Owning and running a self-storage business requires more than just securing tenants for units. Self-storage is truly about problem-solving for your customers. Most customers don’t realize how to properly store things until they have gone through the process once or twice and lost a precious item to moisture damage, temperature damage, or pest issues.
Self-storage owners and managers can assist customers by providing helpful information to make the storage process easier and more efficient. One way is to provide tips and advice on proper storage so that when the customer retrieves their items, they are still in great condition.
Tips like these can be shared on social media, sent via email, and shared with customers when they visit the store for packing materials or assistance. Look for ways to be a problem solver for your customers. Going the extra mile will always serve your business well.
How to store soft items: clothing, comforters, sheets, quilts, towels
- Only store clean and dry items.
- Separate items by type.
- Use vacuum-sealed bags with moisture-reducing silica gel packets.
- Place vacuum-sealed bags into plastic bins or good-condition cardboard boxes.
Store ALL items clean and dry.
The best practice when storing soft goods is to launder and dry them thoroughly. Whatever odors you store them with, they will retain during storage. When you unpack them from storage, those odors will seem to have multiplied. Storing only properly cleaned items is essential. Once you remove items from storage, you can air the items out, and any odors will abate.
Washing all items prior to storage ensures that no stains will be on your items when you remove them. Think of any time you may have stored baby clothes. Clean baby clothes always seem to come out of storage in a few years with a few new, milk spot stains. Something about storing, sitting, and fluctuating temperatures brings stains out in storage.
Separate items by type.
Separating items by type will make it easy to retrieve items from storage when you need them. Use vacuum seal bags for clothing, sheets, quilts, comforters, towels, and pillows, all separately, so that if you only need some additional items, you can retrieve those specifically when necessary.
Use vacuum-seal bags with moisture-reducing, silica gel packets.
These vacuum-seal bags come in a variety of sizes and make it easy to pack and accommodate all of your soft items. Toss in a few of thesilica gel packets to absorb moisture and keep your items free from mold and mildew. You can also place them inside the bin to absorb moisture there as well.
Place vacuum-sealed bags into plastic bins or cardboard boxes.
These black and yellow storage bins are a favorite at self-storage for their sturdiness and versatility. They are not cheap, but they do protect the items you place inside for long-term storage. Once items are vacuum sealed, you can place those bags inside the bins to ensure proper, long-term storage.
Properly storing soft items, including mattresses, can prevent damage and property loss. There is nothing worse than returning to storage for items and finding they are damaged due to improper storage. Storing soft items improperly creates the perfect environment for dust and dust mites to take over.
Never store perishable items in a self-storage unit. Perishable items always attract pests.
At Coastal Storage, we provide expert service to clients searching for new investment properties. We also guide our clients on how best to attract new customers by solving problems. We are laser-focused on self-storage, and we would love to work with you. Call us today at 904-591-0140.