Store as much as you like for as long as you like
Store as much as you like for as long as you like
A self-storage unit is a wonderful way to store all of those bits and pieces you don’t have space for at home, add a bit of extra space to your home or even store business stock ready for sale. But with an empty space, it’s easy for it to get disorganised. But a disorganised storage space is no use to anyone, as you won’t be able to find anything in it! If you need access to these things on a regular basis, this can prove difficult and downright annoying, not to mention dangerous if you stack something too high or the wrong way up! To make sure you can get to everything you need and make the most of the space you have, we recommend organising your self-storage unit. How? We have a few tips for you.
Before you even look at renting a storage unit, you need to know what size you’re going to get. That means you need to work out exactly what you’re going to store. The easiest way to do this is to sit down and make a list of everything you need to store, and the rough dimensions of it when stored. So if you’re packing things into boxes, take the dimensions of that box and how many you think you will need for the amount you’re storing. If you’re not sure how much space you need, you can just pop in and speak to one of our experts to get an estimate, and see the sizes of units on offer. If, when you move, it turns out you need something slightly bigger or smaller, you can change your unit right away.
Once you’ve got the size and shape of your unit, it’s worth spending a few minutes mapping out the layout so you can easily find everything you need. You can do this simply with a pen and some bits of paper. Make sure you out all the stuff you’re going to want to access on a regular basis at the front, and within easy reach. Larger furniture items and appliances that you probably won’t need to access as often can go at the back of your unit. Heavy items also need to be stored at the bottom of any stacks of boxes you’re creating. It’s wise to leave a path down the centre of your unit so that you can get to everything easily, even the back. Otherwise, you’d have to climb over your boxes to get to the back! Creating a storage map also allows you to plan for items that need to be stored a certain way up, or that are delicate (like a TV), so that they can be stored properly.
This is one that catches a lot of people out, but the way you pack your boxes really does matter. Don’t just throw everything randomly into plain boxes and trust you’ll remember what’s in them later, because we guarantee that in 6 months you’ll have forgotten. Keep similar items together and label each box clearly. And with things like kitchen items or books, smaller boxes are actually a better bet, especially when the contents are going to be heavy – otherwise you’ll end up breaking the box and what’s inside when you move it or pick it up. Pack anything delicate with paper and bubble wrap. If you need some, or you run out halfway through, you can visit the front desk and buy some.
And finally, it’s time to move in! At this point it might be tempting to throw that map out the window, but bear with us! Fill up your unit from the back based on your plan, making sure every label on every box is facing forwards and clearly visible. If you to end up altering your plan in any way, note down the changes and update the plan to match. Avoid stacking anything too high, and make sure your boxes are all labelled on at least 2 faces. When you’re finished, stick your map up inside your storage unit door, so that you can always check where something is in your unit. This will make trips to your unit much quicker and stop you having to dig through lots of boxes to find the thing you need.
At Blue Box Storage, we have a wide variety of units available in facilities across the south. If you’re interested in renting one of our storage units, just use our online tool to get a quote today, or get in touch with us to answer any of your questions.