Henry JohnsonAre you planning to move soon and need to downsize on a few items for your new space? Instead of selling or giving away your valuables, consider putting them away. But before you start this process, learn the dos and don’ts when choosing a storage facility. After all, this unit might hold some of your most precious items.
Do Pick a Reliable Storage Company
It all starts with the storage company. When you store your items, you trust a third party to take care of your belongings. For example, review the facility’s security standards and its basic guidelines. Also, you should learn everything you can about self-storage if you choose to go this route.
You need to make sure you choose one with an impeccable reputation, so read reviews and past customer experiences before deciding on a storage facility. Cheaper doesn’t mean better when it comes to choosing a unit, so trust the one with a reliable track record, even if it’s on the pricy side.
Don’t Leave Everything to the Last Minute
Choosing a good storage facility takes time and extensive research. You must factor in time to find the proper unit, rent it out, and organize everything you need to store inside. During your relocation process, start looking at facilities early.
Leave yourself enough time to tour and visit a few facilities and narrow your list down to at least three. Between those three, make a checklist that includes the size, price, and convenience level that makes the most sense for your situation.
Do Get a Unit Close to Your Property
Remember, convenience is key. Traveling to and from your storage unit shouldn’t feel like a chore. Choose a location in proximity to your property. You shouldn’t have to drive an hour to get to your facility.
You might want to check up on your items often. Therefore, you want to choose a location that you can get to at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency.
Don’t Store Hazardous Materials
You should never attempt to store anything toxic, flammable, or combustible in the unit, such as gasoline, fertilizer, propane gas, or harsh chemicals. Even if you choose a climate control unit, a power outage can cause temperatures to spike, making these items prone to igniting.
Also, avoid items like animal products, perishable foods, narcotics, and weapons. Check with the storage facility rules and confirm which items they allow.
Do Label Your Boxes
If you need a storage unit, you probably don’t plan to go through your items for a couple of months. During that time, you will forget where you placed certain things. Avoid having to cipher through every box to find that one item.
Pack strategically and organize everything in a way that makes sense. Add descriptive labels to all four sides of each box. Additionally, include keynotes in case you need specifics for which items belong in which room.
Don’t Store Your Most Valuable Items in Your Unit
While storage units offer insurance, accidents can still happen. Of course, purchase the insurance, but keep your most valuable items out of the unit to stay on the safe side.
Even the best insurance policies can’t replace your valuables. So keep those items at home or in a bank vault.
Follow these standard dos and don’ts for choosing a storage facility, and you won’t need to worry about your items.
