Renting a self-storage unit is a fantastic way to give you some extra space, when you’re decluttering, storing items from a house clearance, or moving home.
However, although it may seem easy to cram all of your stuff into a unit, locking up and forgetting about it – it does make all the difference when you take the time to pack the unit correctly to ensure you’re making the most of the space and getting your money’s worth too.
In this blog, we’ll be exploring what you need to do to make sure your unit is packed correctly and efficiently.
Preparing Your Items
Taking the time from the outset to pack your items correctly and using the best materials for the job, can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your items in the best possible condition and helping you make the most of the space you’re renting.
Have Everything to Hand Before You Begin
Getting everything you’ll need together and ready before you start packing, means there’s no need to scramble around for extra materials mid-pack. You’ll almost always need:
- Cardboard or plastic boxes.
- Protective accessories – bubble wrap, sheets, or dust protectors.
Consider anything else that might be required to protect your items too, such as lock boxes or small safes for further security, for instance.
Pack Your Items Appropriately for Transit
Although it may sound obvious, packing your heavier items at the bottom and lighter belongings at the top, will often be forgotten in the rush of packing and loading. By keeping heavier and sturdier items at the bottom, you’ll not only be protecting the smaller, more delicate items, but also creating a safer stacking structure too.
Categorise Your Items
While it’s incredibly tempting to pack all your smaller items in together, it’s a better idea to sit down before packing to categorise all of your belongings to avoid unpacking and then repacking boxes, looking for something specific later down the line. The best way to do this is through the Store Log Flog app, where you can generate a logit card for each of your items and include details of their location and value as well.
Organising Your Unit
Manage Your Inventory
Before you so much as begin unloading your items into your unit, it’s a good idea to first decide where each of your items will go.
By doing this, not only are you making the most of the space available to you, but you’ve also got an in-depth overview of everything in your self-store unit should you ever need to easily find anything.
You can do all of this through the Store Flog app, which allows you to not only log all your items and their value, but also allows you to virtually map precisely where you’ve put them – which is an ideal time saver and a good way for your store yard to calculate the value of your storage space for insurance purposes.
Utilise the Locations Amenities
Once you’ve arrived at the self-storage yard, be sure to make to the most of what is on offer. For example, most locations will have trolleys, and sometimes even forklifts available so staff can give you a hand moving your items into your storage space.
In fact, most locations will allow you to drive straight into the facility and if you’ve chosen an outdoor lockup, you should be able to drive your vehicle straight to the door. Organisation truly is the key to an orderly and efficient transition.
Mover Heavy Items First
The first thing you should do is push all of your heavier and bulkier items to the back of the unit and against the walls, and work inwards.
Keep Items You Know You’ll Need at the Front
There will be times that you’ll need to access your unit to retrieve something of importance, and the best thing to do with items that you think you’ll need is to keep them stored by the doors for easy access.
Don’t Forget Height
If you know you’ll be storing furniture, such as wardrobes, sofas, and other things of that nature, it’s a good idea to place these vertically to ensure that you’re making the most of the vertical space.
If you’re storing bulkier, and awkwardly shaped items, it’s a good idea to place softer items on top of them, rather than attempting to pile awkward items on top of one another. Not only can this be dangerous should it fall, but it also increases your chances of damaging or breaking valuables.
Utilise Shelving & Racking
Depending on the unit you select, you may find that you already have racking or shelving to store those awkward items that you couldn’t fit into a box. If this isn’t already available, speak with the location manager about whether it’s possible to fit your own.
Consider Dust Sheers
While any good storage location will already have the place looking spic and span, it’s a good idea to invest in some good quality decorators dust sheets for your more valuable items that aren’t packed in boxes. This is because dust and debris can wear away at the delicate surface or ornaments or furniture, which will knock a considerable chunk of cash from their value.
Takeaways
Although a self-storage solution is the best way to protect and store your valuable items when there is no space at home, it’s still a good idea to plan ahead to ensure you’re making the most of the space and your investment.
By downloading the Store Log Flog app, you have the perfect companion to help you log, map and store all of your valuable items to ensure you’re using your rented space as efficiently as possible.
The Store Log Flog app is now available to download for free from Google Play or the Apple Store.
If you’d like to learn more about Store Log Flog, why not contact us today?
