For most people, the idea of storage, especially self-storage units, is fairly straightforward. You rent a unit, throw your stuff in, out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. There is actually quite a bit that goes into storing your belongings, when you sit down and think about it. Whether you have thought about it or not, chances are there are still some secrets to self-storage that you just didn’t know about. Below are five unheard of storage facts. The First Storage Units Like everything, the concept of self-storage units has a history. Self-storage began around 6,000 years ago in Xi’an, China. People would gather up their belongings, including family heirlooms and valuables, take them to what was essentially an…

Moving is a huge process. The number of balls in the air and the never ending list of considerations means that people inevitably forget to do one or more things. These can range from the insignificant, to the extremely burdensome and costly. If you are going over, and over your to-do list and are still worried that you haven’t checked something important off, below is a list of five common things that people tend to forget when they move. Labelling boxes. It is nearly impossible to move without putting everything into boxes. It is not, however, impossible to forget to label those boxes and discover, upon arriving to the new place, that they have no idea what is in which…

If you are the owner of a retail store, whether online or brick and mortar, storage space is one of the most important components of your business. Not just simply having storage space available, however. You need to be sure that your items are safely stored, ready to be shipped or sold and are in the condition that your customers expect when they receive them. This means, if you are utilizing a self-storage space to warehouse items, they must be safely and securely stored. Below are some tips on how to safely store products from your retail store. Invest in a high quality lock. A high quality lock utilizes not just sturdy, hard to penetrate materials, but is designed in…

With the prohibitively high cost of office space in many locations throughout North America, many business owners are turning to storage units as viable alternatives to office space. A storage unit, while seemingly unconventional, can provide ample space and comfort from which to conduct business, but there are some design and decorating tips that might make the transition from a more traditional office space a bit more comfortable. Below are five ways to decorate your storage unit office. Window frames. Most storage units are windowless, meaning that if you plan on working from it on a regular basis, you are going to have to get used to the lack of natural light. A good way to create the illusion of…

Self-storage facilities are great places to keep seasonal belongings when not in use — winter belongings in summer, summer belongings in the winter. Not having to keep everything you have is a huge luxury, especially if you live in an area of the country where the four seasons change drastically from one to the next. However, if you are storing things in a self-storage unit over the winter, particularly if the winters can be harsh where you live, there are some things you need to know. Below are tips to help you securely store your belongings in the winter. Clean your items. It is always a good idea to make sure that anything that goes into your storage unit is…

Most of us have moved — some of us several times — throughout our lives, and the amount of supplies needed just to take your stuff from one place to another is often surprising. Selecting and purchasing packing supplies is just another part of the production of moving. Knowing what to get, and why you’ll need it can make a move so much easier than if you are scrambling at the tail end to find the necessities. Below are five packing supplies you will need while moving. Specialty boxes. Specialty boxes are available for purchase from many different places, including packing and moving stores and shipping centres. Specialty boxes are designed with certain items in mind and come in a…

Selling your home is a massive process. Real estate agents, paperwork, managing the time of you and your family, all while trying to go about your daily life is a lot of stress. Selling your home also means making it as appealing to prospective buyers as possible. Even great homes that are heavily desired by the market sometimes fail to sell if things appear cluttered or even look too much like your home. Real estate agents often recommend that home sellers hide or store certain items that are turn-offs for prospective buyers, to increase the chances of making the sale. Below are five items to store while selling your home. Items which are personal to your family. It is often…

Online marketplaces such as eBay have created a wide range of business opportunities for those looking to buy and sell online from the convenience of their homes. The astute entrepreneur can quickly turn a profit using eBay if they understand their market, are organized and can connect buyers and sellers. Many people are choosing to run their eBay businesses out of a self-storage unit for a variety of reasons. Below are some tips for running your eBay business out of your self-storage unit. Protect your inventory. A self-storage unit should be designed and selected based on what type of inventory you are selling. If your business is new and used electronics, then a climate-controlled unit that protects your goods from…

A self-storage unit is a convenient way to store your personal belongings that you either don’t have room for in your home or business for, or only use temporarily throughout the year. Seasonal items, decorations and family heirlooms are some of the most commonly stored items. But a self-storage unit without adequate security measures in place defeats the whole purpose of having the unit in the first place. Below are five security measures your storage facility should have to ensure that your belongings are properly cared for and looked after. Strong locks. Having a strong lock means not only investing in quality, it also means selecting the right design. A lock with a short, thick handle is your best option…

Just because you place the word “small” before the word “business” in no way implies that the business in question doesn’t have a whole lot of business-related supplies and items to deal with. A small office space belonging to a small business can quickly become cluttered with all of the furniture, electronics and filing space necessary for day-to-day operations. Below are five small businesses you can use your self-storage space for. Independent publishing Although publishing is becoming more and more digital with each passing day, publishers still keep a lot of physical product on-hand. Books and manuscripts quickly take up a lot of space. Rather than continuing to stack books or trying to pile them into your home’s storage space,…

Storage units are not just for people who have run out of space to store their belongings in their home. They are also great options for people who are moving and need a space to store their property while in the middle of a move, or when deciding what is going to fit and look best in their new accommodations. Below are some of the ways that a storage unit can make moving less stressful. Hedge yourself against moving delays Moving delays are not all that uncommon. If you are faced with an impromptu moving delay, having a self-storage unit already secured so that you are able to get your belongings out of your current place by the move-out date…

Your belongings are important to you; you aren’t going to trust them to just anybody. You want to make sure that they are cared for, protected and well-maintained, especially when you are considering placing them in a self-storage facility. But not all self-storage facilities are created equally. There are certain indicators you are advised to keep an eye out for when deciding who and where to trust with your property. Below are a list of some of the things to look out for when choosing a self-storage facility. Exceptional customer service The first time you get in touch with a self-storage facility and that first interaction you have with an employee will tell you a lot about how that company…

The summer is over and the fun, free, limitless driving you have been enjoying over the last four months has finally come to an end. It’s time to put away the summer car and break out the strong and steady winter machine. If you are putting your summer car in storage during the colder months, below are some tips to help you prep it and ensure safe storage. Select an appropriate storage location You will want to make sure you choose a storage location that is not only secure and reputable, but one that has the appropriate climate control mechanisms in place to ensure that your car is stored in an optimal environment. Too cold or too hot and come…

Regardless of how seasoned a traveller, or mover you are, it is often not possible, amidst the chaos of a picking up and leaving somewhere, to be 100% effective when gathering your belongings, or putting them in storage. The overwhelming stress of the macro details – flights, rentals, money etc. – can cloud your judgment when it comes to the smaller minutiae. Below is a list of some of the most common packing mistakes and how to ensure that you avoid them. Over-packing Over-packing is probably the most common problem people face when deciding what to bring with them or what to store. Space is finite and a good way to protect yourself against packers remorse is to lay out…

Being burglarized can be a traumatic and expensive experience, regardless of whether you are present for it or not. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, but there are certain measures that we can to take to protect ourselves from theft. This is doubly important when we are talking about a self-storage unit, because you are not there to ensure the safety of your possessions. Most self-storage providers have measures in place to ensure the threat of theft is minimized, but there are still steps you can take to protect yourself and your belongings. Below are some of the ways to help secure your self storage unit. Select a reputable company This goes without saying, but it is surprising how often…

Whether you are a dedicated collector or someone who has come into possession of sports memorabilia and collectibles by chance, there are some items which are coveted by sports aficionados around the world. What’s more, you may have no idea that you have one of these rare treasures lying around your home or personal storage area. Below are some of the most valued sports collectibles. The infamous Babe Ruth “Called Shot” jersey from 1932 The classic of Babe Ruth confidently pointing into the stands from home plate is one of the most iconic images in all of sports history. Even if you are not particularly interested in baseball, there is a good chance that you know of this historic moment.…

Old PCs often wind up in storage. The personal computer, in the age of handheld devices and smartphones that let you take professional-grade photographs, seem positively antiquated—and they are. But, that doesn’t mean that your old PC isn’t an important—and valuable—piece of history. Below are some of the most collectible PCs, ones that you should definitely hang onto if you’ve got them. The Alto Made by Xerox in 1973, there were only a couple thousand of these units made. The computer industry is still obsessed about the technological ingenuity of the Alto, including its sophisticated graphical user interface and laser printer. The market value of this piece of history sits somewhere between five and ten thousand dollars. The Apple 1…

You’ve made your final decision and you’re ready to move home. But with so many belongings to pack you might be considering moving some of your precious items into a storage unit. This is not always a simple decision to make, but our experts have many years’ experience in this area. And so within this latest post, we present our three tips for choosing a storage unit.