Get the Most Out of Your Self-Storage Unit

When you have items you need or want to keep but don’t need or want to keep at your home or office, the smart solution is to rent a self-storage unit. It’s a small investment that can be incredibly beneficial – if you make the most of it. Here are some simple suggestions to get the biggest bang for your buck!

Don't Fill Your Unit with Junk

There’s a reason you rented a storage unit: you don’t want your home or office to become overwhelmed by “stuff.” Don’t let your storage space become overwhelmed by stuff, either! Before you transport items to your storage unit, ask yourself, “Do I really need to keep this?” And answer honestly! Reserve this space for items that have high financial, sentimental and/or practical values. Unburden yourself by getting rid of items that don’t fall into that category — you won’t miss them!

Catalog Your Contents
Once you’ve pared down your possessions to those legitimately worth keeping, make sure you’ll remember they’re in there and that you’ll be able to find them when you need or want them. Before moving boxes in, make an inventory of what’s inside each box, assign each box a number and clearly label each box with a number. When it’s time to locate your Christmas decorations, ski gear or baseball-card collection, you’ll be able to get in and out quickly. You may find it beneficial to photograph the contents of your storage unit to further jog your memory about what it contains.

Arrange Your Stuff
You’ll get in and out more quickly and safely if you’re strategic about how you arrange items within the unit. Make sure that anything you’re storing that’s not waterproof is elevated a bit (on cinder blocks, wooden pallets, sturdy plastic tables, etc.). As temperature's change, the storage unit's concrete floor may emit humidity that could dampen boxes and other items. Arrange your possessions in rows, making sure to leave corridors you can walk through. Make sure box labels are visible from these corridors.

To maximize space, stack items atop each other. To create stacks that are less likely to topple, top each layer of the stack with a firm sheet of plywood, sheetrock, etc. to keep all items level.

Keep a Few Supplies in There
If you get to your storage unit and discover you forgot something, it’s a pain to have to leave to go get it. Just to be safe, keep some essentials like scissors, a box cutter, bubble wrap, packing tape, twine or bungee cords to secure items to your vehicle, a broom for broken glass, trash bags, Band-aids, etc. on-hand just in case!

Whether you're renting a storage unit temporarily or as a long-term solution, spending a little time organizing it in the beginning will save you significant time and aggravation later!