There are many benefits to packing your stuff away at a storage facility, not the least of which is all the space that you will free up in your home or office. For people that have had to put up with clutter for so many years, having access to a storage facility is a breath of fresh air indeed.
That being said, there is a lot more to storage facilities than just packing away your stuff and keeping them locked away. In order to get the most use out of a storage facility, it would be helpful to keep these tips in mind.
Get insured
Depending on your provider, you may be able to extend your home insurance coverage to include your storage space. Even if you have to pay a little bit more in insurance premiums every year, this added cost is worth it for the protection that you will get in return. In the event that anything untoward happens to your storage space, the insurance will allow you to pay for the costs of loss or damage.
Pack valuable items in the back
Even if your insurance will cover loss or damage, it is still a good idea to take as many precautions as possible. It is good practice to pack valuable items in the back of the storage unit and to leave the boxes unlabeled. This will reduce the risk of valuable items being lost or stolen from the front of the unit, where they can easily be accessed. It would also help to place larger and heavier boxes containing less valuable items or those that can’t be easily stolen toward the front of the storage unit.
Keep your things raised
You should also protect your items against water damage. No matter how safe and secure your storage container may seem, you should always assume that there is a chance of water damage from water runoff or busted pipes. This is why it is advisable to keep all your items raised up off the floor. Most storage facilities will have pallets on hand for this very purpose.
Pack items snugly
Another good practice is to pack boxes as snugly as possible. By doing so, you will reduce the risk of your items being jostled around and thereby prevent breakage. This is especially important for fragile items or those that can be broken easily. You should also label the boxes containing such items prominently so that they can be stacked on top of less fragile boxes.
If you are planning on storing a chest of drawers, a bureau, or a trunk, you might want to consider placing your packed boxes inside them. This will add another level of protection for fragile items and reduce the risk of damage and/or loss.
Ask about climate control features
While most of your items will hold up well in regular storage, some of them might be better protected in climate controlled facilities. Ask about temperature and humidity controlled storage. Even with the added cost, the additional level of protection will be well worth it for valuable items.
