Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Storage Unit Packing: Some Helpful Hints

By Joyce McIntosh


There are few things is life more stressful than moving. There are so many tasks to complete and often, you have very little time to prepare and plan. Packing is always a stressful part of the process, especially if you will need to keep your items in a self-storage facility for some time before you move into your new house or apartment. To making packing easier, consider the following tips.

It's never a good idea to leave tasks to the last minute, and that is especially true of packing. This is a process that can begin almost immediately after you are certain that you are moving. Head onto to Craigslist or another similar site and see if you can score any free boxes or go purchase some and get going. Pack non-essential items first such as all the stuff collecting dust in the back of your closets or attic. Pack up frames, decorative items, books, CDs, holiday decorations and anything you don't need daily or weekly.

Another tip is to think about packing as an opportunity for purging some of your belongings. Everything you pack has to be moved, but you could also set aside a bunch of stuff to give away and contact a charity truck to come and pick up these gently used items. They aren't needed by you, but someone else might benefit from these belongings. Even better, once they're gone, you don't have to move them into storage or into your new home. This is the easiest and best time to really take stock of what you have and what you really need.

If possible, purchase or find boxes that are all basically the same size. Not only does this make it easier to stack up all the boxes in a moving van or truck, it's also much easier to arrange in a self-storage unit. It's also wise to ensure that boxes are not so heavy that you can't carry them easily. Even if you have a dolly, heavy items are hard to manage. When you pack, be sure fragile items are well-wrapped. Ask friends and family to save newspapers so that you will have a cheap source of packing paper. Once a box is packed, label it so that you know what's inside and where it will need to go in your new place.

If you are moving items into a self-storage unit, proper organization of this rental space is important. Stack boxes carefully, putting heavy boxes at the bottom of a pile and leave rows in between boxes and furnishings to make it easier to find specific items and easier to move items in and out of the storage unit. Wipe down metal items, such as a power washer, snow blower or lawn mower with an oily cloth or spray it with rust protector to keep it from rusting. It's also wise to store some items, such as books, comics and paper items in plastic containers.

Also, it is important to choose a great mini storage facility. Look for a place that allows you 24/7 access to your storage unit. This means you can access items at any time, and if you are moving in or out, you have more options when it comes to time. Also look for a facility with good security. The place should be well-lit, fenced and also have security cameras. When it comes to cost, look for a place that does not require a long-term contract but instead allows you to pay month-to-month or even weekly if you need it. Some self-storage facilities even offer student and military discounts.




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