Moving in together

Tips When Using a Storage Facility

You may plan to downsize to a smaller house. Rather than throw out all your items hurriedly, you could hire a self-storage unit. Then, you can also always go through your items at your leisure and decide whether you want to keep them, throw them out or put them in a charity bin. Before choosing a storage facility, consider the following tips.

Storage Unit Size

You'll need to book a specific size storage unit. They can range from small options to large ones that can contain the contents of a three-bedroom house. Some storage websites have an inventory list you can fill out, including all the objects you need to store. Their system will then assign a particular size calculated from the inventory.

Access

A crucial aspect of any storage facility you book is how easy and often you can access the storage. Do you plan to leave it there and not retrieve anything for months? Or will you want to search through your things regularly? Different companies vary in their rules. Some allow access within certain hours. Others require 24 hours notice before you can check your stuff. Thus, make sure that you choose a storage unit that lets you gain entry when you want. Some companies offer storage units that you can move to your own property, which may be helpful if you're renovating and want temporary storage. That way, you can access it whenever you like.

Restricted Items

Make sure you're aware of the rules about what you can't store in the units. Some examples of banned items may include dangerous chemicals, firearms, animal products, food and plants. Some things are restricted as they attract pests and insects.

Security

Of course, you want your items to be safe during storage. Thus, check the security offered. Does the company have CCTV surveillance, security guards or other measures?  Also, check whether your goods are insured automatically with the company or whether you need to purchase your own insurance.

Preserve Your Things

Of course, theft is not the only threat you have to think about when storing goods. The environment can pose a danger. For example, moist conditions without ample ventilation can cause some materials to become mouldy and be ruined. Also, check whether the company has procedures to deter pest infestations.

Organise the Storage

Even though you may be rushed, make sure you organise your storage. Otherwise, it may be almost impossible to find items. For example, uniformly sized boxes will be easy to stack on one another. Also, label each box with a number and list of items, and keep an electronic file of each box number and list. You can use graph paper to work out how to arrange the boxes. Heavy boxes can go on the bottom of the stack. But also think of ones you might want to access more frequently and make sure they're accessible.


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