Imagine, for a moment, your ideal kitchen. The pantry looks like a high end grocery store. Your spice rack is a culinary artists dream. You even have that perfect little triangle of movement between your refrigerator, sink and stove. Now let us imagine that same kitchen, but without a garage in the house. Where should you put your organizational items such as your color-coded recycling bins? Where should you store broken chairs, table extenders, extra seating, cleaning materials and other miscellaneous items? Suddenly that high-end grocery store of a pantry is looking like a beaten down, understaffed corner general store. Your spice rack still looks great, but you cannot actually get to it because it is blocked by your table extender and extra chairs.

You can also kiss that little triangle of confectionary delight away, because your recycling bin is now taking up one of the sides. Very simply, a disorganized or inefficient garage can ruin your kitchen. Recyclables may be hard to take care of, pantry space may be filled up with cleaning materials and other miscellaneous items, and your cooking joy may become lost. Without a good garage, your kitchen can become disorganized.

Maybe you are not a kitchen kind of person. You use the microwave and the refrigerator, and you are happy. The triangle that allows for easy of movement is useless to you anyway, and frankly, you just do not care if your kitchen is well kept. Then imagine another important room without the garage: the study. Your garage often plays the role of home to broken items from your study. That old bookshelf that you replaced it is in your garage. So is your old computer, books that you do not often use, broken desk chairs and many other items.

Computers are an especially tough item to throw away. Most monitors require special measures for disposal, and therefore, each community has its own way of dealing with disposal issues. Lets face it, most of us do not have the time to make a couple of phone calls, get the info that we need, drive out to the correct trash related facility, and dispose of the monitor. Therefore, the old monitor may just sit in our garages until further use.

Books provide an entirely different problem. We rarely want to throw those books away; there is a certain attachment to those ink covered pages that make us want to keep them around. Therefore, we box them and stick them in our garages until somebody makes us donate them to a used book store. Often, books can be stored in droves within ones garage. Now imagine all of those books back in your study. Picture those old computer monitors taking up your desk space. Is this something you really desire? Probably not. Get your garage organized, figure out the best way to keep it organized, and your study should become much easier to maintain.

The study and the kitchen are just two of the rooms that are dependent on the garage. When your garage gets messy and disorganized, your entire house suffers. Important items are hard to get to, and old items are more difficult to throw away. Keeping your garage well organized and maintained is crucial to household efficiency. If your garage proves to be especially difficult to maintain, then try investing in some storage related products such as plastic containers, shelving, shelf dividers, Christmas ornament storage boxes, golf bag racks, fishing rod racks, and recycling centers are all great items to help you organize your garage.

With a little bit of thought and planning, you can use your garage to make your entire house run more smoothly. There are many factors to consider when maintaining an organized house but the garage can make the process much easier when it comes to proper organization. This is mainly due to the ability to store miscellaneous items that would normally cause ones house to be disorganized. If you are looking to get organized the best place to start is the garage.

And that plan commences with figuring out what you want versus what you need. If it is not necessary then it is not worth generating space for. Something that has not been used for more than two years will probably not be utilized constructively again and needs to move onto the turf it out heap.

Allocate a day and remove everything from your garage and start applying the two year rule. This can be divided into the definite and maybe throw away piles, but take care at this point not to let emotional attachment get in the way of ruthless efficiency! When you are done you can next decide which of the stuff you’re getting rid of can be taken to the recycle center and which can be sold or donated to a charitable cause.

You are now in a much better position to start planning how you can make the most of your garage space.

The next step should be to draw out and then measure the area you’ve got around your car and to also make allowances for moving around in that area. This is a realistic exercise as it is no use buying shelving and storage boxes only to find out they dont fit when they are in the garage. What looks small in the showroom might end up being much bigger in your garage!

When you understand how much room you’ve got, and where, you can then work out what storage method will best suit this.

Getting equipment off the floor is a good space saver. Find storage shelving that can turn your wall area into stotage space. Hooks will be one more option for getting objects off the floor and specialized hangers which are designed for holding gardening tools will also improve functionality.

Smaller items also need to be taken care of. All those jars packed with nails and screws need to be stored in a comprehensible way. Utility cupboards which use adjustable shelves will allow you to fit and arrange a mixture of bottles and jars in a way that makes sense to you. Labelling units or even shelving can assist you to not only locate items when you need them, but will also encourage placing things back where you found them.

If your garage is used as a workshop, use tool boxes and tool chests and get a workshop table which will suit storage. A desk will take up a lot of space, so try and think about how your storage goals can be achieved within its footprint. Position it below a wall mounted storage cabinet and also consider what can be stored underneath the bench without getting in the way of your feet.

There are several ways to turn overhead space into something practical. The easiest way is to use metal hangers that are suspended from the ceiling joists. They are excellent for big objects and there are also special hangers for things such as sport bikes and sporting accessories. A makeshift attic can be made by sliding boards over the garage rafters, creating a floor that can be used for fairly bulky but light items.

So if you’d like to incorporate your house and garage in a way that includes you and your car, smart garage space methods are the way to go. And remember the chore it was to ultimately sort out your garage, if you ever have the desire to start generating clutter once again!

Snack Center: Instead of the kids running in from school, opening and closing the fridge and leaving a trail of open cupboard doors, they visit the snack cupboard. Different shelves are assigned different themes or functions, such as a shelf for lunch bags, bowl of fruit, or place to drop off homework. Open the bottom cabinet and have an array of healthy snacks ready to grab including jars of trail mix, granola bars, crackers, and juice boxes. Space permitting this would be the perfect spot to insert a small bar fridge for cold drinks and refrigerated treats.

Breakfast Station: This is where all the cereal is kept as well as extra spoons, cereal bowls and treats to add to the cereal such as dried fruit. Store the various brands in clear plastic containers that are easy for small children to get ahold of.

Baking Station: Imagine going to one place and finding everything you need to start a baking project. Have shelves filled with flour, sugar, baking powder, and other commonly used ingredients. Allocate a space for recipe books and another shelf for blender, food processor and mixer. Hang up your muffin pans and small measuring cups and spoons.

Place baking pans together and include a container for extra wooden spoons, spatulas and rolling pin. A handy corkboard attached to the inside of the door is perfect for displaying extra recipes and a shopping list.

Buy magnetic containers and hang on a metal bar for small ingredients such as sprinkles, coconut or extra bits of chocolate chips.

Bartending Station: This is your all-in-one bar to make serving your guests a breeze. Attach a shelf for highball glasses and underneath screw in slotted holders to hang all your stemware. On the door hang small utensils and corkscrew. Add x-shaped dividers or a small redi-made wine rack so you’re never short that bottle of wine. Add a small wire rack for drink mixes, cherries and other garnishes, napkins and coasters. A larger wire rack or shelf is perfect for bottles of liquor and an ice bucket.

Craft Closet: Hobbies and craft projects are so much more enjoyable when you know exactly where everything is. With this craft closet, you’ll be able to get your hands on all your supplies with little or no searching. Start by using large shelves for items such as a sewing machine or clear bins for holding smaller items. Hang a paper towel rack on the inside of the door to hold spools of ribbon. Taller spaces are perfect for rolls of wrapping paper. Get organizers for all your craft magazines and stand them up on a shelf. Fill a drawer with commonly used items such as scissors, tape, pens, pencils, and glue.

A Snack Center

Creating a snack center where the kids can easily access tasty after-school treats is a popular idea. By keeping all of the snacks concentrated in one area, the kids are less likely to make a mess throughout the house as they search for the treats they are after. By adding a cabinet that is specifically designed for snacks and is in easy reach for the children, potential buyers will certainly be impressed.

A Breakfast Station

In addition to having a snack area, having an area that is specifically designated for breakfast products is also a big hit among homebuyers. Here, you will have cabinets and shelving that is specifically designated for cereal and other breakfast products as well as cereal bowls and spoons.

A Craft Closet

Craft closets are also a draw to potential buyers. After all, hobbies are far more enjoyable when you have a good place to store everything so it is out of the way, yet easily accessible. Adding a closet where craft items can be stored will certainly be a hit with many who are looking to purchase a home. In this closet, you should include some larger shelves for bulkier items such as sewing machines as well as clear bins to hold smaller items. Be sure to also leave some taller space available for items such as wrapping paper rolls. You might also want to consider hanging a paper towel rack inside the closet for spools of ribbon and other items to be hung.

Bartending Station

Many potential buyers are attracted to homes with bartending stations as well. Even better, you might be surprised by how easy it is to create one of these stations. Simply attach a shelf on which you can place your highball glasses and then screw some slotted holders underneath to hold your stemware. Adding some x-shaped dividers will provide you with a great place to store your wine, while a small wire rack will do well for storing garnishes, drink mixes, coasters, napkins and other items.

As you look through your home and prepare it for market, consider areas where you can help improve the home’s storage capabilities while also making it more convenient. The more alluring you can make your home and the more “”extras”" you can add, the more likely your home will be to stand out from the other properties that are on the market. Furthermore, creating these creative storage areas may only require the addition of a few pieces of hardware or cabinetry, making it a relatively cheap improvement that can give you a whole lot of bang for your buck!

1) Think outside the box. The days of the closet rod with an upper shelf are gone. Trying to store anything in there besides hanging clothes, a few blankets and your shoes, is impossible. Look at closet designs that might fit your needs. The internet can help you come up with solutions to some of your biggest problems.

2) Start in the center and work your way out. A good way to figure out which closet design will be best for you is to lay out your items on the bed to visualize where certain things should go. Start in the center with the things that you use most often. If you are using bins for socks, ties or underwear, you may want to put these down lower near the center so that you can easily peer into the bin and pick out what you need. Clothing that you wear often should be in the middle also, so that it is easily accessible. Items that are rarely used can be put in back corners or up high on shelves.

3) Create storage for bulky items. Some things just rob you of space. Big empty suitcases are common storage hogs. You can move things like this underneath the bed or into the garage. If youre worried about pests, dust or dampness affecting your luggage, store it in a large trash bag, tightly sealed with cedar closet accessories inside.

4) Make spaces for smaller items. Little things can be kept in bins or on a small series of shelves in the closet. If you have installed shelves, consider adding a drop-down shelf underneath for storing small items.

5) Discover nooks and crannies that can be used for storage. You can simply rearrange clothing to make more space. Hanging pants all together opens up space beneath them for shelving or a taller shoe rack. Adding a belt and tie rack or hooks on the inside front wall of the closet can keep things neatly stored without using any space. You can easily add some corner shelves to the front corners of your closet to make more storage areas for additional items.

6) Utilize closet accessories that help you make the most of the space. Using metal hangers or other slim, strong hangers will keep your clothes as skinny as possible on the bar, creating space where you didnt know you had it before. You can keep winter coats and suits on cedar hangers to keep their shape and protect them from damage, but use a metal hanger for everyday items.

Garage shelves can be obtained either site built or prefab. If they are site built, you will have to fit them into your existing space but you can adapt them to your needs with equipment you can find at your local home center, lumber yard or hardware store.

Basic garage shelves can be built out of 3/4 inch plywood of 1x or 2x lumber, simply set on heavy duty shelf brackets. The brackets should be attached to the studs with long screws and the shelves should be attached to the brackets. This is necessary because of at he weight. For additional strength, a brace can be added at each stud.

Floor supported shelves are very stable and are made by running vertical 2X4s every 50 inches and placing them on the floor, then attaching them to rafters or ceiling joints at the top., Then, 2X4s are run horizontally between the uprights and particleboard is used for the shelves. Usually 19-25 inch deep shelves are used and the 2X4s are placed on 25 inch spacing. The advantage of this is you can change the spacing to accommodate larger items.

If you are storing small items, it is better to attach a series of 1X2 strips to the inside edges of 2 adjacent studs. Then, cut some 1X4 and 1X6 lumber and fit them between Th studs and slip them on top of the 1X2s. This creates some small shelves that can be adjusted for small items such as cans, jars, bottles; you may want to organize your screws and nails in these jars and bottles.

For really durable, heavy shelving, choose steel shelving. Plastic shelving may be alright if you are storing things that are light weight, but if you have heavy items, you should choose steel. The disadvantage of steel is that you cannot cut it to size to suit your needs, but have to pick from the standard shelves. These do come in different widths, depths and heights, so you can find the ones most closely suited to your needs.

You should make sure that the prefabricated shelves you choose can be adjusted. AT least two different levels of adjustment between the framework is desirable. Make sure the pins are heavy duty and have a bar in place to prevent them from working loose.

Finally, make sure your prefabricated shelves can be attached to the wall for security against tipping. If you are going to use the shelves for heavy items, this is really an important feature.

Industries are growing thus storage of products is also growing as a big matter of concern. If the storage capacity is backed up with better availabilities then raw materials can be storage in a good manner. It can be controlled properly. But this is not indicating that the area for warehousing needs to be reducing in a huge amount. On the other hand the warehouse is growing bigger day by day. Total determined area for warehouse is growing along with its equipments and racks. Well, pallet racks and drive in racks are also becoming an important element for the modern warehousing.

Well, as per the global supply chains, modern warehousing and storage has been going great with it performances. Its functions have been increased significantly and this has exactly proven to be effective enough for a smooth flow of supply chain. There are many countries where modern logistics is not only the resource that is catering the whole country rather modern warehousing and storage has shown the real way of development.

Well, now day’s financial services are really depending on modern warehouse and storage to perform well. In this regard warehouse equipments and logistic banks are also playing a good part in supporting the financial stability. This can bring enough good reason for industries to grow their business periphery.

Well, fixing the right position for modern warehousing and storage is also a matter of concern. This can be managed through following criteria:

For national economy, modern day’s services can achieve this target.

For modern logistics it is one of the prime foundation that can bring a whole new look for the entire operation.

For supply chain it is one of the most vital nodes that can regulate the center.

However, the actual meaning of modern warehousing and storage can be defined as a current task that has soften the over acceptance of logistics. Theoretically, it is the consideration to make perfect logistics and its associated elements. With respect to development, modern warehousing and storage can show the real way for many middle and little storage organizations. It can assist the supply chain to operate smoothly and can stores materials at times.

Tip 1 Having Plenty of Supplies

No one ever thinks of the moving supplies, but these items will not only secure your valuables but when organized will make getting in and out of your storage unit a breeze. Make a list of packing accessories you will need, oh you will probably need more boxes than you think.

Commonly used packing aids include such items as newsprint (quick note: newspaper can stain your items so be careful what you wrap) or wrapping paper, bubble-wrap, tape, rope, drop cloths, polyurethane sheeting, mattress and furniture covers, pallets, skids, dehumidifiers and cartons. The manager may have some or all of these items for sale on the premises. Many times facilities will give discounts on moving and packing supplies to new renters, so it doesn’t hurt to ask! Some renters invest in shelving for their unit. This allows them to better organize their unit and make better use of the ceiling heights. You may be able to rent a smaller unit by investing in shelving. If youre going to be renting long term you could save quite a bit of money by purchasing some inexpensive shelving.

Tip 2 Asking the Right Questions

Inspect your storage unit to determine how much space you really need; on-site storage facility manager can be quite helpful. Many storage facilities will offer a display unit or will give you an actual tour of the property to help you determine what unit size is best for you.

For the rest of you who don’t have that much time to inspect and rent storage on-site many self storage facilities website now offer a size estimator that can help you determine what unit size you will need. Remember when choosing your unit size that the ceiling heights are typically 8-10 feet high. This means that there will be plenty of room to stack boxes on top of each other and other furniture.

Tip 3 Organizing and Planning

A well organized unit will not only be easier to get in and out of and find things in, but by making the most of your space with proper organization you may be able to rent a smaller sized unit and save money!

Make a plan on how to organize your unit and write it down so you don’t forget. Label all boxes on all sides and create a simple record keeping system. For instance when describing box contents be specific and use “A-D files” rather than just writing “kitchen”. This will save you time in the long run. You can store couches and mattresses on end, stack chairs seat to seat, and use larger items to store blankets, clothes, and smaller knickknacks. Use large boxes for light items and smaller boxes for heavier items. Stack your things in similar sized boxes as they will be easier to stack.

Take apart large items, such as bed frames, tables, etc. This will save space and prevent them from breaking. Be sure to keep all parts together. Keep screws and smaller items handy by taping them to the larger item they belong to. If storing appliances be sure to clean them out first! Leave the door slightly open on refrigerators and microwaves to prevent mildew. Rub a small amount of oil on metal tools, bikes, etc. This will prevent rust – but be sure to separate these to not get oil on other things!

Tip 4 Maximizing Truck Space

Loading your truck is going to be similar to loading your unit. If you have a lot to store including bigger items youll want to pack the truck smartly and efficiently in the same manner that you would pack your unit. This will save you from having to make too many unnecessary trips to get your belongings into the unit and that will save you money on gas and renting time!

Youll want to stack larger items such as couches, mattresses, etc. on end to save space. Also, use larger items to store smaller items such as kitchen gadgets, clothes, blankets, etc. If you just have a few things you wont need to worry about organizing the truck to save space, but you will want to pack and secure things in such a manner that nothing will get broken on your way to the unit.

Investing in renting straps, bubble wrap, foam padding, etc. will prevent your belongings from shifting and breaking on the way to the unit.

Tip 5 Keeping Things Together

Insist on keeping things together when you are moving into your storage unit. Keep bookends with books, light bulbs with lamps, and extension cords with appliances. Arranging your unit can be one of the most difficult tasks but since you have followed the tips above I believe your ready! Some of the secrets to arranging are:

Use pallets or blankets to keep items off the floor of the unit Stack heavier items on the bottom; be sure not to over pack boxes so they get too heavy and dangerous. Store your value items towards the back of your storage unit in unmarked boxes Avoid stacking things directly against the wall to leave room for some air flow in the unit Leave a walkway down the center of your unit to make accessing all items easier Pack items that you will be frequently accessing towards the front Lay blankets or cloth over and between furniture to prevent scratching.

Whether you’re moving into a new home or into a storage unit remember the tips that I have shared and hopefully they will save you some time and money. I also provide you a quick guide on getting your items ready for packing.

We are becoming a more transient society, moving around more and creating a greater need to store our stuff, thus the demand for self storage is increasing. Americans tend to accumulate a great deal of possessions, and we dont want to weed out those things we dont use or are sentimental or have nostalgic value, which in turn, creates more demand. Most new communities will not allow us to store our boats, jet skis, RVs, or even multiple cars on the street or in front of our homes. Many retirees downsize their homes which require additional storage space that their smaller homes dont provide. More and more Americans are buying second homes which increase the demand for storage space. College students utilize storage space when moving back home for the summer. Many businesses are downsizing and operating out of smaller offices that necessitate a need for storage space. Many small distributors will utilize self storage to operate their business from. Pharmaceutical reps will use climate controlled storage for samples and inventory. The eBay phenomenon has created a huge demand for space. Other home based businesses are also creating demand for off-site storage. Lower Development costs self-storage facilities development costs are often 30 to 50 percent less than office, retail, and apartment buildings. Lower Operating Costs Operating costs for self-storage facilities are substantially less than office, retail, and apartment buildings. As a result, self storage owners are more isolated from large increases in utility and other variable costs that occur in the open market. Lower development and operating costs make break-even occupancy ranges lower than other forms of real estate. Occupancy is generally more stable and therefore predictable as there are typically a greater number of units in which to spread the risk than in other forms of real estate. Month-to-month leases mean that rental rates can be adjusted easily. When occupancy increases, I will adjust rates to compensate for the demand. Demand for self-storage is not dependent upon the economy. When the economy is good, people buy more and store more. When the economy slows, people downsize, and require a cheaper alternative to store their extra belongings. Low management overhead as customers typically only need the manager to move in or move out, compared to office or apartment complexes that requires a high number of customer contacts and constant and ongoing interaction. A well-run, stabilized self storage in a good location is very desirable to other investors and institutions, making self storage a very liquid investment.

Its no wonder Self Storage has the lowest loan default rate of all commercial real estate property types.

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS

Now that weve discussed all the reasons that make self storage a fantastic investment, we should take some time to break down a few of the myths that have been floating around with regard to the industry. Like many other industries, self storage has been evolving for several decades now, and many of the general assumptions by outsiders surrounding this business simply do not apply. Some of the common myths are as follows:

1. If you build it, they will come.

In the early years, this was somewhat true. But in todays competitive landscape an owner/investor must perform very careful analysis and/or feasibility studies to determine whether a potential development site or an existing facility is a wise investment. In addition, there are many areas that are, or are becoming overbuilt, which drastically changes the projected lease up and overall occupancy potential for a facility.

2. Self-storage is an easy business.

This may have been somewhat true in the past as well, but like any business, if it were easy, everybody would be doing it. Far too many real estate investors treat their business as a hobby rather than what it truly is; an asset with many moving parts that must be managed from day to day as opposed to a stock or a mutual fund that you purchase and only infrequently check on its performance. Todays self storage arena is very competitive, and successful owners are always thinking of ways to increase income, decrease expenses, and strive for operational efficiencies across all facets of their operation.

3. All self storage properties are cash cows.

As discussed earlier, self storage facilities have the lowest default rate of all property types, but it doesnt mean that owners dont default and that many others are struggling. Generally this is due to poor planning before acquiring or developing a facility. An owner/investor must perform thorough due diligence when it comes to competition, population growth, land costs, construction costs, market rental rates, and the management of the facility before purchasing or developing a facility. If you do not have the time nor the expertise, a feasibility study should be conducted by an experienced individual within the industry to avoid buyers or developers remorse.

4. This is a cheap business to get into.

Again, this may have been somewhat true in the past, but not any longer. Todays customer is demanding a higher quality facility than what the industry provided in the beginning. Todays facilities possess a higher quality construction, are fully paved, fully fenced with security gates, typically have state of the art digital video surveillance and recording systems, and are considerably larger than in the past, which necessitates an office with a part-time or full-time manager. Land costs are higher as most developers prefer to locate in high traffic locations as opposed to the hard to find or industrial park sites of yesteryear. In addition, construction materials have been on the rise recently due to fast developing foreign nations which affect development costs, and good existing facilities are being sold at record high prices as the word is out on what a great investment self storage has become.

This is one of the most common questions I receive when I begin working with my clients. Mostly because the common path presented in the industry is to build. And although its profitable, it isnt the only way to get into the business, and as Ive outlined below, it is feasible to do both. But first, lets briefly compare the 2 paths:
The Advantages of Buying versus Building
There are several advantages to buying rather than building a self-storage facility. These advantages include:
1. Quick Entry
Quite simply, buying an existing facility will get you into the business faster. Bypassing the development process will allow you to take over an existing operation without the time and hassle of building and creating the business from scratch.
2. Predictability
Buying an existing self-storage facility gives you a historical track record based on past operational performance. This will provide indicator to the future success of the facility all things considered.
3. Ease of Financing
Typically, financing an existing facility with a proven history of net operating income is much easier than construction financing which is highly speculative. There is a wide variety of products available to finance existing facilities in todays market. Financial institutions have a large appetite for well performing self-storage facilities and therefore are offering high loan to value loans at very desirable interest rates.

The advantages of Developing versus Buying include:

1. Not buying someone elses problems
When buying an existing facility, you may be buying someone elses problems that can prove expensive to fix. Be certain to have a licensed inspector perform a physical inspection of any facility you may be interested in purchasing, and be sure to verify all income and expense reports to determine the true Net Operating Income of the property to avoid any surprises.
2. Choice Site Selection
Developers are free to choose a location far from competitors and be first in an area that is experiencing a high rate of development. As in most businesses, if you are first to market, you can grab onto the customers in that area, and in self-storage, customers typically dont move their stuff just because another competitor comes to town.
3. Low start-up Cost
The cost to buy land and develop a facility is usually significantly lower than the price of acquiring an existing facility, looking strictly at a cost per square foot basis.
4. Preferred Product
A developer can build a state of the art facility to meet market demand. It is much easier and more cost effective to build a facility with all the new industry bells and whistles than it is to retro-fit an older, tired facility with electronic gates, paved driveways, digital video surveillance systems, newer door/locking systems, business centers, kiosks, or adding a retail center and office.
5. Potential for Higher profits
If you do your homework and choose a good site, and build a marketable facility from both a user and a potential buyers perspective, you could reap a windfall of profits upon stabilization and ultimately the sale of your facility. Of course there are no guarantees, but history has shown that developing, and managing a facility to stabilization and then selling has proven to be considerably more profitable than buying and selling an existing facility.

Ive taken the approach that its feasible and logical to do both. We focus on buying existing self storage facilities with expansion opportunity and then construct additional buildings on the vacant land. It combines the benefit acquiring a cash flowing property with the ability to create value through the development process. This is also a much easier path to take in todays lending environment where a large amount of the development funding has disappeared.