There are hundreds of reasons to consider renting a storage unit but most often the reason is space. With this in mind it is important to ensure you are using your space to the fullest while still protecting your valuables from damage. To help our clients we have come up with a list of tips, tricks and suggestions to help you get the most out of your unit.
Self Storage Tips
1. Keep Your Items Off The Floor: This may seem odd, but this is one of the most important tips we can provide. There’s no way to be 100% sure that the floor of your unit will not get damp. With melting snow, a leak from an adjacent unit, and humidity there is a possibility (however slight) of water getting into your unit. Use Pallets or other material to elevate your stored goods, keeping them 1-3 inches off the ground to prevent moisture from reaching your goods.
2. Wrap Everything You Can: Plastic Wrap is an excellent way to keep your goods free of dust & debris, moisture, scratches and bugs. We recommend wrapping any and all goods not placed in a box in industrial plastic wrap, this includes mattresses (if no mattress cover is available), uncovered electronics, furniture and any other loose objects that could be damaged.
3. Label What You Can: Try and leave specific labels on all of your boxes and storage devices, you may have known whats in the box when you dropped it off but as time goes on you may forget. Descriptive labels such as “Kitchen – Plates & Bowls” or “Boat Supplies – Life Jackets, Ropes and Whistles” can make finding what you need quick and stress free. Additionally an inventory list with the items approximate location can be created to save you even more time.
4. Anticipate Temperature Changes: Depending on the season this may not be an issue, but it is important to note that most units are not temperature controlled. This means that anything sensitive to changes in the temperature such as electronics, vinyl records, photos (if humid) should be double wrapped, insulated or simply not stored in the unit.
5. Use a Secure Lock: Not all padlocks are created equal, make sure that your unit is securely locked with a small arm padlock so that bolt cutters can not be used to cut the lock.
6. Pack Your Boxes Safely: It may seem obvious but this is an important step for moving & storing your items. To properly store your items, seal the bottom of the box with packing tape, wrap delicate and breakable objects in bubble wrap or newspaper, place the heaviest objects on the bottom, do not exceed 50 lbs per box, seal the top of the box, list the contents of the box on the outside as well as the orientation of the box (‘this side up’).
7. Purchase Insurance: Depending on the contents and how long you intend to store them, you should consider purchasing content insurance. If you are temporarily storing your belongings (30 – 90 days) your home insurance may still cover you (but you should always check with your broker) after that it is recommended that you purchase insurance to cover the cost of replacement should anything happen to your unit.
Haliburton Self Storage takes no responsibility for damaged or ruined goods. The loss of contents within the storage unit are the responsibility of the individual renter and not the facility.
8. Have A Storage Plan: To get the most out of any unit planning is key. To maximize your usable space place larger items such as furniture at the back or along the sides of your unit, avoid placing furniture in front of boxes or or smaller items finally fill the unit from back to front placing the items you will need at the front for easy access.