Whether you are moving, and your new place isn’t quite ready yet, you’re downsizing and you can’t bear to part with some of your precious furniture, or your business is growing and you need somewhere to store your stock… there are lots of reasons why taking a storage unit might work really well for you.
If you’re using self-storage for the first time, we understand that it can feel a little daunting. However, putting your items into storage is a lot more straight forward than you may imagine. It’s a very simple process to plan, and you can keep the moving out date open, deciding from month to month to keep on storing your possessions, so once they’re in it’s all hassle-free.
Storage units are accessible 24hrs a day, all year round so you never have to worry about needing something you can’t get to and there’s no need to book to access them. Once you’re in and you have your padlock, you’re free to come and go as much as you please.
Estimate how much space you’ll need
Packing your things can seem overwhelming at first, but if you break it down into manageable chunks, it’s actually really easy. Start by visualising how much you have to store so you can begin to estimate how much space you’re going to need. If you’re having trouble visualising how much space you need, check out our size estimator.
Getting to your storage facility
Ask yourself some questions before moving day- can you fit everything in your car or do you think you might need to hire a van? Or even a man with a van? These are all important things to consider to help moving day go as smoothly as possible.
Check what your local storage facility can help you with
You’ll already have a lot to think about, so it’s always a bonus if your local storage facility can help out with some of the basics. Some storage facilities, including Titan Storage, can provide you with boxes, bubble wrap and trolleys, as well as help with unpacking too.
Preparation is key
Firstly, make a list of everything that needs to be stored – and keep it! You are guaranteed to forget about some things, especially over any length of time, and you’ll be so pleased with yourself for writing it all down. Think of it as an inventory of what’s there and where and keep it in the unit as well as at home so you don’t throw it away by accident.
Label and pack like a pro
When packing your things make sure you think about what needs to go where in the unit. Are you going to leave everything locked away entirely while it’s in storage or will you need to be able to access some things from time to time? If so it’s a good idea to make sure you have a good labelling system and an organised plan of where you’re putting every item. As tedious as this may seem – you won’t regret it!
Pack heavier items at the bottom of boxes, heavier boxes at the bottom of piles and larger items at the back of your unit. You don’t want anything unstable falling on you and hurting you or damaging the contents and items around them. Don’t spare the packing paper, bubble wrap or foam peanuts. Having got this far you want to make sure everything stays as safe as can be in the boxes.
Make sure each box is labelled clearly with what’s inside – and which way up things need to be kept. Make sure you leave an alley through your boxes in the unit so you can get to it at all times and see where everything is without having to take all the boxes out. Smaller boxes are easier to handle as a general rule and don’t overfill them with heavy things or they’ll break as soon as you try and pick them up. So with heavy items like books – spread the load across a good few boxes and pack them with lighter things too.
Once you’ve planned and packed and everything is safely tucked away in your unit you’re free to go and live your life, knowing your treasured possessions are in the best possible place, ready for you to release them when the time comes!
If you’re thinking about using a self-storage unit but still have some questions, check out our FAQs, or get in touch with us today.
