The Do’s and Don’ts When Deciding to get a Self Storage Facility

The self storage industry has grown now to be a multi-billion industry since the very beginning. There have been studies that showed how it has progressed to where it is right now, and that more and more individuals have realized the need of getting one. Self storage is not just contained to the concept of renting a few boxes and storing it somewhere but it is more than that – it is a piece of real estate, a specialized kind of property that has certain characteristics that could answer several needs for storing items, be it valuable or not. As more and more individuals, families, business and organizations are looking into securing one, there are certain considerations that you need to ask yourself before you join in the bandwagon. There are certainly benefits of hiring a storage facility, but you need to assess and ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs of securing one.

So when is the time that you would actually need one?

Here are some questions that you can start with asking yourself before you hire a self storage facility.

1. Do I have a lot of clutter at home to put into self storage?

This is a common question that I often hear from friends who are looking at extending their home space by securing a self storage facility to put their clutter at home. However, take a moment to reflect on it. Do I really need one? Or should I start de-cluttering first and see what I have left before I secure one? It is just easy for us to extend our real estate thru self storage facilities but it is likely that we end up storing items that we may not need for the next 6 months or more. In the end, we pay for storage of our junk that we eventually have to throw away.

What to do in this situation? Step back and assess if the items in your house or what you call ‘clutter’ are things that you would use in the next 6 months. If the answer is no – then let go (throw or donate). If yes, then set aside and see if you have enough to put on storage.

2. Old pieces of furniture that are still good but needs refurbishing – would I need these anytime soon?

Unless you are going to refurbish these to make it look brand new, then you can keep them for a while until the time you are going to refurbish these. Otherwise, if these do not fit anymore the current design of your place or your new place if you are moving, then might as well let these go, too.

3. My babies are growing up too fast – baby stuff anyone?

Well, if you are thinking of planning to have another baby in the next 3 years and the baby stuff won’t get so old and outdated, then you might keep these. Sometimes having some baby items passed on to one kid to another could bring out the sentimental person in you, but if you have chosen baby stuff that could be outdated in the next year or so, then you can consider giving these away to a relative who is going to have a new addition to the family.

4. Mementos anyone?

Unless you see that your souvenirs or even old stuff from college would appreciate in value, then keep these because you will definitely earn some profit. However, if these haven’t appreciated in value and end up gathering dust in the corner of your house, consider throwing these away, too.

5. Green thumb – the magic is no longer there.

Gardening tools are usually kept for a long time. If you don’t plan to use these for a while but might revive your gardening skills in a few years, might as well keep these. You might want to rent mobile storage that allow you to pay for the number of boxes you keep rather a big room with only gardening tools to store. Otherwise, if there is no option for mobile storage and pay only by the number of mobile pods, then make an effort to clear up some space under your staircase storage or kitchen area.

Extending your living space has become a norm in households nowadays especially ‘livable’ real estate has become more expensive and the desire to create more living space has grown. If the items that you would like to keep in your storage space are not considered ‘junk’ or ‘clutter’, then securing one is worth it. Otherwise, you have to re-think on how you keep items and re-evaluate whether you would like to keep these or let these go. 

What you Can and Can't Put in Storage

Storage units are a great way of cleaning out your home and practically anything can be stored in them, whether it’s books and kitchen utensils or antique furniture and clothes and garden equipment. 

However, this doesn’t mean that everything can be stored; there are some items that can be dangerous if left enclosed for long periods so here is a quick rundown on what kind of things you shouldn’t put into a storage unit.

What not to put in storage:

• Any organic or living materials – although this may sound obvious there have been cases where people actually kept their pets in a storage unit, or even slept there themselves!  Plants need sunlight and water to thrive and will simply die if left in a dark storage space, and people simply shouldn’t be there!
• Any food that can go off – decomposing food will start to smell and attract insects and flies.
• Anything of very high value, or personal documents.
• Substances that are toxic, poisonous and flammable – this includes things like paint, gas bottles, chemicals, medical waste and methane gas as the fumes can build up and be very dangerous within a confined space
• Firearms, ammunition or explosives. There are specialised places for these kinds of items.
• Anything wet as this can cause mould to grow which will affect everything in the unit and could ultimately destroy it.
• Photographs can be put into storage but could get damaged. If you have to, then place them between 2 pieces of cardboards and wrap tape around it as this will stop the corners from curling up and ruining them.
• Illegal items can’t be kept in a storage unit; this means drugs and stolen goods and anything else the law prohibits.

What you can put in storage:

• Furniture items that are properly packed or wrapped
• Kitchen items and silverware that are boxed safely
• Electrical appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers
• Collectable items without a large monetary value
• Books and documents
• Clothes and materials
• Promotional materials and displays
• Patio and garden furniture
• Large items such as canoes, bicycles or surfboards

It is always best to check with the storage company before putting anything you are unsure about in a unit. A good rule of thumb is that if it is in any way perishable, illegal, or potentially dangerous then it should not be placed in a storage unit.

Keep everything in your unit packed well to avoid any damage and make it easier to sort through when you need access later on. There are lots of tips online that help you organize packing your unit so it’s neat and tidy and the things you might want to access at certain times can be reached easily when needed.

Prepping Your Belongings for Storage

When you are moving your belongings into storage near Sydney, whether it’s to keep them safely out of the way until your new home is ready or whilst some major renovations are underway, then it’s easiest to treat the process the same way that you would deal with moving house. Make a start by listing all of the items you are intending to move, begin with the smaller items that can be packed into boxes and work your way up to the larger ones that include furniture or appliances if applicable.

Start with the things that aren’t needed on a daily basis and make sure they are packed neatly into the boxes as tight as possible to avoid them moving around and possible damage. Put the heavier stuff in the bottom of the box and lighter stuff on top to avoid them getting squashed. Try to use boxes that are all the same size as this will make loading the portable storage unit so much easier than trying to fit irregular shaped boxes together.

Label each box with which room it belongs in and even a short list of the items inside if you feel that is necessary. Try to avoid the 'miscellaneous' tag as this is sure to confuse you later on. Make sure any linen and clothing is sealed inside the box to avoid them becoming damp or mouldy, or from taking on the smell of the storage unit. You can also buy special wardrobe closets that make packing clothes so much simpler; you just transfer your clothes, still on their hangers, to the wardrobe boxes and seal them up.

Larger items need to be stacked at the bottom of the unit, preferably on pallets to avoid contact with the floor as this can also cause mould due to no air flow. Do not pack any large or heavy objects up high as they could fall over at some point during the storage and cause injury or may damage lighter and smaller items stacked underneath.

Make sure you do not store any perishable items as these can attract rodents and other unwelcome creatures that you really don’t want sniffing around your possessions. Also it’s a good idea to take a storage insurance when putting belongings that are highly valuable, such as jewellery, into self storage as, although they are very safe, it would be devastating if for some reason they did get lost. While as long you have a good insurance, at least the value is covered.

Anything fragile that can get broken easily, such as mirrors and china ornaments should be carefully wrapped in lots of newspaper or bubble wrap before being stored. There is nothing worse than paying for all that storage time only to find lots of broken items when it comes to unpacking, simply because you didn’t take the care and time to pack everything properly in the first place.

Be aware that storage facilities have certain rules and regulations in place as to what items can’t be stored. For instance you won’t be allowed to store chemicals or flammable items in your portable storage units as they could cause a fire, and it goes without saying that anything illegal won’t be allowed either.

Putting Leather Into Storage

While most of the furniture items that you place into a storage unit will be fine without too much preparation, leather items need a little more care and attention. Leather jackets and boots, and sofas and chairs, can cost a lot of money to buy so it pays to ensure you take the best possible care of them if you don’t want them ruined or being damaged. Made to last a lifetime, leather is worth the extra care and attention needed to preserve its beauty, and the older and more worn it is the better it looks.

• Start by cleaning your leather items with a non-abrasive cleaner.
• Use a good leather moisturiser so that your leather item can avoid becoming cracked or dry during storage, especially if you have not done this in a while.
• Wrap your items up even if they are small, because if they have too much exposure they can become dry or dirty.
• Make sure your leather items can still 'breathe' - avoid any airtight containers or wrapping them too tightly.
• Hang clothes and jackets as this will stop crease lines from folding, and use strong plastic or wooden hangars, then cover with a cloth garment bag
• Leather boots or shoes are fine in cardboard boxes or cloth bags as they are still protected but have air to breathe too.

It is best to get your large leather furniture cleaned by a professional before storage as this will ensure it is in tip top condition when it goes into the unit, and should remain this way until it comes out again. It should also be completely dry as any moisture could lead to damp.

When you place leather furniture or small leather items in storage first lay out a large sheet of plastic on the floor as this prevents moisture from forming which leads to mould and can be very harmful for all your possessions. Then make sure the items are not sitting directly on the ground to prevent damp or mildew; wooden pallets are fine for this purpose and easy to get hold of.

While nearly all storage units are dark (and suitable for leather), make sure there is no direct sunlight or too much heat on your leather items. Differences in temperature can cause cracks in leather so you need to store your things in a unit that is kept indoors where the temperature is controlled within the facility. Then drape or cover your leather sofa or chair with fabric to stop dust from settling. Don’t then put all your heavy boxes on top of the sofa or chair as this will press down on the fabric and cause indentations which will ultimately mark it.

If you have any doubts about how to store items properly you can always ask the storage facility as they have experience in everything to do with storing household items, furniture, books, clothes and more. They should give you good advice on how to prevent mould and damp and tips on how to pack your possessions properly.

Reducing the Size of your Move

The cost of transporting your belongings interstate or overseas to a new location can actually cost quite a lot of money. Once you arrive at the new house you might also be waiting for some time until the household goods arrive, especially if they are coming overseas by ship, which can takes months sometimes. Due to this, it is often better to settle in to your new surroundings just with the bare essentials and put other household items into self storage for the present.

If you are going to store your furniture for a period of time, you should think about taking advantage of the services provided by the many furniture rental companies that now exist. Rental furniture is useful for medium term moves, such as a short contract overseas, or if you are trying to sell a property and want to ‘dress it’ so it looks good when potential buyers come to have a look.

Homeowners going abroad for work can store their own belongings in a self storage facility in their own town, hire furniture overseas, and then take their old furniture out of storage once they return home. This is often much cheaper than shipping furniture over large distances and avoids any risk in the process.

Furniture rental services provide practically everything needed for a comfortable lifestyle, from sofas and armchairs to home entertainment systems, rugs, and even kitchen equipment. Quality will be high and they’ll have various styles to choose from to suit your taste, after all if you are living somewhere for up to a year it would be a much nicer experience to have an attractive sofa to sit on!

Meanwhile the storage facility at home will be taking good care of your personal possessions and furniture so you needn’t worry about them. Get some quotes from a number of storage facilities as prices can vary quite a lot, and check out what services they actually provide too, in terms of the sizes of the units available and if they have a promotion available for instance. You can save a lot of money just by taking the time to research and compare different facilities.

Storage facilities in Sydney are also very useful for those who have the itch to travel to foreign destinations in the later years of their life, perhaps when the kids have gone to college or they have retired. Generally older people already have a house full of possessions and furniture and don’t want to have to sell everything they’ve collected over the years, as they will be away just for a year or two the easy option is to put it into storage where it’s safe and looked after by professionals.

Removing Anxiety from Your Office Move

Going through an office relocation can be a stressful experience, so you will want to prepare as much as possible in order to make the move run smoothly. Creating a clear plan as to how the moving day, or few days, will work on a practical level, and researching as much as possible about what needs attending to before the move is the best way to decrease stress and save valuable working hours.

You should try:

• Researching and inquiring about storage and removal companies if your budget will allow it. This will make your life a lot easier as they will take care of all the details and organization involved.
• Make a list of office equipment that will be required at the new premises and start sorting through what doesn't need to go with you and whether it is to be sold, given away or thrown out.
• Put some items (especially furniture) in short term self storage if you have to leave the old premises before the new ones are ready.
• Give yourself and staff members plenty of time to prepare and carry out the move. If you rush then it can be harder to make a smooth transition to a new office.
• Make sure all the equipment and furniture will fit in your new office by making a floor plan and measuring all of your current and any new furniture you intend to buy.
• Ensure all the technical aspects are organized beforehand so they can be up and running from day 1. This includes printers and photocopiers as well as internet connection and telephone lines.
• Moving is similar to a new start, it means improvements can be made and upgrades instigated. Use this opportunity to get a better and faster internet provider if need be, or the latest PC models for the office.
• If you really don’t want any time wasted during the working week then consider moving over a weekend when most offices are closed and official business often gets put on hold.

Delegate a section of the office to each member of staff including responsibility for their own working space and desk. With the whole office delegated to someone the work load is shared and it should be much easier to pack up and move. If this doesn’t appeal to you then put together a moving committee, hand over their normal daily tasks to someone else, and give them responsibility for the move. They would have to be good organisers and very efficient individuals - have a preliminary meeting beforehand to run through the issues that need to be addressed and then a few progress reports before the moving day to check everyone is on track.

Moving Your Bedroom Items

When you are thinking of moving houses, you try to plan your way through from the time you knew about it and when you have secured the new place to move to. Then you try plan accordingly by tackling the bigger items first – you find some self storage facility near your new place to store your items, you book this new place giving an estimate of when you start and for how you would require the self storage facility. After which, you now stand in front of your major rooms to be cleaned, sorted and the items to be packed away. You seem not to be able to put a finger to which one you would like to start with, but decided you have really have to do it. The first stop is your ‘bedroom’.

The bedroom, apart from your kitchen, can be one of the trickiest rooms in your home to sort through, clean up and pack when you are moving house. You see in every corner of the room items that you have grown familiar with and not have the heart to throw these away, memorabilia that you are hoping to pass on to your children or the younger generation in your family, and some items that you just forgot to sort and clear out, but then you foresee that you have some use for these. But this is just a single room. What if you are part of a family with at least 4 members?

If you are in a family this means multiple rooms with clothing, personal belongings, toys and furniture. And you just can’t seem to know where to start. Take a deep breath and just close your eyes to calm yourself. Once you have done so, pick a box and label it ‘used in the past 6 months’, ‘not used at all’, and ‘will foresee using in the next month’. You sort your things in the way whether you have used these or not in the past 6 months. Chances are, those that you have used in the past 6 months, you will still use it but those that you have not touched in the past 6 months, you won’t even bother picking these up in the next month. Now, the tricky part is ‘foresee to use in the next month’. This will involve a bit of thinking and foresight, but once you got the hang of it (and still have lesser items in this box), then you are on the right track of clearing up your bedroom with unnecessary items. By clearing up, you will be able to save a lot of space in the self storage facility or in the usage of mobile storage later on.

In a gist, it is always an important step to first sort through clothing and personal items in each bedroom and decide what you can take with you, what can be given or thrown away and what can be placed in storage.

Once you are done with the items not stored in the clothing cabinets, then you can start sorting through the clothes in the same manner. You just have to make sure these are place and packed in marked boxes so they can be placed in the right room in your new home. Mark the boxes and number them accordingly, while you note these down on a notebook. This is just to keep track of the number of moving boxes you have when you move form the house to the storage facility near Sydney and to the new home.

It is also important to keep clothing boxes nice and sealed so they don't get dirty during the move. Ask the movers to keep them away from heaving boxes so that these won’t get crumpled during the move and while in self storage. Also put shoes in separate containers - you don't want your clothing to smell like feet!

Next clear out the linen and other bedding and pack any personal items in the room away so you are only left with the furniture. Make sure that the boxes containing the linen, which are going to get heavy, will not be placed on top of fragile items. You need to note or color code the boxes if these contain fragile items or not. It will help the movers and make it easier for them to organize among themselves, as well. Once done, your pieces of furniture can be wrapped properly by bubble wrap. Then, you can dismantle your bed so it is easier to move and start taking out any other pieces of furniture which should now be empty. Ensure that you label the bed parts and keep them together in one place. You do not want to arrive at the new home and not able to find the bed parts easily. It is hard to sleep on the floor for one night!

Moving the contents of the bedroom can be tricky, similar to the kitchen. But once you get the hang of it, it will be a breeze and you can repeat the same steps easily in any part of the room. It will just be easy as 1-2-3!