removal van

Self Storage Tips in 2022

Hiring a self-storage unit is a great way to gain extra space when moving house, renovating, or running a business from home. A secure and cost-effective alternative to storing items in a shed, garage, or spare room, storage units are available in a variety of sizes to suit your individual requirements. Let’s explore what to keep in mind when hiring storage.

Choose the Right Unit

The first thing to decide is how big your storage unit needs to be. Most self-storage units range in size from 25 sq. ft. (the contents of a garden shed), to 125 sq. ft. (a large single garage). Think about how much you have to store and whether you will need space to add extra items in future. Storing furniture like sofas and wardrobes will mean a bigger unit is required, while boxed items can be stored more easily in a smaller unit.

Consider the location of the storage company before hiring a unit. If you are relocating to a different area, it might be more useful to store your things closer to your new home to make moving day easier. Also, find out the opening hours of the storage facility so you know when you can access your unit and plan around this schedule.

Security is another important consideration, so look for a facility that is protected by CCTV and an alarm system to keep your items safe and secure. Your individual storage unit will usually be secured by a padlock.

Preparing Items for Storage

When packing items for storage, number each box and keep a note of the contents and, if you are in the process of moving house, which room each box belongs in. If you know the dimensions of your unit, and use boxes of a uniform size, you should be able to calculate how many boxes your unit can comfortably hold, making it easier to pack efficiently.

Make sure boxes that contain fragile or heavy items are clearly marked and pack clothing, bedding, or towels in vacuum storage bags to keep them fresher for longer. Dismantle larger pieces of furniture if possible and keep any screws or fixings safe.

Organising a Storage Unit

Consider whether you need regular access to items when placing things in storage. You may be planning to leave everything in one place until a future date, but if you will need to remove individual boxes or items over time, make sure these can be easily accessed.

Place the heaviest boxes or items at ground level, stacking lighter boxes or belongings on top. Remember to make full use of the vertical space inside your unit – this might mean using a step or stepladder to help you store items at height. 

Keep at least a small area of floor space clear to enable you to enter the unit and reach items when required. To make it easier to find what you need, it might be useful to draw a plan or map of where boxes or items are located. Then you can cross-reference this plan with your list of box numbers and contents to save digging around in the wrong place when there is something you need to grab.

It might be handy to leave some tools inside the unit to allow you to assemble and disassemble large items of furniture. Tape and scissors will also be useful if you want to open or re-seal boxes, plus a pen to update your storage map if anything gets moved.

Enquire About Self Storage

Wards of Olney offer self-storage to help customers keep their belongings safe during a house move or whenever extra space is needed. Each unit provides a dry and secure home for furniture and other items, with our facility protected by CCTV and an alarm system for added peace of mind. 

To get a quote for self-storage, call our team on 01234 711 278 or complete our contact form to get in touch.