No matter how much space you will allot for storage, chance are that you will be struggling to fit all your stuff in. It is way too easy to fill a storage unit to capacity, no matter how well you plan your packing. Once you begin storing your stuff, there is always something else that you want to add in, and you may find yourself quickly running out of space.
For this reason, it is always wise to plan for more space than you think you will need. Self storage units come in a variety of sizes, so take advantage of the larger units that can accommodate your space requirements.
It is a good idea to make a list of all the items that you will possibly want to store. Be very thorough about this part of the process and make sure to include absolutely everything that you might think of storing later on. Keep in mind that it can be a major hassle to have to drive to the storage yard and add another box of items in, so err on the side of caution and pack away everything that you don’t have use for.
After you have made a complete list of the items that you will want to store, take note of their sizes and weights. This is an equally important part of the process, as it will help you determine the most appropriate packing materials and box sizes for all your items.
A good way to established how much box space you will need is by arranging all your items in groups even before you actually make the boxes. Keep in mind that some items will fit neatly into each other, so take advantage of some items’ ability to do so. This will help minimize the space that they will take up in the boxes and help you avoid having to use larger boxes than necessary.
In general, you will want to pack heavy items in smaller boxes, as they will be easier to carry that way. If you are packing away a large pair of speakers for example, it would be best to keep them in their own box. If there is some space left over, you might be able to fill it with a number of smaller items, but it would be best to keep “stuffing” at a minimum. Smaller items packed among larger ones can get lost or damaged, and this isn’t worth the little space that you gain.
The easiest way to go about boxing you your items is buying standard boxes that are already cut to size. With such boxes, all you have to do is fold them up and tape the bottoms and sides as necessary. After you have packed what you want into the box, you can simply seal off the flap with some more packaging tape.
Packing stuff away for storage can be a tedious job but it isn’t impossible. With a bit of planning and creativity, you should be able to manage small packing job in a few hours.
