Many people who are fortunate enough to have seasonal cars, or simply need one for business, or because of the area of the country they live in, turn to self storage units to take care of their vehicles during the long winter months. Putting your car into self storage over the winter involves some special procedures to make sure it is fully functional when you take it out, but taking it out also involves some care and consideration to make sure you are not damaging the car. Below are some tips for taking your old car out of winter storage. Inspect the Battery The most important step when removing your car from a self storage unit is inspecting the battery.…

You may be thinking about investing in a self storage space to help you declutter your life, or simply because you have some valuable items that you don’t feel comfortable keeping around the home, yard or office. You may also be considering the best way to maximize your return on investment. While that is always wise financial thinking, it is equally wise to keep in mind the old saying, you get what you pay for. DIY storage units are available, but they are not always the best option. Below are four reasons to avoid cheap, DIY self storage. No Security One of the biggest upsides to investing in professional self storage is that it comes with security. There will be…

You’ve gone an invested some money in a self storage space. You’ve decluttered your home, made space in your office, and are feeling good about the money well-spent, but now you have to think about what you are going to do to keep the storage unit clean. Just like any other property you own or lease, it is your responsibility to keep it as neat and organized as you would like it to be. A self storage unit does require some upkeep, but the below cleaning tips will help you ensure that your storage space is always tidy and well looked after. Purge Many people invest money in a self storage unit because they think it will help them declutter…

Many people all over the world turn to self storage units to help them manage clutter, store important valuable items, and make space for seasonal items. The peace of mind and the economizing of space that comes from investing in a self storage unit is usually well worth the money. Storage pricing varies, depending on location, size, amenities and other factors. If you are considering investing in a self storage unit and are wondering if it makes financial sense to do so, below are some of the things to consider. Opportunity Cost When considering storage pricing, regardless of the self storage unit and facility you decide to go with, a good way to put things into perspective is to consider…

There comes a point in many vehicles’ lives when they become temporarily unneeded, or simply need to be moved out of the way. Some people are lucky enough to have space on their property to store them, but others turn to outside storage facilities for assistance. Whether you personally are providing the storage space, or are looking for a storage facility to do the job for you, below are some tips to help you prep your vehicle for short or long-term storage. Clean Thoroughly When putting a vehicle in storage, whether long or short-term, it is essential that it be put away clean. Leaving dirt and grime inside or outside the vehicle can cause unwanted smells, fabric damage and paint…

Self storage units are used to store all manner of items, even vintage textiles. For older, more delicate items, people often opt for a storage facility that offers climate controlled storage. Certain items require a constant climate in order to maintain their look, feel, shape, colour and structural integrity. Below are some tips for keeping your climate controlled storage unit suitable for vintage textiles. The Smithsonian Institute, one of the world’s foremost collectors of valuable, historical items, strives to store their textiles at 45 percent relative humidity and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not always possible to achieve, but staying near these targets, in addition to separating individual textiles with acid free tissue, rolling in acid free tubes, and storing…

You have made the big decision to place some of your personal belongings in a self storage unit, now the task at hand is making sure that it is packed properly so that your belongings are secure, and it’s simple to get them in and out when you need them. A drive-up storage unit makes it so you can get to your items, especially heavier and delicate items, with ease. Below are some tips to help you efficiently pack items in your storage unit. Choose the Right Boxes You typically are going to need four small to medium-sized boxes for every large box that you have. Pack heavier items in large boxes and place them nearer to the front so…

It is often the case that there is not enough room in your home or office to effectively keep all of the things you have accumulated in your day-to-day life. Seasonal decorations, family heirlooms, important documentation, and all manner of valuables often need to be kept in a storage facility in order to allow you a little breathing room. One of the main things that people considering self storage need to keep in mind is the security of their belongings once they are in the unit. Below are some tips for improving the security of your self storage unit. Placement of Items If you are planning on placing high value items in your unit, whether they have high market value,…

Winter is on its way out and spring is finally upon us. Time to put away the seasonal clothing, turn down the thermostat and most important of all, get the house ready for the new season. That means decluttering. One of the most important parts of decluttering, that really goes a long way to making it feel like you have optimized and economized on space, is proper document storage. If you are ready to declutter your home for spring and are looking for some great document storage tips, here are some to help get you started. The Living Room The living room should be high on the list of rooms to put in order because it’s where your family probably…

Anyone who has spent any time watching TLC or the Discovery Channel knows that there is a wild and wacky world of abandoned storage units out there. People put their belongings in storage facilities and either completely forget about them, can’t afford to pay the lease anymore, or simply cease to care and the units go up for auction to the highest bidder. Upon opening them, strange things are frequently found. Below are five weird things that have been found in storage units. The James Bond Submarine Car In 1989, a Long Island man paid less than $100 to purchase the contents of an abandoned storage locker. Upon opening it, he discovered a slightly damaged, wheel-less submarine car. While driving…

Self storage units are incredibly useful when space in your home or office is at a premium. Keeping seasonal goods, excess inventory, even seasonal vehicles safely stowed away in a self storage unit provides great peace of mind when you just don’t have another square foot of space to spare. But many people have found more creative ways to get a lot out of their storage facilities. Below are some tips for helping you get creative and get the most out of your self storage unit. Private Office Space There are countless tales of people starting a multi-million dollar, even billion dollar (think Apple) business in their garage. Well, why not a self storage space. Storage facilities are fast becoming…

Moving is no easy task. That is why moving companies make a killing; they know that people will go to great lengths and invest a lot of money to avoid having to do all of the heavy lifting themselves. The stress and chaos of moving is unavoidable, but there are certain tricks you can use to help make the process as painless as possible. If you haven’t considered storing certain items during a move, you might want to. Below are some items you should consider for short term storage while moving and why it makes sense. Doubles The first task should be to scour your house for anything that you have doubles of. The kitchen is a good place to…

People born after the 1990’s might not understand what film photos are, but anyone who came of age any time before that knows that the average person, and even more so, the average family, probably has boxes of loose, unorganized photos lying around in storage that are just taking up space. If you feel like this describes the current state of your photo collections, below are some tips for photo storage and organization. Decide on a Goal Document storage is about knowing why you are organizing and storing something. Are you going to be putting the photos aside for posterity? Do you want certain photos for a major life event like a wedding or a graduation? Do you just want…

The number of people choosing to place their belongings in self storage units is on the rise. The space that is available to house our growing populations, their belongings and their families is shrinking and many people, short on space, are opting for storage solutions outside their homes. If you want to know why it seems like everyone you know has one, or even multiple self storage units, below are five reasons why the use self storage units is on the rise.

A self storage unit can make life a whole lot easier, especially if space in your home or business is hard to come by. Seasonal items and decorations, summer cars, old furniture, and things from the kids’ rooms while they are away at university, are some of the things storage facilities can help you to get out of sight and out of mind. That being said, it’s important to know what type, and especially what size storage unit is going to work best for you. Below are some tips for choosing the right storage unit size. Estimate Your Needs Before you put anything in a storage facility, it’s a good idea to make an inventory of everything that you plan…

There are all kinds of personal storage options available on the market. The size of the space, climate control and allowances for certain kinds of materials all factor into the decision of what kind of storage to purchase. Convenience of access is another important determining factor that people often overlook. This includes the ability to drive up directly to the unit for easy unloading and reloading. Below are some of the advantages of drive up storage units. Parking Right at the Door Much of the damage that is done to goods being put into self storage occurs, not while the goods are being stored, but while they are being moved from the vehicle to the unit. Drive up storage helps…

Millions of people use self storage units to great effect. As convenient ways to safely store seasonal equipment, decorations, clothing, old furniture, antiques, even inventory and other business related items, self storage units can be extremely convenient and cost effective. That being said, there are some things that are simply not fit to be stored. If you are wondering what you cannot safely store in a self storage unit, below are five items. Animals It should go without saying that keeping live animals in a storage unit is illegal and unethical, but did you know that in most instances it is prohibited by the owners of the facility to store animals that have been killed while hunting and that have…

There are millions of people around the world who enjoy all of the convenience and benefits of self storage units. Whether it’s for keeping the holiday decorations that they don’t want lying around the house all year, or for storing spring and summer vehicles that spend the winter in a climate controlled space, self storage can be a huge weight off your mind. That being said, there are some definite do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when trying to get the most out of a self storage unit. Self Storage Do’s Find Out if You Require a Climate Controlled Environment Certain items, especially electronics, and things with sensitive mechanical parts, often require protection from temperature extremes. This means too…