10 Self-Storage Fun Facts

There’s a lot to discover about self-storage units and how they can make your life easier! More and more people learn how storage units keep them organized and save space at home every day. You can finally clear out your garage or basement and make way for home projects you’ve always wanted to complete. A storage unit makes it possible.

With more space, there are endless possibilities. You’re not bogged down by clutter. With a storage unit, you have a flex space you can use for long-term safekeeping or as off-site storage where you can keep winter clothes, kayaks, bikes, and other equipment for the weekends.

There’s a lot more to self-storage than dusty units and furniture from mom and dad. Now, people are finding ways to use self-storage to make life more manageable and get more out of their homes or apartments. Especially for people living in urban areas, self-storage opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to creating a space you love in smaller homes. You don’t have to fit everything with you at all times. You get to pick and choose what goes where for an affordable price.

If you’re considering a self-storage unit, we’ve put together this list of 11 fun facts to help you decide. Now, there are more options than ever, and you get to choose how a storage unit can make your life easier. Let’s take a look!

1. Those Auction Shows Are Real

Have you ever seen the reality TV shows where people bid for the contents of abandoned storage units? They’re real! Auctions happen, though not always how they’re depicted on television.

Many of them happen online, so the people aren’t standing there outbidding each other before a big reveal. Usually, in an abandoned storage unit auction, people bid online and make their way to the unit within a prescribed timeframe. It can be both a lot of fun (sort of like a treasure hunt) and some people do viable business in this space.

2. Moving Is the Top Reason People Use Storage Units

While, yes, people are renting storage units more and more to better manage their space at home, moving is still, by far, the biggest reason people rent them. The past two years have been an incredible time for migration in the United States. People are moving a ton, and often are leaving big cities for places a bit more relaxed. Using a self-storage unit is the perfect way to eliminate stress before a move. You can spend the time you need finding the perfect new home without worrying about where you’re going to put your stuff.

3. There Are a Ton of Storage Facilities!

According to some sources, there are more than 40,000 storage units across the U.S. If you’re looking, it’s more than likely there’s a good facility right near you. You will also probably have a ton of choice when it comes to the size of unit you can choose, security features, climate-control choices, and more.

4. Renting a Storage Unit is More Affordable Than You Think

A lot of people refrain from even looking at storage units because they’re afraid it will cost too much money. However, they’re usually pleasantly surprised when they find out just how much renting a unit will cost them. You can find a great deal on a storage unit during off-peak season as well. As with anything, ask about promotions before you sign a lease to make sure you’re getting the best price. Some storage units will also help tenants who need to get out of their lease by letting new customers assume the rest of their term. If you’re looking for something shorter-term, this could be the way to go.

5. That’s A Lot of Square Footage

Experts estimate that there are more than 1.7 billion square feet of storage unit space in the country. That’s incredible when you think about it. Even though there is so much space, storage space is still in very high demand. There are more facilities going up all of the time to meet customer demand. As of 2015, more than 90% of storage units in the county were occupied, and the number has only continued to go up from there.

6. The Military Loves Storage Units

As you might imagine, military members are big storage unit customers. They’re always changing stations or moving their family to a new base. It’s certainly an interesting lifestyle. You can never settle in one place for too long before you’re getting orders to transfer somewhere new. The same goes for government employees posted overseas working in embassies and consulates around the world. Typically, the government will arrange for a storage unit or provide some sort of stipend to help cover the costs.

7. Storage Units Are Like Time Capsules

When your company is paying for a storage unit while you’re on assignment or traveling for months, opening up your unit or taking delivery of your household goods is sort of like opening up a time capsule. If you’re gone from your things for a few months, it’s easy to adjust to living without what you may have thought was must-have stuff. People become used to having the things we use, and it’s always interesting to go back and remember what we put in storage at the time.

8. Americans Use the Most Self-Storage

We live in a consumer society in the United States, so it may come as no surprise that the U.S. is the biggest self-storage user anywhere in the world. To be sure, other places use them, but not at the scale we use them in America.

What can we say? We like to have fun, right? People like to have things, and we keep items that mean something to us. Having them in storage is a terrific way to keep them out from underneath us at home without feeling like we have to get rid of them completely.

9. What About Storage Lockers?

Did you know that self-storage units come in sizes so small they’re called lockers? That’s right; you don’t need to rent a massive storage unit. Instead, get something smaller at a lower price to keep things you want to hold onto but don’t want to store at home. These types of units are perfect for people like college students who need to store their things when they go home for the summers.

10. More Than 1 in 10 Households Rent Storage

Storage units are in high demand, but still, only 1 in 10 households rent storage. Knowing that the trend has seen a steady uptick for the past two decades indicates that storage units will only continue to grow in popularity. According to the Self-Storage Association, only 1 in 17 households rented storage in 1995.

Theatre Drive Self Storage | 2371 Theatre Drive Paso Robles, California 93446 United States

If you’re looking for a storage facility to store your belongings, Theatre Drive Self Storage has got you covered in this department. Here at Theatre Drive Self Storage, we offer a wide range of unit selections and top-notch security. To learn more about our self-storage facility, please check out our website at https://theatreselfstoragepasorobles.com/

Packing & Moving with Kids: 9 Tips

Moving is stressful enough. With kids, you’re dealing with unique challenges while trying to keep everyone happy at the same time.

It’s easier for adults to go without. In a pinch, you can run to the store to buy anything you’ve left in a box or forgot back at home in the move. With children, however, there are things you’ll need with you the whole time to make them feel comfortable and settle in as quickly as possible.

On top of keeping track of things like treasured blankets or favorite toys, you also face the difficulty of organizing and packing things that are smaller, usually have more pieces, and don’t travel as well.

If you’re planning a move with kids, here are nine tips that you can use to make a move easier. Hopefully, these strategies will get you and your family where you need to go with less pain and bumps along the way.

1. Decide What Comes With You

One of the first things you should do, before you even pack, is to think about what needs to come with you on your person the day of the move. Things like personal electronic devices, a change of clothes, toys, favorite snacks, and other items need to be in a backpack or a carry-on if you’re flying. If you’re driving, you have more wiggle room and space to plan what makes the trip.

Your child is likely going to feel stressed and unsettled just before and on moving day. It’s strange to see a childhood home empty, and there is often anxiety tied to a new place with new people. Having the toys or clothes that make them feel most comfortable will help a great deal.

kids helping to pack things in the boxes

2. Pack By Room

Do what you can to put things in boxes according to rooms in your new house. Labels and specific boxes will make unpacking faster, and you won’t have to spend a ton of time looking for kids’ books or clothes in the chaos of boxes everywhere. You or your children can get what they need right away. Do your best to unpack their stuff early so they can start building space in their new room where they feel comfortable.

3. Use Ziploc Bags

Whether you’re trying to keep a Lego set together or want to make sure slime doesn’t explode inside of a box in transit, sealed plastic bags are your friend. You should use them for toys, liquids, and anything else you want to keep together in the move. In fact, we’ve seen people use plastic wrap to keep already-built Legos and other toys in one piece for the move. Plastic bags will help you keep hair ties together and track all of the kids’ toiletries in one place.

4. Rent a Storage Unit

Self-storage units are ideal for things like furniture and other large items. Using a storage facility will help reduce the stress of moving because you’re not overly worried about where to put your things. They come in especially handy for folks who don’t know where they’re going to live just yet. If you’re staying in a hotel or temporary living space until you find a permanent place, then renting a storage unit will keep you sane.

They’re also great for kids’ stuff because you can keep things like bikes and other large toys even when you’re staying in a hotel. You can pop over and grab them for the weekend and return them when you’re done.

5. Take the Kids Somewhere for the Day

Packing with kids running around the house or constantly asking for snacks is extremely tough, particularly once the TVs are unplugged and the internet is disconnected. To free up time and brain space for the packing, ask a friend or relative to take them for the day. If you’ve got professional movers coming, then you or your partner can take the kids to the movies or the park for a few hours while things get sorted. They’ll be away from the stress of the move, and you’ll get more things done faster.

6. Talk Things Through

Even if your kids look fine, they’re probably spending a lot of time processing the move. Even kids who move a lot don’t love it. They worry about losing their friends, fitting in at a new school, and other valid concerns. You should be talking to your kids early and often to help them feel confident about the move and let them know that you’re there to support them.

You can search together to help them research your new neighborhood together to find exciting things to try. Look at their new school and book some cool activities in your new location to build excitement before the move.

7. Let Them Help Pack

Your children may want to be part of the moving process depending on their age. Making your kids pack can empower them to feel like they have control over their lives. You can, of course, step in to make sure the computer or other fragile items are correctly packed, but most of their stuff isn’t either valuable or fragile. Set them up with some boxes and make a list of what they need to pack, and give them power over the process.

Letting them pack will also help a great deal when you arrive. They will know where everything is, and you don’t have to open a ton of boxes looking for whatever they need. Instead, they’ll go to the correct box, find their stuff, and start getting set up.

8. Pack a Kid Kit

Parents need emergency kid supplies on moving day. Whether driving or flying, you’ll inevitably come across a bloody nose, bathroom accidents, hungry kids, and other minor emergencies. Buy a small container, something the size of a shaving kit or similar. Fill it with wipes, granola bars, batteries, and anything else you can think of that you might need mid-flight or drive. This will come in handy on any move, and you just might end up keeping it in the car going forward once you realize how valuable it is.

9. Have an Entertainment Plan

Remember when we were kids, and our options during a move or travel were so limited? Now, most kids have devices they can use with batteries that last for several hours. Just don’t be that parent who gets on the plane without downloading a few shows, movies, or games for the flight. You’ll live to regret it. The same goes when your driving through fields on the highway where there is no cell signal for hours.

Plan ahead and make sure your kids have enough to keep them entertained during the move. Make sure you don’t pack chargers, headphones, and other items in boxes that you’ll need later on. When in doubt, make a list of what you need before the movers show up. Separate them out into the kids’ bags and keep them there until moving day.

These strategies will help you pack and move with confidence. Do what you can to make your child part of the process and get their input before you make any concrete decisions about what to bring and what to pack. They will love the involvement and it will teach them responsibility. The more they are involved, the less stress they’ll put on you before while you’re packing and on moving day.

Nothing To Wear: How to Organize Your Clothes

Deciding what to wear is hard enough on a good day. When your closet is a mess, good luck trying to find an outfit for work or a night out. You’ll probably end up scrounging around for something and throwing it in the dryer to get some of the wrinkles out. If you’re not that bad, you might deal with the issue of wearing the same handful of items in a small rotation even though you own plenty of clothing.

How do you get the most out of your wardrobe and keep everything in good condition? With an organized closet, it’s easier to know what you have and keep your clothes in better shape for longer. It’s easier said than done. With busy lives and a calendar full of obligations, it’s hard to keep things tidy in your closet or bedroom. However, sticking to a system is the best way to look good and save money.

We’ve put together some tips that you can use to organize your clothes. It’ll help you avoid buying three of the same shirt and will assist you in wearing different outfits to make it seem like you have more clothes than you do. Here are some ways to organize your clothes starting today.

Buy High-Quality Hangers

If you’re a grownup, it’s time to do grownup things. Using the complementary metal hangers from the dry cleaner is fine, but you owe it to yourself to do better. Investing in higher-quality plastic or wooden hangers will space your closet and make it easier to see what’s in your closet. Those thin metal hangers scrunch together, and your clothes will wrinkle faster. You’ll feel better hanging shirts and dresses, and you’ll be able to choose what to wear faster in the mornings.

Take Advantage of Vertical Space

Whenever possible, add shelves to open spaces. Typically, people have a ton of unused space on the sides or in the bottoms of their closets. You can either buy small shelving units or install custom shelves in your closet where you can store shoes, purses, ties, socks, and other accessories. It’s better than keeping things in drawers, or worse, in piles at the bottom of your closet.

Shelving units in your closet are great for organization, but they’re also a space saver in other parts of your room. You’ll have more areas to use for sitting or open spaces rather than putting in a dresser to keep your extra stuff.

Use Closet Dividers

Find a way to divide your closet bar so you know where to put that skirt or blouse, or dress shirt. Don’t just hang things up randomly. You’re going to end up pulling things off of the rack and putting them back on, searching for a specific item. Make putting your clothes away simpler with dividers that sit on your hanging bar. You can make as many sections as you need and go from there.

Clear Out Your Seasonal Clothes

Too many people make the mistake of keeping all of their clothes in their closets all year. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the summer; your down overcoat is still sitting there at the end of your closet.

Make things easy by keeping your seasonal clothes somewhere else. Eliminating unnecessary items from your wardrobe reduces decision fatigue and gives you more room to work with the clothes you need. If you have the space, pack your seasonal clothes up in the basement or garage, or you can rent a self-storage unit at an affordable price.

girl deciding which clothes to keep and to donate

Purge Every Year

How often do you look through your clothing and feel unexcited about what you have? It happens to all of us at some point. We end up wearing a handful of items we’re comfortable in, but for whatever reason, that one shirt or those jeans we swore we’d be into at some point are still taking up space.

Having clothes you love makes it easier to stay organized. Likewise, you should get rid of things you don’t like! People don’t want to shop when they have drawers full of clothing. It feels excessive. When your closet is bare or half-full, you feel better about shopping online or going to the mall.

Schedule a weekend where you go through all of your clothes. Be honest with yourself about how often you wear them. Get rid of the things you never wear or that are getting tattered. Donate what you can and throw away the rest.

Keep Your Laundry Room Clean

When you have a clean laundry room and a laundry system, you’re more organized and will get more out of your clothing. Keep your laundry room clean, so you feel better about doing the laundry. It’s weird, some people love doing the laundry, and others absolutely hate it. Wherever you are on the spectrum, a clean room, racks, a good iron, plenty of laundry baskets, and cleaning supplies will get the laundry done faster, and it will feel like less of a chore.

woman organizing her clothes for work and for play

Separate Work & Play

Another great organization tip is to keep your clothes, wherever you have them, and separate them by purpose. Store or hang your work clothes together, and then put all of your exercise clothes in the same drawer or dresser. You’ll know where to go to look for things to wear depending on the occasion. If you want to kick things up a notch even further, you can label bins, drawers, and shelves to make things clearer for you or anyone else in the family who does the laundry. It doesn’t so much matter where things go, but rather that you have a system in place to keep things tidy.

Hang Everything Clean on the Same Side of Your Closet

It’s hard trying to remember how long it’s been since you’ve worn your favorite sweater. At the same time, you don’t want to be that person in the office who wears the same outfit every other day. How do you keep things in a steady rotation?

One way to track what you wear and when is to always hang newly-laundered items on the same end of your closet. Then, you can pick what to wear from the other side confidently because you know it’s been a while since you’ve put it on. As you put new clothes up, it will gradually push the older items to the other side, and you can pluck them off and wear it with confidence, knowing it’s been a week or two.

Use the Space Under Your Bed

Finding other areas in your room to store clothes you wear less often is another great tip. Under your bed is a particularly valuable piece of real estate for organizing shoes and clothes. You can buy storage bins with wheels that push in and out quickly. If you can, buy clear plastic containers so you can see what’s inside each without having to open it every time you need to find something.

Staying organized with your clothing is key to getting maximum value for your money and looking the way you want to. You’ll feel better knowing you have clothes that you love, and you’ll enjoy the absence of unnecessary clutter. If it’s been some time since you went through your clothes, it’s time for a refresher. Build a system that isn’t overly complicated. Design something you’ll maintain long-term and go from there. Soon, you’ll know which clothes to keep and what you can get rid of. Once you have some space, then it’s time to start building a wardrobe you love.

How Can I Organize My House on a Budget? 11 Tips

Have you ever walked into an AirBNB or a nice hotel room? When you walk in, it feels so relaxing. Successful resort operators and individual rental property experts know how to design rooms and properties for maximum effect. They pick the right colors, arrange nice layouts, open things up with light and make sure it smells nice inside.

One of the biggest things they do, though, is get rid of “stuff”. You won’t find a lot of clutter around these places. Everything has a designated spot, and you only see what needs to be there. There aren’t any drawers stuffed to the brim with junk, and the kitchen areas are well-organized with designated places for every piece of flatware and kitchen appliance.

You can get the same feeling in your house, it’s just harder because you’ve usually got a lot more stuff. With the trite organization methods, you can sort through your stuff and create the calm and inviting environment you crave. The bonus is that finding what you need will be easier for you and anyone else in your family.

Here are 11 awesome home organization tips that won’t break the bank.

1. Buy See-Through Plastic Containers

This is a huge organization tip because, so often, we toss things into drawers or boxes and have no idea what’s in there once the lid closes. Sure, your stuff is put away, but it’s not exactly organized if you can’t recall where anything is. You don’t have to break the bank by buying fancy plastic containers. Just buy stuff online that will last. See-through containers make it easy to see what you’ve got inside your container so you don’t have to rip through everything to remember where you put something.

2. Use Labels

Whether you’re using a piece of masking tape and a black pen or you go out and buy a label maker, putting labels on things will make your home a lot more organized. Your kids, partner, guests, or whoever else is pitching in will also know where they should put things instead of tossing them in random spots. You can label places for school supplies, extension cords, electronics, or whatever else you need.

3. Separate the Seasons

If you’re living somewhere where it’s swimming in the summer and snow in the winter, you probably have a lot of stuff in your closets that don’t need to be there all year long. Take your winter coats out of the closet and stuff them in boxes instead.

4. Use the Space Under Your Bed

The room under beds often goes unused. You can find affordable storage containers with wheels on them that are designed to roll in and out from under beds. Instead of tossing your shoes in a pile under there, you can stay organized by keeping them in sealed containers.

5. Donate Stuff You Don’t Use

If you’re feeling like your place is a bit cluttered, you can get rid of stuff for free by donating it to charity. Several stores will take donations, and it’s perfect for clothes that don’t fit anymore or toys you don’t need. You can even write off the tax value of the donations to save a little money when it comes time to file taxes in April the next year.

6. Sell Things on Facebook Marketplace

A lot of people are surprised at how well their old things sell on Facebook. If you aren’t using Facebook Marketplace, then you should check it out. It’s a thriving marketplace where people can save a ton of money by buying things second-hand. Reducing clutter while you make money, what could be better? You’ll get organized a lot faster, and once you make money you probably won’t be so emotionally attached to things you aren’t using any longer.

7. Build It Yourself

You can save money by purchasing shelving units you build by yourself (hello Ikea). Even though it will take you some time, you will definitely save some money by organizing with DIY furniture. They are great too for places like basements or bedrooms where you need a lot of different compartments for things like toys and clothes. Just be patient when you start out and remember to keep breathing the first time you run into a challenge and you have to go back a few steps to build it right.

8. Buy Storage Furniture & Containers Second-Hand

We’ve already touched on getting organized and saving money by donating or selling things you don’t need anymore, but you can also be a buyer and organize your home on a budget. Odds are someone is selling something that is exactly what you’re looking for or pretty darn close to it. You can save a lot of money and find those containers, racks, or shelves you need to get organized.

couple bringing in boxes to store in their storage unit

9. Rent a Storage Unit

If you think about it, renting a storage unit can be the ultimate money saver when it comes to organizing. Most people in life get to the point where they have so much stuff they feel like the only option is to buy a bigger house or move into a bigger apartment. You end up spending a lot more on housing costs. With a storage unit, you can save and find a place close to home to keep things like bikes during the winter or all of your winter clothes while it’s hot outside.

10. Recycle Old Boxes

Things like shoe boxes are great little containers for tools, sewing supplies, pens, small toys, or whatever else needs organizing. They’re sturdy enough to last and take a bit of a beating as well. You can write on the outside or put a label on them and stick them in a row on a shelf.

11. Use a Virtual Planner

What about time? People are busy worrying about organizing stuff, but typically organizing your time has a way bigger upside. If you’re not syncing with your family on a shared calendar, you’re missing out. These are usually software tools that are free to use and can help you organize where everyone needs to be and when.

Is It Okay to Store Your Wedding Dress in a Storage Unit?

Wedding dresses can cost a lot of money. In addition to what you or your family spends on your dress, there’s also the sentimental attachment associated with the dress. It’s not like you will want to get rid of it right after the wedding. Sure, you may sell it, donate it, or gift it at some point, but not right away. You need time to think about it.

So many people end up keeping their wedding dress hanging in their closet for years or decades after they marry. While wedding dresses are indeed beautiful, there has to be a better way. You’re probably going to need to use the space at some point, and you could end up resenting the fact that you’ve got that massive garment bag hanging in your closet.

Keeping your wedding dress in a storage unit is a perfect way to keep it safe and in good condition while also getting it out of the house. Done right, storing your wedding dress in a storage unit can maintain your dress so you can hand it down to someone at the right time or sell it if the price is right. Here’s some helpful information on how to find the right storage unit and the best ways to keep your wedding dress inside.

Don’t Use Plastic Garment Bags for Too Long

Most of the time, when you buy a wedding dress, the boutique will send it home with you in a plastic garment bag. Sometimes it’s a polyester blend, but many wedding dresses are sold in plastic coverings so people can see the dresses without handling them too much directly. They are, after all, white, and too many hands-on them can damage the dresses. It’s fine before the wedding, but if you keep your wedding dress in a plastic covering for years, they can emit chemicals that tend to turn the dress or any other garment in them a yellowish color.

If you do some research, you can find acid-free boxes designed specifically for storing wedding dresses long-term. It may cost you a bit extra, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing your dress will look just as good ten years from now as the day you wore it.

Clean It Professionally Before You Store It

One thing you should certainly do before you store your wedding dress, whether it’s in the attic or a storage unit, is professionally clean it. You should find a place that specializes in wedding dress cleaning to make sure the job is done right. A lot of dresses have stones and other things on them that are sewn on by hand. Your normal dry cleaner has commercial machines that may not be delicate enough for your gown.

Find a place that will do it correctly, and have it cleaned before you put it away long-term.

Check on the Wedding Dress Regularly

Don’t leave the dress in a storage unit for years without checking on it. You should visit it at least once a year to make sure nothing is going wrong with the dress. If you spot an issue early enough, you can salvage it and keep the dress in top shape forever. Left alone for too long, it can get water damaged or have other types of damage and become permanent. With a storage unit close to home, you can drop in and open its container to make sure your dress is still in good shape.

Finding the Best Storage Unit for Your Wedding Dress

If you’re going to store your wedding dress in a storage unit, you need to find the right facility and unit type to keep your dress the way you want it. Here are some tips on finding the best possible storage unit.

Location

You should find something relatively close to where you live. Odds are your wedding dress isn’t going to be the only thing that you’re keeping in there. You need something close enough that you won’t regret renting it. Also, you should take advantage of it. You can store things like winter clothes, bikes, and other seasonal items that will free up space at home. Reclaim your garage and optimize with a storage unit. While you’re there dropping things off or picking something up, check on your wedding dress to see that it’s still doing okay.

Climate-Controlled

Depending on where you live, you may want to opt for a climate-controlled storage unit. This will best protect your wedding dress if you’re living somewhere that’s hot with a lot of humidity. If it gets too toasty in a storage unit, an attic, or wherever else your wedding dress is, it’s easier for it to wilt under the bad weather.

Security

Wedding dresses are a pricey item, and they command high prices on the vintage market. People who spend a lot of money on their dresses are hesitant about storing them somewhere off-site and worry that a storage unit could leave them at risk. Find a storage unit facility with good security like cameras, access cards, gates, personalized locks, and possibly security guards to make sure whatever is inside your unit will stay safe.

Price

Most people don’t realize how affordable storage units are. They think they are a major expense when in reality they’re way cheaper than moving into a bigger apartment or buying a larger house. With a storage unit, you can maximize space and stay in a place you love for longer while your family grows or you accumulate more things.

Think about storing your wedding dress in a storage unit. It’s a fantastic way to keep it safe, dry, and out of harmful sunlight. Your dress will be ready for the next generation when the time comes or you can sell it in mint condition if that’s what you’re trying to do. Modern storage unit facilities offer terrific choices for people, and you can find something large enough for what you need.

What Holiday Decorations Can Be Stored in a Storage Unit?

Are you looking for a way to better manage your holiday decorations? We all love them, it’s just a shame that we can’t keep them up for longer. People who stay on top of holiday decorations put in a lot of work to make their homes look and feel festive. Everyone appreciates it, but so few actually pull it off well.

Keeping up with holiday decorations is hard because you have to buy and keep things in good condition. Cheap decorations break easily and never last. High-quality decorations last for decades and sometimes become family heirlooms. Most of us remember that special feeling of our parents pulling out the decorations for our favorite holiday. It let us know fun, meaning, and family memories were about to be made.

If you’re a holiday decoration lover, and you’re looking for a better way to keep your decorations in better condition so they’ll last longer, then storing them in a storage unit is a great option. Done right, holding your holiday decorations in a self-storage unit will prevent damage and keep them pristine for when the holidays come around each year. Here are some things you should know about storing holiday decorations and which decorations are most suitable for a storage unit.

What Goes Best in a Storage Unit?

Any holiday decorations that you want to keep in great condition should go in a storage unit. In a storage facility, you can rest assured that no grandchildren or someone messing around in your garage are going to knock something into them and break anything glass or fragile. You can keep them in shelving units, drawers, or boxes inside of the unit so nothing falls and there won’t be any accidents.

The annual holiday decorations go great in storage units because you can break them out weeks or days before the holiday arrives. When the holiday is over, back in the storage unit they go. You get to save all of that space in your garage, attic, basement, or wherever else you normally keep them.

Different Items to Store

Here are some of the holiday decorations that go best in a storage unit:

Big items

Think things like an artificial Christmas tree, holiday lights, Halloween yard decorations (the big scary things that inflate and make noises to scare all of the neighborhood kids), wreaths, flagpoles (4th of July), and other large decorations. Rather than have them cluttering up your house, you can stick them in a storage unit for safekeeping.

Fragile items

Don’t take any chances with those glass Christmas decorations your mother gave you. Likewise, Hanukkah decorations that are family heirlooms and other fragile decorations can go into a storage unit. You can either bubble wrap them or put them in plastic containers to keep them safe. Some people like to wrap them in newspapers and put them in boxes as well.

Temperature-sensitive items

Do you have anything that you’re worried about molding or otherwise spoiling? Cloth decorations can be a bit tricky to keep in the hot attic during the summer or out in the garage. Luckily, you can rent a climate-controlled storage unit that will prevent any mildew from getting to your cherished items. Talk to the storage unit facility manager or check on their website to see if a climate-controlled unit is available. For a bit more cost, you can have peace of mind that your decorations aren’t too hot.

Yard decorations

We’ve already mentioned the Halloween decorations, but there are a lot of other yard items that people love putting out for the holidays. It lets the neighborhood know you are celebrating and gets everyone in the mood. Whether it’s ribbons, flags, fake pumpkins, Easter bunnies, or anything else you decorate your yard with, you can place them in a storage unit to cut down on how much storage space you’re using at home.

Stuff you might forget about

One of the main advantages of self-storage units is that they keep you so well organized. Have you ever put something in your storage at home or put something away and then can’t remember where it is? There’s only a small window for holiday decorations all year, and it is always a shame when someone can’t remember where they put one of their favorite items. In a storage unit, you’ll always know where your things are, and it’s a quick and easy trip to go get them and prepare them for hanging.

lady packing boxes in a storage facility

Finding the Right Storage Unit

Choosing the right storage unit will make managing your holiday decorations so much easier. You can pick one that’s close enough to your home so that going to check on things or switch something out is never an inconvenience. You can rent a range of different sizes, so there’s always something perfect. And you can always go up a size if things start getting tight in there. It happens when people have kids and buy more decorations as the family grows.

On top of choosing the right size and location, you should pick something with the ideal security measures in place to keep things safe. Some items are impossible to replace. Heirlooms, antiques, family photos, etc. can be priceless, so you’ll want a storage unit that will keep your things safe. Give your facility a walkthrough and talk to them about what security protocols they have.

Of course, you’ll want to rent a storage unit in good condition. The way a facility looks, smells, and feels is a great indication of how your stuff will be looked after and also what kind of customer service you can expect from the facility. Too many people are so focused on price, they fail to pay attention to some red flags that cause them trouble in the future.

In the end, putting your holiday decorations in a storage unit is the perfect way to free up room at home and keep your items safe. You can label boxes or containers in your unit so everything you need is just a quick trip away.

Storing Your Video Games & Equipment in a Storage Unit

These days, buying a hardcopy video game can feel like a thing of the past. It’s not like it used to be, anyways. In the old days – heck, even ten years ago – people used to line up outside video game stores and gaming sections in places like Walmart before the release of a big game. Once midnight struck, employees would come out, rolling shelves filled with gaming cartridges for eager games to buy, then race home to put them in their CD drives or insert cartridges into their gaming systems.

Now, a lot of game purchasing happens online. With internet speeds so fast, large batches of data can be downloaded in hours or even minutes. When you talk to some kids about how we used to game, they almost can’t believe it. “What, you used to have to blow the dust out of your video games to get them to work?!?” We know, it sounds crazy just saying it.

However, physical gaming isn’t completely dead. Like many other things, games have become vintage. People collect them and trade or sell them for large sums. They’re nostalgic, and their rarity makes some games very valuable. That means finding good ways to store video games and equipment is crucial to keeping them in good condition so they retain their value.

Thankfully, storage units are available and are an ideal place for you to store your gaming systems, physical games, and any other gaming equipment you have. Here are some things you should know about keeping video games in a storage unit so you can keep your games pristine for years.

Renting a Good Storage Unit

A lot of people still keep their games shoved into shoeboxes or in a plastic container under their bed. It makes sense, especially if you’re still playing them every so often. That, or you’re saving them for wherever you have kids or a niece or nephew who takes an interest in gaming.

People don’t know that storage units offer incredible flexibility and the safety you need and want for your games and equipment. Here are a few reasons why you should think about renting a storage unit if you’ve got a lot of gaming equipment around.

Safe

People want to protect video games and equipment for several reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason, though, is that you want to make sure that it’s still usable. The games only keep their monetary and sentimental value if you can still plug them in and see the graphics pop up on a display.

A storage unit has security on-site to prevent theft and other types of damage. Putting your stuff in a storage unit also helps avoid anything like something falling on the games and crushing them. All too often, vintage games get thrown into a random box or storage containers and other things smash and break them.

Free Up Room

Another reason a storage unit works so well is that, if you’re an avid gamer, then stuff starts building up rather quickly. You don’t want piles of potentially valuable equipment taking up random corners in your house or your apartment. By renting a storage unit near where you live, you have quick access to your collection without it becoming a nuisance at home.

It Is Affordable

Most people overestimate how much a storage unit will cost them each month. They’re very affordable and come in different sizes at a variety of prices to fit your needs and your budget. It’s something to consider, especially if you’ve got any type of valuable collection going.

old video game with a controller and cassette

How to Safely Store a Gaming Collection?

For old cartridge-style games, dust is a big enemy. You don’t want to leave the game cartridges out where they are exposed to dust in the air. Whether you’re keeping your collection at home or in a storage unit, ideally you’ll keep them in an air-sealed bag or container that will keep the dust out. They’ll also protect them in the event any moisture tries to get inside. A good thing about storage units is that they almost never flood. The risk of water damage is very low. The same can’t be said for homes with complex plumbing systems.

A big part of storing game collections is the organization, which, thankfully, also helps keep them safe. Store the games in boxes on shelving units that elevate them a bit and make grabbing a game for a buyer or to play a bit faster and easier.

Does it need a climate-controlled storage unit? It’s something you may want to consider, particularly as dollar figures on the items start to get higher. Paying a bit more for climate control options can be well worth it if you’ve got something valuable by comparison. Ask your facility how much extra having the option would be and make the right call based on your collection.

Find Something Close to Home

Not everyone is collecting physical games for money. It’s a big part of the industry, for certain, but there are a lot of passionate game collectors who don’t want to get rid of something they’ve spent years playing. There are some seminal games that leave a lasting mark on us that we’ll associate parts of our lives with forever.

A lot of games come and go, but many will stick around. You’ll play them for hours, and then a new game comes up and you’re onto some other character or challenge. It doesn’t mean, however, that you’re done with that other game. It’s just goodbye for now.

With a storage unit, you can manage which games you play and when much better. There’s no pressure to sell or give them away to free up shelf space in the TV room. You can keep them in the storage unit and, when you feel like it, drop by to pick it up and spend more time playing. Storage units are ideal for seasonal gamers who want to keep going back to games they love again and again.

Can You Store Musical Instruments in a Storage Unit?

People are justifiably worried about storing valuables and sensitive items in a self-storage unit. Without being able to constantly monitor your items, it’s easy to worry about what type of condition they’ll be in when you finally take them out.

One thing folks often worry about is storing instruments in a storage unit. Can you store musical instruments in a storage unit? Yes, but with stipulations. Instruments are sensitive to things like temperature and the presence of termites. If you’re going to store an instrument in a storage facility, you should make sure it’s suitable for whatever you’re putting in there.

Different types of instruments are more sensitive than others. We’ve put together some information on what you should know to keep your instruments in the best possible shape.

Protecting Your Investment

Some instruments are affordable. You can buy a used guitar, for example, at an affordable price. However, some instruments are very expensive. Buying something like a bass clarinet can set you back thousands of dollars. Violins, electric guitars, drum sets, etc. can go up in price into the tens of thousands of dollars depending on who made them, how old they are, and other factors.

On top of the instruments you buy yourself, instruments are frequently handed down in families and become invaluable antiques. They tell the story of a grandfather or mother, and people want them to last.

The bottom line is, you want your instrument to last, whether you paid a lot of money for it or it carries some deeper meaning. Here are some things you should check on before you put it in a storage unit.

Find a Secure Storage Facility

Would-be thieves know that people keep valuables in storage units. That’s why they target them occasionally. Any storage unit you use should have appropriate security based on what you’re keeping there. You can find a facility with cameras, access cards, security guards on foot patrol, high fencing, and other security measures. Most of these serve as effective deterrents and will keep your item safe. You should also go to the facility and take a look at how thick the doors are and how easy it is to get in. Only sign a contract with a company you have faith will keep your property secure.

Climate-Controlled Units Are Available

If you live somewhere with a lot of humidity or a place that gets very hot, then you may want to opt for a climate-controlled storage unit. You can keep the unit cooler and avoid any mold or rot. Climate-controlled units are going to cost more money, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing your instrument is well taken care of.

Use Protective Cloth to Cover Your Instruments

It’s always best to store your instrument in its original case. These are usually tightly sealed cases that are made specifically for the instrument. On top of that, you can buy some thick protective material that can go over and around your instruments for an added layer of protection.

Protective cloth is also ideal for larger instruments like a piano or an organ that won’t fit into a case. Cover it thoroughly and do your best not to leave any space where something could knock into it and cause damage.

Hire Movers

Too many people try to lift heavy pianos, harps, and other instruments onto a truck or trailer. Inevitably, they bump into corners, drop pieces of the instrument, and scratch it with keys or scrape it against a railing. The same goes for when you get to the storage unit. Make life easier and hire a moving team that specializes in moving large instruments. Keep it in pristine condition.

Think About Insurance

Sometimes, your existing insurance policy will cover what’s in a storage unit. Before you move anything valuable into the unit, check with your provider and, if necessary, buy some additional insurance just in case. It’s usually worth the small extra fee each month to cover any damage or loss.

Clean the Instruments First

Finally, one thing you can do to keep it in better condition is to clean the instrument thoroughly before it goes into the unit. It’s no big deal if you’re storing it short-term, but gunk inside of the instrument can make it easier for mold and other bacteria to grow while it’s in the unit. Take it apart, spray it down, and wipe it dry before it goes into the case.

Check on the Instrument From Time to Time

Don’t just let the instrument sit in the storage unit for years without checking on it. This is especially important if you live somewhere with high levels of humidity. You need to track how the instrument is doing in the unit, and you may need to move it to a climate-controlled unit if it’s showing any signs of wear. You don’t have to be there every week, but once or twice a year is a good idea.

Talk To Your Storage Facility Manager

Odds are, there are a lot of other tenants who are storing instruments at the same facility you are. When in doubt, ask the manager or some other employees about what you need to know and how you should best store whatever instrument you’re keeping there. They’ll have unique insights based on their available units and location and will guide you in the right direction.

Done right, your instrument will stay in pristine condition and will be ready for whenever you have extra space, decide to sell it, or pass it on to the next generation. More and more people are using storage units to keep valuables because they’re out of the reach of children, pets, and other things that could possibly damage them. If you’re interested in storing an instrument in a storage unit, make sure it’s clean and ask the manager what you need to know about that specific unit before you move it in.

Guide to Renting a Storage Unit

Every day, more and more people are discovering the benefits of self-storage units. Now, more than ever, storage units are affordable and accessible. The industry has come a long way in recent years. Modern storage facilities are safer and come with more features for renters. They are also likely closer than before. Most neighborhoods are in striking distance to a quality storage facility where you can keep valuables long-term or stow your bikes for when you need them on the weekend.

Choosing the right storage unit will save you money and make a real positive impact on your quality of life. If it’s too far, you won’t go as often. If it costs too much, you’ll regret the purchase and may not keep it as long. If it’s not the right facility, you open yourself to mismanagement or security concerns.

Finding a great storage unit isn’t hard, but it takes a bit of work. There are things you should consider before renting that will get you the most for your money and make your storage unit a value-add for your life.

Here’s a guide to renting a storage unit so you can make the best possible decision.

Picking a Location

Location, along with price, is probably the most important consideration for your storage unit. Traditionally, people used storage units to keep things they didn’t know what to do with. It’s where we put antiques, grandma’s winter clothes, and other items we weren’t ready to get rid of just yet.

These days, however, storage units are way more versatile. People use them to stage businesses. They house inventory and equipment for all sorts of businesses. A close storage unit is a perfect place to keep recreational toys and vehicles. If you live in an apartment, for example, you can keep your bikes or water sports equipment, and other recreational items. In the right location, grabbing what you need for a ride in the park or grabbing some balls to play with your kids on the weekend is super easy.

The closer your storage unit is, especially if you live in a crowded area, the more you’ll probably pay for it. Storage units of comparable size will become more affordable the further out of town they get. Depending on your budget, you can choose something close or far that fits your lifestyle.

Consider Security Features

A lot of people are using storage units. However, some of them still harbor reservations over security. They worry that putting things in storage units is unsafe and it leaves them exposed to theft or property damage.

It’s certainly a concern, particularly when you can’t be close to your property all of the time. But most quality storage facilities go the extra mile to keep their tenants’ property safe. They have a lot on the line, so typically they invest in cameras, gates, and access cards for customers who want them. Many have on-site security guards to conduct regular patrols and inspections around the clock.

Not every storage facility is the same when it comes to security, so you should take a hard look at any potential units and make sure there is appropriate security for what you want to store there. When in doubt, talk to the management about the best way forward.

Be Clear on the Rules

Different storage units place restrictions on what can and can’t be stored on-premises. Before you sign a contract, you need to make sure that whatever it is that you want to store is allowed. The last thing you want is to sign a year’s contract and then find out you can’t put your stuff there. Ask before you sign as well as read anything you sign carefully.

What Do You Need to Know as a First Timer Renting a Storage Unit?

If you’ve never rented a storage unit before, there are things you should check for to make sure you don’t end up in a bad situation. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Read Reviews

These days, it’s fairly easy to check on whether a business is reputable. Posting online reviews is very easy, so a lot of people do it. And it’s not just those who are dissatisfied with service. Of course, you should probably avoid any storage facility that has a lot of negative reviews. It’s a huge red flag. Go with highly-rated storage facilities instead.

Understand the Seasons

Storage unit prices fluctuate based on local conditions. If you’re in a college town, for instance, prices will be higher in the summer and the winter between terms when everyone’s moving in and out. If you’re trying to get a better deal, you’ll want to sign a contract off-season.

Ask for a Deal

It never hurts to ask for a discount. A lot of storage unit facilities can discount rates for new customers. They often run promotions to attract new customers as well. At least mention it on the phone or in an email and see what the response is.

You Can Always Move Up

Don’t rent the largest storage unit available at first. Go with something smaller. You can always move up, often without signing a new lease. You just pay the difference for however many months remain on your contract. If you rent something too large, you’ll end up regretting it and it will end up costing you more than you should pay.

Walk Through the Facility

Before you sign a contract, visit the storage units and walk through the facility. Take a look at whether there is trash on the ground or if the paint is peeling everywhere. Check out the condition of the doors and what the front office looks like. The condition of the facility indicates how much management is investing and how much the employees in charge of taking care of your property care about what they’re doing. Rent from companies that take pride in the product they’re selling.

Renting a storage unit makes life easier when done right. Do your research and find something that fits your lifestyle. It will free up space at home and keep your things safe.

Possible Layout of Your Storage Unit

A storage unit is a helpful way to store your items to make room in your house. A storage unit is an extension of your home with your valuable belongings safely tucked away.

So it is important to organize your storage unit in a neat and orderly manner. With a little bit of planning, you can turn your storage units into an organized space instead of messy stacks of boxes.

Creating a layout for your storage unit helps in organizing your storage unit space, utilizing every space for your items. It also helps in making it easier to find your things whenever you need something from your storage unit without actually making a huge mess.

There are various possible layouts you can do to your storage unit. With smart packing and efficient organization, you’ll surely have a neat, clean and a well-organized storage unit.

Here, we provide you with some tips on how to organize and maximize your space as well as some possible layouts for your storage unit.

Tips for Organizing and Maximizing Space in Your Storage Unit

Survey the Unit

Check out the storage unit you’ll be renting. This will give you an idea on how to maximize your space and how to layout your unit in an efficient manner before moving in.

Also this is a good way to check if the storage unit size would be the perfect fit for all your items you need to store and the extra space you might need.

girl sitting down browsing her phone and sorting her clothes

Classify Your Items

Divide your items in categories and classify them according to their priority and importance. Sort out items which you would need access to frequently and items that you won’t be needing anytime soon.

Place items you need frequently in an area which is easier to access and long-term storable items at the back and bottom stack.

Label Boxes and Containers

Label all of your boxes, bins and containers and keep labels faced out to be seen clearly for quick identification. Use white label stickers and write on black permanent markers for the labels to be more visible.

Keep an Inventory

Keeping an inventory will give you a knowledge of everything you’ve stored and will help you find your items quickly. It is easy to forget things you kept away if you don’t have a list.

For your inventory list, use a spreadsheet or a lined notebook and list your items per box. Label each of your boxes and take note of groups of items inside the box and any important items in that specific box.

This will be very helpful in navigating your storage unit and helps you to quickly identify your boxes. You can also draw a map of your whole storage unit to know where the specific box you are looking for is.

If you’re not into writing things down, you can opt to take a photo of the items inside each box. This way, you can easily identify where specific items are.

Choose the Right Storage Containers

To have an organized storage unit, choose a good container for your items which are easy to stack and fit together in a neatly organized grid. Select one size for every box to help with packing, stacking and accessibility.

Clear plastic containers can help you easily navigate and identify the items on your unit. Organize your boxes and create an aisle between them. When stacking boxes, make sure to keep the heavy boxes on the bottom to create a stable base.

The use of shelves is also very helpful to organize your space better. It also helps box failure from stacking too many boxes on each other and is easier to access boxes which are on the bottom.

Disassemble Your Furnitures

Disassembling large furniture maximizes space inside your unit. Arranging them effectively is a top space saving solution. Furniture should also be stored upright except for mattresses as they should be laid flat.

For furnitures who couldn’t be dismantled like a dining room table, you can use this as an additional shelving to your boxes and containers.

Possible Layout of a Storage Unit

Small Storage Units

A small storage unit can fit several small to medium sized boxes and mid-sized bedroom furnishings. Stack boxes vertically to the ceiling to make use of your small storage unit.

If you have furniture you won’t be needing anytime soon, place them at the back of the unit and place the boxes nearer the door.

If storing only boxes, you can line up the boxes on one side of the wall to clear a path in the middle for you to get inside your storage unit and access the boxes you need.

Medium Storage Units

For a medium sized storage unit, line up your items against the walls of your unit creating a space in the middle for you to navigate to. Make sure that the labels of the boxes are facing you.

If you have furniture, you can store the furniture against one wall and have the stack of boxes on the opposite wall. This allows you to create a space in the middle for you to be able to access your items with ease.

If you do need the space in the middle, you can put your movable items there so you can remove them easily whenever you access your unit.

Large Storage Unit

A bigger storage unit will give you enough space to navigate around your unit and make an aisle or walking lanes. It gives you more layout choices for your storage unit where you can properly organize your containers and storage boxes.

You can line up all your items against the wall and add a middle section, creating two aisles. Use shelves for better access to your boxes.

If you have furniture you need to store, you can place them in the middle of your storage unit leaving a space on all sides for you to access the stacked boxes which are placed against the walls.

If your furniture is a dining table, a dresser or a coffee table that you couldn’t dismantle, you can place it in the middle and you can also put some lighter boxes on top of it for an additional shelving.

If your storage unit is high and you can stack your boxes vertically on shelves, keep a step stool or a small ladder for you to access items on the top more easily.