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. Depending on what you plan to store, you may want to think about making an inventory.
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.
WHAT SIZE UNIT?
Nobody wants to pay for space they don’t need. But a little extra space makes moving around within the unit much easier and gives you room to add unplanned items.
Only you know how much stuff you have to store, but we are always happy to help if you are unsure. Visiting Self Store & more prior to booking a unit is always advisable as we have a range of different sized units for you to choose from. We are also happy to visit your premises to provide a free, no obligation assessment on the correct type and size storage unit you will require.
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 www.selfstoreandmore.co.uk/mobile-self-storage). Here are some tips for packing:
Invest in Supplies
•Use boxes rather than plastic bags. Boxes are sturdier and stack well, taking up less space. Many removals companies require that goods be packed in boxes for transport. Also, sealed plastic bags can trap humidity which can cause damaging mildew.
•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 liquor 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 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.
Packing boxes, bubble wrap and tape are available for purchase at Monmouth & Ross-on-Wye Self Storage. Please call to discuss your requirements.
Packing Boxes
•Box up everything that you can. Anything unboxed has an increased risk of being damaged when you access you unit.
•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 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.
Packing Other Items
•If you plan to store clothes, it’s worth investing in a wardrobe box with a built-in hanging rod.
Large appliances must be prepared correctly for storage:
- Defrost fridges and freezers thoroughly. This avoids water damage and mildew growth. Tie down the appliance doors during transport, but leave them slightly ajar once in storage.
- Drain washing machines, and tie down hoses and cords before storing them.
- Wipe down the inside of appliances with baking soda before you store them to keep them dry.
•Wrap mirrors and pictures in protective covering such as bubble wrap and mark them as “Fragile.” Cardboard corners can be purchased to protect the sharpest, weakest areas of frames.
•If you do store loose photographs, place them between pieces of clean cardboard and consider taping them together to avoid curling.
•Separate lamp bases and lampshades and wrap them for protection.
•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 draperies, 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. Make sure you secure the player arm of a record player and turntable.
•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.
•Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.
•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.
•When storing a vacuum cleaner, clean out the bag or canister first; bacteria and mould can accumulate otherwise.
•Consider having awkward or heavy pieces such as exercise equipment packed professionally.
As you go, keep an inventory of every item you’ve packed. Ideally, include an estimate of the replacement value of each item you store so that you have some idea of what to insure the stored goods for.
PACKING YOUR STORAGE UNIT
• At Self Store & more, your unit will already be clean and swept out but you can put down protective canvas sheeting, cardboard or wooden boards on the floor if you prefer.
•Keep a fold-up step stool in your space for accessing hard-to-reach areas.
•Frequently-used items should be placed near the entrance for easy access. This holds true for file boxes and other business items, too.
•Unload the largest items and place them against the far wall, as well as along the sides of the unit. A member of staff will be available to assist free of charge if needed.
•For archived business documents that you won’t need to access frequently, place them against the far wall of the unit.
•When arranging items, you can always leave an aisle space for easy access to your items.
Planning, preparing and setting up your self-storage unit may seem like a big chore. However, you will certainly find the time and effort are worth it, when you know that your belongings are properly protected protected, conveniently accessible and well-preserved.
If you need any further advice or wish to discuss how Self Store & more can help with your storage or packaging needs then please call us on 01981 541180 or send us a message via our contact page by clicking here.
How can self storage help you this Christmas
It’s coming to that time of year when our thoughts turn to Christmas with so much to organise; booking your food shop, baking, planning travel, de-cluttering house for friends and family, decorating the tree, writing Christmas cards and buying/ordering all of the presents are just some of the things we try to achieve before the 25 December. Although it can bring great joy, it can also place a huge strain on your time and energy so here’s how Self Store & More can help.
No Room at The Inn?
With friends and family visiting, it can be quite a challenge to find the space needed to host them for the day or few days if they are staying over for the festive period. However long they stay there are normally a host of bags and belongings that come with them. Whether it’s finding somewhere for them to sit or getting their things put away, your rooms become overcrowded. That problem could be solved if you declutter a week before Christmas and use a self-storage unit to create space in the short term.
You might also have a spare room in the house where you normally store your extra Christmas goods until they are required on the day. However, this same space may be used all year round to store things that you’ve ‘tidied up’ or bought but only use from time to time. It would be wise to de-clutter in the build up to Christmas and use a small self storage unit to help create some much needed space. Once the festive season is over, we can either bring your things back to the house or keep them in the unit as part of your overall New Year clean out.
Damage Limitation
When the 12 days of Christmas is up, how many of us strip the tree, unclip the lights from the front of the house and store them in the nearest cupboard, wardrobe garage or shed? How many people ruin their Christmas decorations because they don’t have a suitable storage solution? If you have a lot of decorations, a sizeable tree and other seasonal goods that aren’t going to be used, why not use a self-storage unit to keep them safe and damp free until next year? We can even collect them direct from your door using our Mobile Self Storage service so you don’t even have to spend the time, money or effort doing so yourself. To see how this great service works, please visit www.selfstoreandmore.co.uk/mobile-self-storage
Hide and Seek
It’s quite a challenge hiding Christmas presents from your loved ones, especially over excited little ones who simply cannot wait to see what they are getting. The most popular choices of hiding places; on top of the wardrobe, under the bed or in the boot of the car really aren’t that hard to find! Where does one hide a trampoline? How do you wrap a bicycle so it’s not obvious? If you have large or numerous items with no ideal space to store them then why not rent a storage unit for a week or two so the surprise stays just that. You can even arrange to build and wrap the items in our clean, dry warehouse unit ready for the big day if needed.
Whether it’s short term Christmas related storage or long term domestic or business storage, we at Self Store & More are here to listen, advise and help you find the right storage unit for the right price for as long as you need it so please do not hesitate to contact us on 01600 735001 or 01594 840860 for latest prices and availability.
Autumn is here so now is the time to start thinking about protecting your summer belongings from the winter weather.
Having seasonal items taking up room in your house can 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 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.
Three D’s of self storage…
There are many reasons why you might need to use a self storage unit. Perhaps you’re moving house and need to store your soft furnishings until your new home is decorated and ready to move into properly; maybe you’re super-organised and want to put away your summer clothes now that the Autumn weather is on its way, to make room for your winter wardrobe; maybe your children are starting university and you need somewhere to keep their stuff during the holiday periods;
There are three reasons however which are particularly common: “the three D’s”…
Downsizing
Moving from a larger home into a smaller one naturally means that you’ll have less space for all the belongings you’ve amassed over the years. Many of our customers are people who have retired and moved into smaller, more manageable homes, and others are parents of grown-up children who no longer need as many bedrooms. They’re looking for somewhere to store those belongings that no longer fit into their home but that they don’t want to sell or give away yet.
Items of furniture that don’t fit the space available can be hard to part with, particularly if they have sentimental or significant monetary value. Furniture that you don’t have room for anymore can also still have huge potential practical value for your loved ones: if your children or grandchildren are not yet settled in their own homes, it’s possible that they may need to use your spare beds or wardrobes when they get their own places. Keeping that furniture safe and dry in the meantime could really help out, financially, at a time when your children or grandchildren have had to pay legal and moving fees as well as a hefty deposit on a new home.
Divorce
Alas, divorce is a common event for many people and necessarily involves a move for one or both spouses. Even the swiftest divorce proceedings take 3 – 6 months with a fair wind, and until they are concluded it can be difficult to finalise financial arrangements and agree who will live where. Many separating couples move into temporary, rented accommodation pending a resolution of their financial affairs.
If you have to move into a smaller property or into furnished, rented accommodation, you will probably have possessions that you don’t have room for in your new place. Like the ownership of the matrimonial home itself, you and your ex may not agree on who will get what furniture in the early days, but you shouldn’t forget that you will ultimately need to furnish your own home in the long term. Even if you don’t have room for them now, you should still try to keep what you’ll eventually need after the dust has settled. A bed, wardrobe, chairs, as well as personal items such as clothing can all be safely stored in one of our self storage units until you have space for them again.
Death
Death is never easy to accept, and as well as coping with the emotional aspects of losing a loved one you may have to deal with practical issues too. Sorting through the home of a deceased relative is not something any of us would choose to do, but it will be necessary in order to wind up their estate. It can take time, and it can also be very difficult, in the midst of grief, to know exactly what to sell and what to keep. There may be items of furniture that you can’t use right now, but will probably need in the future – selling them now will mean that replacements will have to be purchased at a later date.
If you’ve lost someone close to you, there may also be items of sentimental value that you want to keep to remember them by: their favourite chair; a picture that always hung in their living room; blankets or items of clothing that still hold their scent. Giving those things away or selling them might be unbearable. Storing them somewhere dry and clean will give you time to decide whether or not to keep your loved one’s belongings in the long run