Now that the holidays are over, many people are cleaning out their homes, closets, cupboards, and garages. It happens every December. The calendar hits December 26, and people do one of two things. They head to the stores to return items that don’t fit, or they begin to purge.
What many individuals find in the great annual purge is that they still don’t have enough room for the items they have in their homes. They have more than they need, but they’re not quite ready to part with all of it. This is the best time to consider self-storage for your extra items until you are ready to part with them or until you need them again.
In Florida, you can rent a 5×10 unit for as little as $75 up to $140, depending on the location, the amenities, and the demand for that size unit. In a 5×10 unit, you can store up to a 1-bedroom of furniture. The most common size of a unit rented in Florida is 10×10, but a 5×10 unit is a good starting point and may meet the most common space requirements.
Once you have your self-storage unit rented and ready to go, it’s time to get packing. Here are the 10 best storage tips to get you started.
- Clean all items first.
- Storing dirty, dusty, or otherwise unclean items creates a problem for your future self. Inevitably, we see people unpack dirty items from storage and place them right into the garbage bins on site. Clean and dust your items first. Future you will be grateful!
- Use clean boxes of similar size and shape to make stacking easier.
- Boxes that are similar in size are easy to stack. Don’t be tempted by extra-large boxes that do not fit on shelving units unless they stack nicely and evenly with the smaller-sized boxes you decide to get. A clean and organized storage is easy to access and use.
- Use clean, same-size bins or tubs with secure lids.
- Plastic bins or tubs with secure lids like these from Home Depot are great for keeping items clean and dry. The lids fit securely to prevent rodents from accessing what’s inside. They also fit nicely on storage racks, keeping your storage organized and easy to access.
- Purchase or rent storage racks to keep items off the floor.
- These Husky storage racks are durable and work well for any future storage needs.
- Disassemble furniture and keep hardware securely attached in a bag in a drawer.
- Wrap mattresses in a mattress storage bag. Mattresses should be stored flat on top of all of the furniture when possible. They can lose their shape when stored upright. Furniture should be disassembled when possible in order to avoid it buckling under weight while in storage. Older, antique pieces of furniture may not be able to be taken apart, so storing these items with care and caution is necessary.
- Use towels, sheets, or other cloth items in place of expensive packing products like paper or bubble wrap.
- Rather than purchasing expensive packing items like bubble wrap and paper, use existing towels, sheets, and other soft items that need to be stored as wrapping for delicate items. This is an effective cost-saving way to store everything you need to store.
- Keep boxes light. 30 lbs maximum.
- It’s always tempting to over-pack a box, but keep boxes at 30 lbs maximum for easy moving.
- Store heavy items on the bottom and lighter items as you go up.
- Place heavy boxes on the bottom and go lighter to the top.
- Secure renters’ insurance for all your belongings stored in self-storage.
- Renters’ insurance is helpful to cover all items you are storing in self-storage. Most self-storage businesses have information on simple policies, but you can also check with homeowners’ insurance or even car insurance companies like Geico, which offer multiple types of insurance. For a few dollars each month, your items are protected.
- Use strategic placement and aisles inside the unit for easy access.
- Aisles within a unit are helpful when you need access to everything inside. If you don’t plan to access frequently, then you can stack up and head toward the exit, knowing you won’t be able to access the rear items.
At Coastal Storage, we work with investors to find the next best self-storage businesses or development sites ready for growth. We also work to equip investors with information to assist them in running, marketing, and increasing revenue for their businesses. Call 904-591-0140 today to speak with our team of experts.