers is to swap out your spring and summer wardrobe for fall and winter. Now is the time to take the opportunity to sort through your items, and decide if it’s time to give them away or store them for the next season.  Don’t forget the coat closet and the mudroom!   Storage Tip: Pack clothing away in plastic bins or containers to avoid dust, moisture, and bugs.

Organize Your Outdoor Living Area

There are a number of outdoor things that need your attention before the cold comes. Harsh weather can damage wood, wicker or aluminum, so pay extra attention to your porch, patio or deck furniture at summer’s end. A 10’x10’ unit is great for storing outdoor yards maintenance items – like garden tools, outdoor power equipment, and lawnmowers. These can take up valuable space in a garage that you might need for shovels, snow blowers, salt or other winter items.   Storage Tip: Clean before storing to prevent rust and damage. For added protection, we have climate-controlled units!

Your Car Wants the Garage Back

It’s common to turn to your garage for storage of your summer items. A storage unit is a perfect place to store bikes, pool equipment, gardening tools, patio furniture. Having these items out of the way, you’ll save a significant amount of space for your car and other winter necessities. You can thank us later.    

Storage For All Seasons

Each season gives us an opportunity to reorganize our home and prepare for the next. While you can utilize a self-storage unit at any time of the year, the harsh weather of winter makes it especially important to protect your belongings and be prepared.

What not to Store

Self-storage is great for personal and business storage. Items such as appliances, furniture, business documents and inventory, family heirlooms, seasonal items and pharmaceutical supplies can all be stored in your unit, keeping your home or office clutter-free. Our variety of storage options will allow you the ability to store a variety of items, even up to boats and RVs and construction equipment. However, there are some things that can’t be stored.  Placing any of the items that are on the ‘DO NOT STORE LIST’ could get you fined or even arrested. Before you rent storage, make sure that you know about what items should not be stored your unit. This list will help you protect you as well as those around you.

Valuable Items- Items such as jewelry, coins (historical and collectible) and precious metals should not be stored in a self-storage unit. It’s better to keep these items safely in your home or at your bank in a safe deposit box. Don’t store cash.  Also, keep birth records, passports, social security and tax documents in a fire-safe box in your home, not your self-storage unit.

Plants and Living Items- Your storage unit is not a greenhouse, and plants cannot survive in an environment without oxygen or light. Storing them in your self-storage unit is prohibited. Obviously, self-storage is not a place to store animals or pets. Not only is this strictly prohibited. Plants and animals that are stored in self-storage will also lead to bugs and other vermin infestation.

Perishable Items- DO NOT STORE FOOD!! In the extreme conditions of a non-climate controlled storage unit, food can spoil quickly and invite unwanted bugs to your storage unit. Opened containers of spices, cereals, and other non-perishable items should not be stored in self-storage. Some canned items can survive in the extreme conditions, but it really isn’t advisable to store them in a self-storage unit.

Flammable or Combustible Materials-Do does not store fireworks, gas, oil, propane tanks, lamp or motor oil, weed killers, car batteries or paint and paint thinner in self-storage. Gasoline or propane can very easily ignite in an enclosed unit and put the entire facility at risk. That is why it is important to drain the fluids from lawn mowers and other outdoor equipment before putting them in self-storage. Also, any item in an aerosol can is extremely flammable and not allowed in your unit.

Scented or Wet Items– It’s not a great idea to store scented or damp items. As mentioned above, strong scents can easily attract pests, insects, rodents or vermin to investigate the source of the overwhelming odors. Trust us, you don’t want any living things crawling or flying around in your rental unit. Also, any items that are wet or damp will start producing mold, mildew and spread bacteria in your self-storage unit, and that will likely damage some, most or all of your prized possessions placed in temporary storage.

Toxic, Hazardous, Stolen or Illegal Substances- Do not store chemicals, fertilizers and every day cleaning products in self-storage. These items are very toxic and dangerous in extreme temperatures. They could cause a fire or chemical accident in your unit. We do not allow the storage of firearms, gunpowder, and ammunition. Even if the firearms are antique and no longer in working order, they could pose a dangerous threat. It should also go without saying that you should not store illegal or stolen items in your unit. Self-storage facilities are subject to searches, so illegal items will not be any safer there than they would be in your home. Check with your storage facility before you store to make sure you are storing items properly and are not storing a “banned” item.

For a complete list of items, please stop by our office and a member of our staff will be glad to help you.

MOVING IN TOGETHER?

Moving in together is a huge step in any relationship. A little extra planning can go a long way in a smooth transition. To prevent undue stress on yourself or your relationship, take the proper precautions to ensure you are prepared for this next step. This helpful list for moving in together should help you get organized. To make things easier, we created the checklist below and divided it up by time.

3 MONTHS OUT

Discuss who will pay for what. Know in advance how much each party is able to contribute financially and any bills they will be adding.
Prepare your financial documents. Gather bank statements, pay stubs, proof of employment and landlord reference letters. Having all of this documentation on hand will make rental applications easier.
Make a list of what you have, what you need and what you need to store. Taking the time to write these lists will save you time and money in the long run. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time for this task. Storage is always an option for the couch or armoire you can’t part with, but don’t have room for. We make renting storage easy, call us today.
Divide up responsibilities. The benefit of moving in with your partner is that you don’t have to sort it all out on your own! Decide who is best at what and disperse the stress a little.

1 MONTH OUT

Sign the lease. When this needs to happen depends on the real estate market in your community, but give yourself plenty of time to find the perfect place.
Take measurements. Measure both of your furniture items and the new home to make sure everything you have will fit. This also helps when planning additional purchases.
Rent a moving van or hire a mover.  If you plan on moving yourself, make sure you have the tools to make it successful.
Buy plenty of boxes. Use the list you created of what you have to assess how many boxes you will need and then add a few extra. Not sure what kind of boxes you’ll need?
Purchase packing supplies. If you have valuable art or delicate china, make sure you have the appropriate materials to move it safely. Stop by our office for packing supplies and covers.
Take the day off.  Do yourself a favor and use it for moving day. You can thank us later.

1 WEEK OUT

Transition all of your bills to your new home. Inform your service providers you are moving and make sure your partner does the same.
Begin packing boxes as far in advance as you can. Be strategic when you are packing to avoid chaos once you start to unpack.
Label everything. Label Label Label. We can’t say it enough.  You will be combining  the possessions of two people, this step is extra important.
Clear the fridge. Avoid grocery shopping this close to your move date. Time to start  clearing your cabinets, freezer and fridge of any perishable goods.
Pack a overnight bag. Packing a change of clothes and toiletries in case you don’t have time to get the essentials unpacked on moving day can be a lifesaver.
Put in a change of address.. This allows mail to be forwarded to the proper place.
MOVING DAY

Wrap glass tables or large electronics in towels or sheets. Avoid damaging your possessions in the move by ensuring they are as protected as possible.
Keep each room’s boxes together. Make sure your living room items stay together and your bathroom items are all in the same place. This will expedite the unpacking process and makes emptying the moving van easier.
Wear appropriate clothes.
Your wear during moving day may seem unessential to you, but do not underestimate it. Put on comfortable clothes, because it will be a really long day. Also, to protect yourself from any injures, avoid clothes and shoes with ties. Loose-fitted clothes are more likely to cause troubles too. If you are performing a long distance trip, take into consideration that there might be a weather drop. In this case you will need to change clothes during the trip, so keep a pair of clean clothes with you just in case.
Above all, don’t overdo it. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, make moving your sole task for the day. Keep your cell phones charged. Stay hydrated, pack snacks, and take short breaks when you need them. Moving day might be hectic, but if you’re prepared, you can help it go off without a hitch.

The New Year is here and like many people, you probably made some New Year’s Resolutions. Right up there with losing weight and cutting back on soft drinks, getting organized is a top priority. Did you know that a storage unit can easily help you keep this New Year’s Resolution?

Think about it… over the last 365 day your closets and garage have become dumping grounds for unused clothes, exercise equipment and boxes of unknown things. You may not want to get rid of these items.  That’s why renting with us can be so helpful.

How do I choose a self-storage unit?

Before you decide on the type and size of the storage unit, you will need to take an inventory of what you will be storing. If you only need to make room in your closets, a mini storage unit will probably do the trick. These units are about the size of a walk-in closet and are perfect for clothes, small appliances, and other knick-knacks.

If you are cleaning out the garage and have old furniture, bicycles, exercise equipment and other bulky items you should consider a larger unit. Using our online calculator will help you determine the amount of space you need.

A climate controlled unit is an option if you are storing electronics, antiques or leather furniture. These types of units will prevent condensation and corrosion from forming due to wide temperature swings.

Do I need a storage unit for my business?

Businesses of all sizes can utilize self-storage units to kick off the New Year. Over the past year, your business will have generated hundreds, if not thousands, of files that need to be stored away. Everything from inter-office memos to customer contracts to tax documents needs to have a place to stay. Some of these files, like tax and legal documents, need to be kept for years. Using a climate controlled unit for your document storage is a cost-effective way keep them safe and secure and free up some much-needed office space.

Self-storage units are also a great place to store surplus office supplies and bulky equipment that you do not use on a daily basis. By keeping these items in a central location outside of the business, you can free up some space and give things a fresh organized look.

Live Life and Explore!

Whether you are in your early 20s or late 50s, many people make a resolution every year that they are going to live life to the fullest. They decide they are going to abandon their job or their life at home and go explore the world. Unless you intend to keep paying rent on an apartment for months while you’re away, you may want to consider packing your things into a storage unit to allow you to travel lightly—the best idea when traveling the world.

Maybe a storage unit can’t help you with each resolution, but if you ever find yourself thinking, “Oh if I only had space,” a storage unit is probably your answer.