Tip #1: Stay Organized!
Do not treat your storage unit like you might treat your closets, garage or attic. In other words, maximize the value of your self storage unit by keeping it organized at all times so that you can easily access and use the items that you need at any time that you need them. Store similar items with or by one another and maintain neat rows and piles for all of the items that are contained within your self storage unit. When you have more containers to add to your self storage unit, make sure that they are added in an orderly fashion, instead of simply being shoved inside.

Tip #2: Not Only Clutter!
Your storage unit doesn’t have to become another closet. Instead of using it to store away only random pieces of unrelated clutter, use your storage unit for a purpose. Storage units are great to store a collection of items in one safe and secure place. For instance, if you are involved in a club or organization that uses certain items that may be hard to store away, you can dedicate an entire self storage unit to keeping all items stored together and easily accessible at any time

You don’t just have to keep an organized collection for a club, however. You can also use your self storage unit to organize one of your own collections. If you are an antiques nut but don’t have enough room in your own home to display your pieces, keep the all together in a climate controlled self storage unit. If you have a million baseball cards or perhaps collect other items like movie memorabilia, keep it all together in the secure environment of your self storage unit.

Tip #3: Save for the Future
When you are remodeling your home, buying new items for your kitchen or new furniture for your living room, it may be tempting to throw all of your old items away. Stop! Do you have children who will be going out on their own in the next few years? If your used items are in relatively good repair, you can save them to give your kids a head start on all of the things that they will need while living on their own. Furniture and household items can be very expensive to buy, and chances are that the money you spend on a storage unit will be far less than the cost of buying all of those items in the future. You can get more out of your storage rental by keeping those items to use when your children need them than by helping them to buy new items in the future.

Tip #4: Welcome to Your Office
Well, not literally. But welcome to your warehouse! Many people run home businesses, selling a variety of items to people around the world through the power of the internet. But keeping the kind of inventory necessary to your business within your own home can be quite difficult. Rather than cluttering your home with your inventory, organize it neatly in your self storage unit. As soon as you sell an item, you will know exactly where to find it in your mini warehouse. No longer will you have to wonder where it is stored – instead, you’ll always have perfect order to your items. In addition, you will get a lot out of your storage rental because the cost of the rental can be written off as a business expense!

Tip #5: Split the Space
For some people, even the smallest storage unit is a little too large. If you only have specific items that you want to store in your storage unit, considering finding a friend or family member to split the cost of the unit with you. Ensure that it is someone who can be trusted to keep their half neatly organized, just as you will keep your own half. In addition, make sure you agree under whose name the unit will go and how payments will be managed. But once the logistics are worked out, but you and your storage unit partner will begin to reap the great rewards of a self storage unit.

The benefits of Self Storage for Business:

Costs:

Youpay month to monthwith no yearly leases required.
There is no large bondrequired to rent a storage space.
The rental rate for self storage is competitive with the cost of office space.
Office space is better used to generate income than for storage.
You can pay for periods in advance to receive a discount.
Some storage facilities will offer to assist you to move in your goods for free.
Shelving can be made available (at cost)to make the best use of your storage space.
A free receipt and dispatch service means you don’t need to employ someone to receive deliveries.

Security:

24 hour security gives you peace of mind.
Offsite storage protects your valuable documents in case of fire.
Yourent yourown individual lock up space and you keep the keys.

Convenience:

7 day extended hour access to your storage provides great convenience.
Drive up roller door spaces makes using storage easy and saves time.
Having a forklift on site means you can receive pallet deliveries easily.
Pallet jacks and trolley’s make moving your goods around effortless.
Some storage facilities have use of a freeserviced office for meetings.
Any packaging materials you may need to ship your goods are available on site.
Document destruction can be arranged for your stored archives.

Flexibility:

You can store month to month withvery short notice required to vacate.
As your business changes you can alter the amount of storage space you need.
Downsizing and up-scaling are easy with Self Storage.

What are the main business uses for self storage?

Archive storage
Sales team sample and product storage
Point of sale equipment storage
Office relocation furniture storage
Trade business storage such as plumbers, builders, plasters
Storage of imported and exported goods
Small business stock overflow storage
Seasonal demand such as Christmas stock storage
Government self storage needs
Pharmaceutical samples and sales material storage
Mobile business equipment storage

Home office storage

Self Storage offers great opportunities for small and big business alike to save money and increase productivity. SelfStorageoffers secure, convenient and flexible storage solutions that free up businesses to do what they do best.

If you have a specific business storage need that is different from those listedabove we would like to hear it or if you wouldlike to provide feedback on the articlethen please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Safety is a primary feature when it comes to choosing self storage. The average self storage facility is built to be a mini Fort Knox with many high tech features designed to keep items safe. The owners of self storage companies are able to benefit from the fact that their clients are responsible for their own moving, packing, and unloading while paying their monthly fees without fail. This gives the owners of self storage companies a bit of extra money to invest in other things. In addition to having the extra money the owners of self storage companies have the motivation as well. No owner of a self storage company wants to be held responsible for thousands of dollars in missing property which encourages them to use high tech security.

Restricted access gates are a common feature on most self storage facilities. These gates stay closed 24 hours a day unless an individual with a proper pass code or other security verification tool drives up. Only when the identity of the individual visiting the storage facility is confirmed can they enter the property. Once on the property there are high fences usually surrounding the entire area of the self storage company’s storage units. This will help prevent any wanders from coming onto the property and breaking into any units.

Along with high fences and gates restricting access most self storage companies use video surveillance to keep an eye on who comes and who goes around the property. Seeing cameras around the property often help to discourage would be thieves from doing anything foolish. If a thief does get bold these surveillance cameras capture the movements of everyone on the facility making it easy for the identity of the thief to be discovered which usually helps with the recovery of the stolen property. Most video surveillance set ups also include alarms which are used to notify the police if anyone does attempt to break in.

While security is a huge reason to consider using self storage convenience is another. Even with restricted access most storage unit owners can access their units at anytime during the day or evening. This makes it easy to move things onto the property or take them off. Now you can move furniture and other items from your overcrowded home or apartment in the middle of the night without your neighbors watching and commenting. Along with the convenience of being able to move whenever it suits you now you can also take advantage of self storage to help avoid clutter around your home.

The average home has tons of items that are not needed on a daily basis if ever. After marriage or moving into together many couples discover that they now have two of everything. This means that they have two blenders, two toasters, two beds, and many other items that may not be usable or able to fit in the new combined household. Instead of throwing these items away and the money they represent use self storage. With self storage it is easy to place important or expensive items aside while guaranteeing their safety. Self storage for these items is preferred to throwing them away since you never know when you might need that extra item or piece of furniture.

Lastly, self storage is a better option when it comes time to move. Many people wait until the last minute to move their things from one home to the next. Usually this happens because move in dates do not always line up with move out dates. Instead of scrambling around trying to figure out how to deal with an unexpected situation move your items into a self storage unit. This will make it easier for you to wait since you will know that your items are well cared for.

There are many benefits to using self storage that should not be overlooked. Self storage makes it possible for you to keep your items out of harms way when you do not need them and easy for you to retrieve them if and when you do.

You can store as many boxes of papers that you need to. It provides you with a confidential and secure off site solution. All of the document storage solutions that are available come in many sizes from being the size of a locker through to being the size of a mini warehouse as well as all of the sizes in between these two. All of the ones that are available should be presented in a clean, dry and secure manner. Document storage allows you to securely and economically store important documents, books, and papers but these must be stored in a climate controlled

There are different sizes of units that can literally be used as a personal library for you depending on your needs. It is suggested that a mini unit can house about 20 boxes comfortably, standard units about 70 boxes, and the larger units about 150 boxes. That should give you some kind of an idea of what you will have to work with. When it comes to document storage, many people take the wrong approach of looking at it; they don’t see the point in paying to store something that wouldn’t take up that much room within their property when in fact you are getting more for your money than you realize, you are getting value for money, flexibility and security.

Your papers and books can be retrieved in a timely manner and the boxes that are use are sealed and stored in humidity controlled warehouses as well as being protected by intruder alarms and smoke detectors. Also all of your documents are logged online for ease of access and added security. If you currently have any documents that are in need of being stored then it is highly advised that you take on board the help of a professional document

Thankfully there are now many companies opening up whose primary job is to look after your documents. Storage facilities exist which allow you to store all of your paperwork and books in the most safe and secure way possible. As well as choosing the correct storage space you also need to make sure that you pack your documents in the correct way as to not cause damage to them and to also maximize the space within your document storage unit.

The need for a climate controlled storage unit is very important when storing such things as books, paperwork, art work, pictures, etc. When these things are left in a standard unit it is very common for the pages of books to peel back and if the humidity in the unit is not proper then when you return for your belongings dont be surprised if your library is rotted away. Of course how you store them is also very important in addition to the climate in the unit.

Make sure you use good quality storage boxes such as cardboard and plastic boxes as these provide the best document storage, make sure that you fill boxes to capacity, as partially full or bulging boxes may tip or collapse, which could potentially damage your papers and files, heavy items should always be packed into small boxes so that they are easy to lift when you are placing them into the storage unit and taking them out again, label or number boxes for easy reference for when you need to locate your goods. Doing these things, will ensure that your personal library is completely safe and accessible whenever you need to locate something.

There will of course be certain factors you want to look at before you give any of your money away. You will want to consider things such as security, gated or not, and access to the unit for yourself, and these are questions you should ask every storage unit facility you talk to in order to help you make your decision.

Finding a cheap storage unit can be a daunting task or it can be an easy task, it just depends on how you go about it. Here are some ways for you to find good cheap self storage:

Online: To find a cheap storage unit in your local area all you have to do is conduct a Google, Yahoo, or Ping search for ‘cheap storage units’ followed by your zip code. This will bring up any storage unit facilities in your local area that use the word ‘cheap’ in their description. You can also try ‘low cost’ or ‘affordable’ in your search as well as many business owners will shy away from the word cheap in their advertising. Once you locate a handful of storage unit facilities in your area call them up and ask all the questions you want answered.

Yellow Pages: This step will require just a bit more leg work on your part. You begin by searching in the yellow pages under ‘self storage’ and then just start dialing numbers. Your first phone call will be nothing more than asking how much they charge for your ideal size storage unit per month. After you have called a couple dozen or so you can see which ones offer the cheapest prices and then call those specific storage unit facilities back and ask all of your questions then.

Hit the streets: This step will obviously take you the most amount of time. It entails you getting in your car and driving to the different storage facilities and acquiring price information. One advantage to this type of searching is that you actually get to see firsthand how the facility looks. You can simply look around in stealth mode or you can actually ask all the questions you want and request to see the storage unit you are considering renting. If you are not in a talkative mood, go with the stealth operation and be sure to get a business card so that you can call the cheaper storage unit facilities at a later time.

If your area is like most areas in the United States these days, there are a number of different storage unit facilities that you will have to choose from. This is a good thing for you as they will all be trying to undercut one another. With just a little bit of work and a handful of questions asked you too can find a good cheap self storage unit.

First of all, decide whether to go for a self storage or not? If you are moving temporarily, for say a couple of months, it is wise to store your belongings so that you will not have to spend a fortune to buy everything when you come back. However, if you are going away for a year and more than that, the cost of self storage should be considered prudentially. Think twice about whether it is beneficial to sell the things away and buy new ones when you come back or storing the things by paying a good amount of money? The location of self storage should be decided carefully. If you are not moving and just keeping away certain belongings in the storage that you might need frequently, a self storage nearer to your place is ideal. However, if you are going away and relocating in other city or country, location will not matter so much. You can then go for the best deal after comparing the quotes of various self storage companies. Size matters, in case of self storage too. Take an estimate of the things you are going to store and have opinion from someone who can guide you about the space required for storing away the things. Next decide whether you should go for regular self storage or do you need climate controlled storage? Generally climate controlled storage units are more expensive as the storage facilities have to spend a lot on equipment for maintaining temperature and humidity. However, if you have valuable things like antiques or artworks, you might not be uncomfortable paying more charges. Always find out the security provisions of self storage facility. While you are away, you must remain assured about the safety of your precious belongings. Read more about security and other aspects of self storage

Do you really need to buy or lease premises for your business to succeed? Too many entrepreneurs buy or commit to long-term leases too early in the life of their business. Suddenly they have a massive monthly overhead without the sales to support the cost. Invariably you will have had to commit to more space than you initially need, literally wasting money on dead space. Add in rates, insurance, utility costs and maintenance and you could be having some uncomfortable meetings with your bank manager.

Consider the case for self storage in your business plan. You rent just the amount of space that you need, increasing or decreasing this space to reflect the needs of your business. For example anyone who deals with stock will experience daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal fluctuations in the amount of space they require. In most UK self storage facilities the space you rent can fluctuate to accommodate the demands of your business. You just pay for the space you require and have no additional costs for rates, insurance, utilities and maintenance. In addition your goods will be protected with state of the art security, CCTV and sophisticated fire detection systems all giving you peace of mind. You will also save an enormous amount of time by not having to search for the perfect premises to buy or lease.

Some self storage companies will accept deliveries on your behalf. A few even have forklift trucks with trained staff, who can unload large deliveries of pallets for you. This saves you the cost of hiring your own staff and equipment, but more importantly releases your time. Its so easy for entrepreneurs to find their valuable time being wasted on unproductive activities. Its just crucial to avoid this, and to carefully invest your time on the highest value creating activities. Plumbers, electricians and other tradesmen can order the stock they need for jobs, get it delivered to their self storage centre and then collect it at their convenience. They invest their time profitably serving their customers, rather than earning nothing while they wait for a delivery. Retailers, manufacturers, importers, ebayers and just about any entrepreneur who receives deliveries can transform their productivity with this service.

Many entrepreneurs start their businesses working from home. What seems like a great idea at the time, can result in rising tension on the domestic front. Stock, tools and equipment take up a bit too much space, and tempers become frayed. Feedback increases as harmony decreases. Some customers are just about dragged in by the ear accompanied by a partner with a sense of humour bypass. Self storage leaps to the rescue and domestic harmony is quickly restored.

Self storage doesnt just have hard business benefits it can restore your work life balance too! Most importantly by being careful with your cash in the early days of your entrepreneurial life you dramatically increase your chances of success.

There are a variety of different companies that provide places where people can store their goods. Some of the bigger recognizable names in the industry are U-Haul and Public Storage. There are also independently owned storage operations. Storage facility units can be movable storage boxes that can be picked up from your home and stored in an enclosed facility that are about the size of a bedroom closet. Fixed storage units are also available with a garage-like door and enough room to fit the entire contents of your home, a car, or even a boat.

Determining the cost of his storage unit is entirely up to you. Because rates for these units vary widely around the country, you will need to do some legwork by comparing the rates and amenities for different storage companies in your vicinity. Typical rates for the smallest removable storage box are $40 per month, but again, rates do vary around the country. Once you’ve done your comparisons, it would be wise to visit the facility to see where your goods will be stored firsthand before you sign any rental or lease agreement. You will need to decide what options are most important to you because extra amenities cost more money. Here are some tips to consider:

Do you want your goods to be stored in a facility with extra security like security cameras? Some companies have electronic entrance gates, security cameras, and the 24 hour employee at the facility. Others simply have a locked gate and the high fence. You will pay more for extra security.

What size unit will you need? Do you only have enough belongings to fit in a closet? If that’s the case, the smallest unit will suffice. You will need a larger unit. If you have most of belongings from your house. Some people choose a large unit, only to find out that if they stack things carefully, they have more room than they need. This situation can be avoided by organizing your stuff before you procure your storage unit.

Will you need utilities in your storage unit? Some storage units offer a climate controlled environment and electrical service. Some people have items that need to be in a temperature controlled environment. If this is you, get a space that has heat and electrical service available.

After you’ve completed these steps, you should have a good idea of the unit size needed, the amenities you want, and the best price per month. Before you sign any lease or rental agreement, be sure to read the fine print. If you have to move your stuff out of the unit, you want to make sure that you will not pay some kind of penalty fee.

Some facilities make it a practice to move you in at a low rate only to raise the rent a few months later. Before you decide to rent, ask the manager how often they raise their rates. If the answer sounds good to you, ask them to put it in writing. If they are not willing to do this, you may be better off looking somewhere else.
Secret #2:

This is a good one. No matter how much or little it rains in your area, if at all possible, visit the Storage Facility the day after a rain storm and ask to see the actual unit you would be renting. Once inside, check for any puddles on the floor or water marks on the walls. Many times water stains will remain on the walls for months after the last rain. Since storage facilities are not responsible for water damage to your goods, this Secret could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Secret #3:

Will you need to access your storage space frequently? Answer this question first and it will help you rent the unit size that is not too small and not too big, either saving you much frustration or a good deal of money.
If you plan to access your unit frequently, rent a unit ONE SIZE LARGER than the Site Manager recommends. By doing this, you’ll have some elbow room to make narrow hallways in and around your boxes and furniture. This way, you’ll be able to reach the back, the middle and the sides of your unit with ease. (Your blood pressure probably dropped a few points just thinking about it!)
If you plan to “store and run” and won’t be needing access often, select the unit size recommended, or even one size smaller. With proper box stacking and item arrangement (standing a sofa on end, for example), leaving no extra room as you pack and stack, you’ll be able to save money month after month by renting a smaller unit size.
WARNING: We must offer this word of warning. Experience has proven that if you do rent a smaller unit and find that you need to retrieve something quickly, “Murphy’s Law” dictates that the item you seek will be located in the back and bottom of the storage unit. Plan your packing carefully to save frustration later!!!
Secret #4:

Most facilities still charge a deposit (which may be refundable months or years later when you move out, if either of you remember), or even worse, some places charge ‘Administration Fees’ just to fill out some paperwork and punch your name into the computer. These fees can easily add up to over $30 dollars.
Ridiculous! And to make it worse, many times you do not find this out until you are ready to sign up, your rental truck full of possessions waiting in the parking lot.
Be sure to ask over the phone before you visit if there are any ‘hidden charges’ in additional to the rental rate you are quoted.
Secret #5:

If you don’t have access to a moving truck, you will probably have to rent one. Some facilities offer rental trucks along with storage units. Since it is they who are renting you the vehicle, it never hurts to ask for a kick-back on the rental of the truck.
If they really want your business bad enough, they might consider waiving the deposit, giving you a credit for free miles or at best even a complimentary truck with no charge at all. The business of self storage can be very competitive at times. So remember, it never hurts to ask.
Secret #6:

As I mentioned in Secret #2, storage facilities are not responsible for the contents of your unit. It is always a good idea to insure the goods you’re intending to store. Storage insurance is almost always available to you when you first sign up to rent.
Some times the facility collects the premium from you directly. When they do this, they usually have a financial interest in doing so. Before the manager at the front desk tries to sell you insurance paid on the spot, check with your own insurance agent because many times your home owner’s or renter’s insurance policy will cover you for no extra cost.
Secret #7:

The 7th and final Secret: If for any reason you decide not to take out insurance, here are a few ways to prevent the possible loss of items due to theft.
When packing your storage unit, place valuable items such as electronics, tools, unloaded guns, etc. near the back of the unit, out of sight and difficult to reach quickly. When your door is open, be alert other people trying to get a good look inside your unit. They won’t be tempted by what they don’t see.
If you see somebody lurking around your unit, report them to the site manager immediately. These are just a few of many tips to help you store smarter, safer and less expensively.
BONUS Secret #8:

Well, I couldn’t resist. I had to throw in a “freebee” Secret just for good measure. Ok, now that you are ready to shop around, I can’t stress this enough.
You MUST visit the storage facilities and not just call.
When you visit, get to know the managers and MAKE SURE THEY LIVE ONSITE! If the managers don’t live onsite, move on to the next facility. Experience has proven that when the facility has live-in managers, much less “bad stuff” happens. It only makes sense. Onsite managers are keeping an eye on your stuff 24/7.
While at the facility, have the managers give you a tour of the facility. Take a good look around and make your own judgment based on the appearance of each facility you visit and the conditions of the units the managers show you. You must feel comfortable with the Storage Managers, and you must feel confident in the site’s ability to protect your interests.
Well, there they are, the Seven (well, actually Self Storage Secrets You MUST KNOW Before Renting From ANYONE!
Please remember, no matter who you decide to store with, I hope these Self Storage Secrets help you make a more informed decision when renting a self storage unit. Thanks for reading and I wish you the best Storage Success!