Self Storage Tips

Most people don’t think about packing a self-storage unit until they turn up at the security gate with a car full of boxes. But leaving it to the last minute increases the risk of damage and makes getting your stuff out again much more difficult than it needs to be.
 
In this blog, we are going to look at how to pack your self-storage unit like a pro. We’ll show you how to work out how many boxes you need, how to pack and label your boxes properly and how to make the most efficient use of space. 

The first step is to work out how much space you’ll need. Most people overestimate how much space they need. Believe it or not, with efficient packing, you can fit the entire contents of a three-bedroom house into a single 10sqM garage.
 
So don’t pay for more space than you have to and figure out exactly how much space you need. As a rough guide, you will need approximately 10 medium size boxes for each person in your household.

Next, you need to prepare ahead of time. Start by making an inventory of everything that needs to go into storage. Break the list into categories such as fragile items, toys, clothes, electronic equipment and individual furniture items.
 
Use the list to work out how many boxes you need. We recommend using small boxes for fragile items and medium-size boxes for everything else.

Labelling will help you pack and retrieve items once in storage. It will also ensure that everything is packed safely reducing the risk of damage. So make sure you take the time to label everything properly.
 
Always pack in categories and write the category name on each box. For fragile items write the word FRAGILE and an up arrow. For categories with more than one box use a numbering system like Books #1, #2, #3 and so on. 

Try to pack everything in uniform size boxes. This will allow you to use the space more efficiently and make it much easier to stack them safely. We recommend using no more than two sizes of box, small and medium.
 
It is tempting to use large boxes because you can get more in them, using large boxes, however, will make them too heavy to carry. This will make it difficult to lift boxes into the removal van. Heavy boxes are much more difficult to stack safely. 

Finally, you need to think about how the boxes are going to be stored in the unit. It’s always a good idea to place a dust sheet on the floor. This will help prevent dampness from forming, especially useful if you are storing clothing and bedding.
 
Always stack heavy items at the bottom and lighter items at the top. Keep fragile items in the same area and don’t stack them too high. You should also aim to keep items you may need at the front of the unit where they can be easily accessed. 

Are you moving home and in need of secure self-storage? Twin Town Removals can provide self-storage units for short and long-term rental. We have storage facilities in Forster, so get in touch today for a FREE quote by calling 0481 288 320.