Simple Steps to Winter Storage with Self Store & More

With the arrival of our winter weather, many of your possessions will soon become redundant, with many hibernating in your garage, attic or spare room until winter is over. There are many self storage companies that can keep your summer items safe and secure in easy to access storage facilities, ensuring that they are immediately ready to use at the first hint of summer.

Having seasonal items taking up room in your house can also leave you and your living space a little cramped, particularly during the winter months when most of your living is done inside. Customers who use seasonal self-storage free up valuable space for those winter essentials when the garden shed, attic or garage is already full.

Creating space in your home by using a secure self storage facility can be a stress saver throughout the winter months but, before you do, why not follow these simple steps.

How to determine what summer items to store.

Before you can begin, you must first determine what stays and what goes into seasonal storage. Ask yourself questions, such as…

• Will I use this item in Autumn or Winter?
• Have I actually used this item this summer or is it time to sell? After all, why pay to store something you never use (unless it’s an heirloom or something a family member will need in the near future).
• For an item you may need when the weather begins to get better, but don’t have room for at home, set it at the front of your storage unit for easy access.

Some summer items to consider putting into seasonal storage, include:

• Barbeque (no gas bottles) and outdoor furniture
• Summer sports equipment
• Gardening equipment or tools
• Summer clothing and suitcases (if no more holidays are planned)
• Toys, bikes and outdoor play equipment

Benefits of a seasonal storage swap

If you store in a self storage facility, you can swap your seasonal items in and out with ease.

Other benefits to seasonal storage include:
Extra room – No one likes clutter in their home – especially when it extends to the spare room, garages and outdoor areas. Having family stay over the holiday periods also means space at home is of a premium. Why struggle to accommodate when a quick and easy declutter can take away some of the stress.
Clean, dry Storage – Storing items in garden sheds, garages or under tarpaulin during the winter months can affect the condition of your belongings over time. With no warm sunshine to help dry them out, water, mould and mildew can wreak havoc on your belongings during the rainy season.

Secure – Storing your belongings in the garden shed, garage or under cover may give you the space you need inside your home but are they secure? A professional self storage company will have numerous security measures in place such as on-site security, CCTV, fire and intruder alarm systems with 24/7 monitoring to provide the best protection and peace of mind you and your belongings deserve.

If you need any help or advice with your self storage requirements then please don’t hesitate to contact us 7 days a week to suit your needs.

Self Store & More – A General Packing Guide for Self-Storage

Self-storage doesn’t have to be a space you visit a couple of times a year to dig something out of a stack of boxes. It can be a highly organised, easily accessible facility that frees up necessary space in your home or office. To get the most out of your unit, it’s best to plan in advance of the day you need self-storage.

This step-by-step plan should help you along the way:

WHAT WILL YOU STORE?

1. Make an inventory so you know exactly what it in the unit, especially if it is going to be a while before you visit again.

2.  Start by identifying items that will be packed in boxes and stacked.

3. Prioritise boxed items you will want to access most (they’ll go closer to the front of the unit).

4. Group by fragility and/or weight – heavier, substantial items should be stored on the bottom of stacked items, delicate items on top.

5. Consider awkward-sized items that won’t stack well, including how often you will need to use them, and how heavy they are.  Group these items in a similar way you did the boxes.

BE ORGANISED – PLAN YOUR PACKING

Organising and efficiently packing your items will take time and concentration. However, the up-front effort will be well worth it when you’re able to easily unload and organise your items at the storage unit (or at your premises if you use our Mobile Self-Storage collection service.

Here are some tips for packing:

•Invest in good quality, sturdy boxes and packing materials. Boxes should be sturdy enough to hold up for years under the weight of the stack. You may be tempted to get boxes for free from supermarkets and other local stores; however, the mismatched shapes and sizes will impede your ability to organize most effectively. You can buy standard-sized boxes and specialty boxes for items such as TVs, videotapes and pictures. If you’re storing long-term, you may want to invest in good quality plastic stacking boxes.

•For wrapping breakables, paper will do, but bubble wrap can be used repeatedly, is cleaner, and because it is transparent, makes identifying contents easier. Placing dustsheets, blankets or sheets over larger items whilst in storage will also protect them from gathering dust.

•Fill boxes to capacity. The contents in half-empty boxes can shift during transport or lifting. Corners and sides can collapse if there’s nothing to support them. Foam peanuts, bubble wrap or paper is useful for filling in the gaps in boxes.

•Distribute the weight in packed boxes evenly. Make sure they are not too heavy to be lifted. It’s better to have lots of small light boxes, rather than a few large heavy boxes if possible.

•Wrap all fragile items and breakables such as dishes, glasses, ornaments, etc. separately. Pack these items tightly into strong or reinforced boxes, filling any gaps with paper or filler. Mark “Fragile” on any boxes containing breakable items.

•Clearly label all boxes on more than one side so you can easily identify the contents.

•Pack books flat to avoid damaging their spines.

•If you plan to store clothes, it’s worth investing in a wardrobe box with a built-in hanging rod.

•Wrap mirrors and pictures in protective covering such as bubble wrap, blankets or sheets and mark them as “Fragile.” Cardboard corners can be purchased to protect the sharpest, weakest areas of frames.

•If you’re storing upholstered products such as mattresses and sofas, consider investing in covers, bags or sheeting for additional protection.

•Vacuum-sealed bags work really well for bedding and clothing.

•Electrical equipment such as TVs, stereos, and computers should be packed in their original boxes whenever possible. If using other boxes, choose ones that are as close in size to the original as possible, and fill all gaps with paper.

•Where possible, disassemble furniture such as beds and tables before you store them. Wrap and cover the separate sections, clearly mark them and keep them together. Keep assembly components such as screws and bolts together in a plastic bag, mark them clearly, and tape the bag to the appropriate piece of furniture. (Use tape that is safe for use on furniture, or tape the bag to an inconspicuous place on the piece.) Cover chair legs with bubble wrap or rags for extra protection.

•Spray your wood furniture with a good quality furniture polish before storing it to give it some added protection.

•Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil before storing them to avoid rust formation that can occur when the tools are not used regularly.

We hope this has been helpful but if you need any further advice, or wish to discuss how Self Store & More can help with your upcoming storage needs, then please call us on 01600 735001 / 01594 840860 or send us a message via our contact page by clicking here.

Happy Packing 🙂

Benefits of short term storage

Short term self-storage is a great option if you’re looking for a way of decluttering your home or workspace for a few days or weeks. Unlike a lot of storage companies, we don’t ask for a minimum rental period or notice period to vacate so, the day you vacate the unit is the day your rent stops – simple. This means you don’t have to second guess when to give the 7 day notice period a lot of storage providers ask for and you won’t be left paying for a unit when it’s no longer needed.

Here are some reasons when and why you might need to use short term storage.

Selling your home

In today’s housing market, it’s not always possible to sell your home and move straight into your new one. Rather than risk losing a buyer while you sort out your purchase, you can use short term self-storage to keep all of your belongings safe and in one place (rather than in friends’ garages) while you rent or stay with family for a few weeks until you’ve found and completed your new house purchase.

Moving into a new home

Unless you’re moving into a new-build, consider taking just the basics in with you on moving day, and have the rest delivered directly to your short term storage unit. Cleaning, decorating and fitting new carpets will be much easier without having to move all of your furniture from room to room!

During renovations at work or home

These are stressful enough. You do not need the added issue of making sure that none of your stuff gets splashed with paint, covered with dust or otherwise wrecked by builders, plasterers, decorators or errant spouses who are “trying to help”.

Storing garden furniture and tools

If left outside over winter, your garden furniture may well need a lot of TLC before you can use it again in the spring. You might also be worried about leaving your tools in a shed during the dark winter months. Tools and furniture can all be kept clean, dry and safe in a storage unit over winter, ready to be used again in the spring.

Renting out a room or house

When Government guidelines allow us again, AirBnB and similar sites are a popular way for homeowners to make a bit of extra income by renting out a room or the entire house. Most guests don’t like it if there’s a lot of personal belongings around the home, so empty your wardrobes and decant your clothes and other items into your storage unit for the short term until your house is your own again.

Storing student belongings

Sadly, burglars know that student digs are often empty for long periods over Christmas, Easter and summer holidays, and thefts from those properties tend to skyrocket over those periods. You can rent a self-storage unit for a week or longer over the holidays and keep your valuables safe, rather than leaving it vulnerable. Even if you bring it all ‘home’ with you, will there be sufficient room to store it over the holiday period? Using a local self storage provider near to your family home will mean you or someone else are not tripping over books, bags or bikes with the likelihood of damage occurring…. and if you need something from storage, it’s easy to visit and collect what you need.

Clearing the spare room

If you normally use your spare room as a bit of a dumping ground, home gym or office, you might need to clear it out to use it as a bedroom now and then – over Christmas, say, or if you have children at university who want to come home in the holidays.

Start-up business storage

Is your business reaching the point where you need to store stock or equipment rather than keep trying to find space for it around the house? Try short term storage and see if flexible self-storage might be the best use of your resources in the longer term, or just as a stopgap until you can sort a more permanent solution as your business grows.

Life changes

Divorce, downsizing, bereavement and moving in with a partner are all times when you might find that you have more belongings than you have room for. They’re also times when long term decisions are not a wise idea, because you’re still finding your feet after a major life event (good or bad). Short term storage is a good solution for keeping all of your belongings safe without risking throwing away things you’ll use again.

If we at Self Store & More can be of any help with finding the right storage solution to suit your short term needs then please don’t hesitate to contact us on the telephone (01600 735001 or 01594 840860), by email [email protected] or by using our website contact form.

Simple Steps to Winter Storage

With the arrival of our winter weather, many of your possessions will soon become redundant, with many hibernating in your garage, attic or spare room until winter is over. There are many self storage companies that can keep your summer items safe and secure in easy to access storage facilities, ensuring that they are immediately ready to use at the first hint of summer.

Having seasonal items taking up room in your house can also leave you and your living space a little cramped, particularly during the winter months when most of your living is done inside. Customers who use seasonal self-storage free up valuable space for those winter essentials when the garden shed, attic or garage is already full.

Creating space in your home by using a secure self storage facility can be a stress saver throughout the winter months but, before you do, why not follow these simple steps.

How to determine what summer items to store.

Before you can begin, you must first determine what stays and what goes into seasonal storage. Ask yourself questions, such as…

• Will I use this item in Autumn or Winter?
• Have I actually used this item this summer or is it time to sell? After all, why pay to store something you never use (unless it’s an heirloom or something a family member will need in the near future).
• For an item you may need when the weather begins to get better, but don’t have room for at home, set it at the front of your storage unit for easy access.

Some summer items to consider putting into seasonal storage, include:

• Barbeque (no gas bottles) and outdoor furniture
• Summer sports equipment
• Gardening equipment or tools
• Summer clothing and suitcases (if no more holidays are planned)
• Toys, bikes and outdoor play equipment

Benefits of a seasonal storage swap

If you store in a self storage facility, you can swap your seasonal items in and out with ease.

Other benefits to seasonal storage include:
Extra room – No one likes clutter in their home – especially when it extends to the spare room, garages and outdoor areas. Should our Government guidelines allow us to this year – Having family stay over the holiday periods also means space at home is of a premium. Why struggle to accommodate when a quick and easy declutter can take away some of the stress.
Clean, dry Storage – Storing items in garden sheds, garages or under tarpaulin during the winter months can affect the condition of your belongings over time. With no warm sunshine to help dry them out, water, mould and mildew can wreak havoc on your belongings during the rainy season.

Secure – Storing your belongings in the garden shed, garage or under cover may give you the space you need inside your home but are they secure? A professional self storage company will have numerous security measures in place such as on-site security, CCTV, fire and intruder alarm systems with 24/7 monitoring to provide the best protection and peace of mind you and your belongings deserve.

If you need any help or advice with your self storage requirements then please don’t hesitate to contact us 7 days a week to suit your needs.

Tips for winter self storage

With the arrival of bitter winds and plummeting temperatures, many of your possessions will soon become redundant, with many hibernating in your garage until winter is over. Self storage companies can keep your summer items in secure and dry conditions, ensuring that they are immediately ready to use at the first hint of summer.

Having seasonal items taking up room in your house can also leave you and your living space a little cramped, particularly during the winter months when most of your living is done inside. Customers who use seasonal self-storage free up valuable space for those winter essentials when the garden shed, attic or garage is already full.

Creating space in your home by using a secure self storage facility can be a stress saver throughout the winter months but, before you do, why not follow these simple steps.

Don’t allow your items to linger in your garage or shed over winter. This can potentially lead to damage from the cold climate, not to mention the arrival of dirt and insects.

How to determine what summer items to store.

Before you can begin, you must first determine what stays and what goes into seasonal storage. Ask yourself questions, such as

• Will I use this item in Autumn or Winter?
• Have I actually used this item this summer or is it time to sell? After all, why pay to store something you never use (unless it’s a heirloom or something a family member will need in the near future).
• For an item you may need when the weather begins to get better, but don’t have room for at home, set it at the front of your storage unit for easy access.

Some summer items to consider putting into seasonal storage, include:
• Barbeques and outdoor furniture
• Summer sports equipment
• Christmas decorations (leave near the front ready for December)
• Summer clothing and suitcases (if no more holidays are planned)
• Gardening equipment
• Toys, bikes and outdoor play equipment

Benefits of a seasonal storage swap

If you store in a self storage facility, you can swap your seasonal items in and out with ease. Other benefits to seasonal storage include:
Extra room – No one likes clutter in their home – especially when it extends to the spare room, garages and outdoor areas. Having family stay over the holiday periods (yes, Christmas!) means space at home is of a premium. Why struggle to accommodate when a quick and easy declutter can take away some of the stress.
Clean, dry Storage – Storing items in garden sheds, garages or under tarpaulin during the winter months can affect the condition of your belongings over time. With no warm sunshine to help dry them out, water, mould and mildew can wreak havoc on your belongings during the rainy season.

Secure – Storing your belongings in the garden shed, garage or under cover may give you the space you need inside your home but are they secure? A professional self storage company will have numerous security measures in place such as on-site security, CCTV, fire and intruder alarm systems with 24/7 monitoring to provide the best protection and peace of mind you and your belongings deserve.

If you need any help or advice with your self storage requirements then please don’t hesitate to contact us 7 days a week to suit your needs.