Using a furniture storage facility might be ideal if you are relocating with your family and have too many valuables and household items to move at one go. Your new house might still be under renovation or might not be able to accommodate all the furniture you have accumulated over the years. There might also be a possibility that your old furniture might not be in synch with the moldings and layout of your new abode – a classic case of a clash between modern and contemporary designs. This is where a furniture storage company can be of great help. Not only can you put away unnecessary items, but you can also rest assured that when you retrieve them they will be in mint condition.

Here are a few pointers you need to keep in mind before you put your possessions in a storage facility. These tips are important to ensure that you completely understand the demands of these units versus the requirements of your property.

Chose a unit that is temperature or climate controlled. This is important to help prevent any damage to your stuff from moisture, fungus and leakages. If however these units do not fit your budget then consider using thick plastic sheets to shield the items. These will not only act as a moisture barrier but will also keep dust and mites away. Try to disassemble as much of the furniture as you safely can. Storing all the parts individually instead of as a whole will help minimize potential damage within the furniture storage unit. Packing each of these pieces in the thick plastic sheets or in boxes will also help prevent them from getting scratched or chipped. Cleaning all the furniture pieces thoroughly before storing them is a good idea. This not only helps prevent white ants and other insects but also keeps dust stains at bay. Though you might assume that dust can be easily be wiped away at any point of time, even the slightest amount of moisture will cause it to stick to the furniture. This is then difficult to remove even with the help of cleaning liquids and water, which sometimes cause further damage. Glass is also another difficult item to store. Using a tape specially designed for glass to mark an X on it will help prevent cracks or even the entire piece from shattering. This can be used for tabletops, mirrors and even television sets and screens. After using the tape, cover the object with corrugated paper and then a final layer of plastic to seal it off. Again packing each piece individually after dismantling the entire object will make it easier to store and prevent possible damage. Every furniture storage unit will offer you racks, shelving, boxes and other packing supplies at a discount. Use these to maximum advantage. Take advice and help of the facility managers and attendants. This will not only ensure that your furniture is stored safely but that you also optimize the allocation of space within the unit.

By taking all these precautionary measures along with implementing the best of the suggestions of the storage managers, you will be able to get the most out of the facility. And though to some extent it pays to be as involved as possible, dont forget to seek advice of experts if you need it.

When you are looking for a self-storage unit for safekeeping belongings, be careful and avoid the common mistakes. It will ensure that your items are 100% safe and secured. Often customers commit silly mistakes and end up paying a price for their errors while hiring Toronto storage. In this article, we shall talk about the things that you should not do rather than the things you should do. We will discuss some common mistakes, which can be taken care with a little awareness and knowledge.

Common Mistakes

Hiring An Oversized Unit – This is one of the most common mistakes committed by customers while hiring Toronto self-storage services. Customers only look at the floor space of the unit and completely ignore the vertical length of the unit for storing purposes. When you hire a facility, it is important that you utilize the vertical space of Toronto storage well. In fact, most of the service providers will offer racks for safely stacking the items. This will help you save money since a bigger unit will cost more.

Being Carried Away With Technology – There are several fancy technologies that have been introduced recently in this industry. However, you may not need such state of the art services. It is important that you practically assess your needs and avoid being carried away with the technological advancements. Though there are climate controlled units and dry guard technology but you need to ask yourself if you really need these services. Unless you have something very delicate and valuable to store at Toronto storage, do not hire such units. They will cost a bomb and burn a big hole in the pocket.

Insurance – Never commit the mistake of not insuring your belonging before storing them at Toronto storage units. If the facility provider offers insurance then it is a good idea to get your items insured at some extra cost. Give them a list of products that you have stored in the unit. Remember to inform the facility provider, every time you remove an item or add a new one. However, if the Toronto storage does not offer insurance, then do not ignore this aspect. Get your belongings insured on your own. No matter how safe your belongings are at a storage facility they are susceptible to natural calamities, theft, fire, etc.

Packing – Pay special attention to the packing of items before storing them at Toronto furniture storage. Good packing will prevent damage during transport and while your things are stored at the unit. Do not dump the items at Toronto storage without packing them in boxes. Not only will you damage the items, it will be difficult to search for it when you need them later.

Remember the things that must be avoided while hiring the services of Toronto car storage. That will help improve your experience with the facility provider and save some money. Storing needs are aplenty these days. It is important to be careful while safekeeping your belongings.

Before you go out and buy storage containers etc…..there are a few things that you need to do!

Firstly, it’s a good idea to go through everything so you know what sort of container, basket, draw unit, shelf unit etc you will be needing. Its no use going out and buying a load of storage units, only to find when you get home that they either don’t fit where you need them to or just aren’t right for what you need.

You also need to measure the amount of space that is available for the containers etc to go in. I know normally especially if its a wardrobe, linen closet or wardrobe unit, I measure once everything is out.

So you get a true measurement. Oh and don’t just measure from one side to the other and the base of the cupboard…..remember that a linen closet goes all the way to the ceiling generally, as do wardrobes ) and you want to know exactly how much room you have.

But be careful in linen closets, the space between the top shelf and the outer wall can be narrow.

Once you have the measurement and an idea of the sort of containers you will need, go shopping.

Ok some ideas – Wheelie bins are great for toy cupboards (one for drawing equipment, dress ups, barbie, building blocks, puzzles, games) Keeps everything together and is easy to teach the darlings how to put everything back after playing.

- In a shelf unit, a great way to create storage is to use weave baskets that slide in like draws. Just make sure that you measure well and buy sturdy ones.

- In the Kitchen, try to stick to clear containers, they can have coloured lids, but clear so you can see what is in them. And if possible, try to get self adhensive labels.

- Wardrobe storage wise, there is a lot you can get these days, hanging shelves, shoe boxes, canvas boxes (great for Jerseys and jumpers)

Just try to keep it as simple as possible, the more you bring in the more you need to find a home for!

If you have a lot of small fiddly bits in a particular room, tackle boxes are a great purchase. I have friends that use them as sewing boxes, paint boxes and sorters.

Remember also that although its great to get things sorted into containers, it is also very easy to put things in containers and still not know what is where. So make sure when you start organizing your belongings – keep it simple!

Labeling is a great idea. And even, labeling the shelf that the container sits on is a good idea. If you have children, you want to make it easy for them to know what is in the containers, so they don’t start going through every single container every time, stick one of what ever is in the box for them to see. Makes it easy for them and you!

One last thing, take your time and try to have a clear picture what you want to go where before you sit down and start putting things away.

More later, have fun with this…

We all need to store our belongings whether at home, the office or work and for a variety of reasons. The “stuff” we accumulate over time is never used continuously but the value we have invested in our possessions as well as the use of them when we need is extremely great. Storing possessions at our home or work is the first thing we all do until the time comes when we need something extra; there are any number of reasons for needing extra storage space; moving home, lack of space at home or work, specialist items that need extra care and security, new arrivals or simply looking to clear out the loft or garage to make things less cluttered.

Renting storage space is cheap and convenient with specialist security and on-site supervision as well as being able to access our belongings when we need to but without having creating a mess at home or work.
To help you get the most out of your storage rental and to protect your belongings here are some useful tips to follow.

Use Pallets and Tarpaulins to Protect your Belongings

Raising your furniture and belongings off a concrete floor is a good idea when using rental storage as you removing your possessions from any potential water risk; a storage rental may not have heat or climate control and the floor may become damp which in turn will create conditions for mold and rot to take place with your belongings. For the same reason, covering items with a tarpaulin is recommended to ensure they are kept free of dust and insects and rodents who may find a home in unprotected items.

Ventilation

Make sure you allow for proper ventilation of your stored items; packing every cubic centimeter of your storage unit or blocking vents is a great way of creating the right conditions for moisture to accumulate and wreak damage on your belongings. Leave an inch or two between stored items and the walls of your storage unit which will allow the air to circulate and diminish the build-up of moisture.

Think Security

Pack your valuable items in unmarked storage boxes and stack these at the rear of your storage unit. Thieves will try to steal no matter how good the security of any storage location but you can minimize the risk by not making their job easy. Marking your storage boxes with valuables is a sure fire way of pointing out the attractive items to opportunist thieves while keeping them at the rear of the unit will make them work to find where your valuables are stored and they are not going to have the time to do this.

Use Cotton Sheets for Protection

Wrap soft furnishings such as mattresses in cotton sheets and covers rather than using cardboard and plastic. Cardboard will absorb moisture and plastic covers will trap condensation, both of which will lead to mildew and mold occurring. Cotton sheets allow the air to breath and circulate and this dispels moisture and damp.

These are just a few tips that will help you get the most out of your rental storage and protect your possessions.

CHOOSING A SELF-STORAGE FACILITY

The first thing you need to consider is which self-storage facility to use. Visit a few local self-storage facilities before you make a decision. It’s always best to remember that you’re planning on storing your own items in the facility and you want it to remain in the condition you left it in. By the time you make your choice you should be confident of the following:

The self-storage facility has adequate security measures.

You can access your self-storage unit when you want to.

The units offered in the self-storage facility are the right size for you

You could cope with any future needs you might have to increase or decrease the space you rent.

The self-storage facility offers units that will suit the goods you want to store – for example, if you’re storing valuable items you want an enclosed unit with concealing walls so that nobody can see what’s inside.

The climate control in the self-storage facility is adequate for your needs – particularly important if you’re looking to store upholstered items, business goods or archive documents

The storage units are tidy and well-maintained – professional self-storage facilities are well kept and clean.

Pest control shouldn’t be an issue – the self-storage facility should be able to tell you what types of measures they take.

The small print of the contract for the self-storage facility has no hidden surprises.

If you’re planning on storing a large amount, check that the self-storage facility has adequate access for the removal vehicle you’ve chosen. Many self-storage sites don’t have the space or access for large removal trucks.

PACKING FOR SELF-STORAGE

Unless you plan on paying the storage unit to pack for you, youll have to box things up yourself. Before you begin, you’ll need to put some thought into the packing process. After all, one of the primary advantages of using a self-storage facility is the fact that you can continue to access your items even in storage.

The first thing to remember is to pack in such a way that you can find things at a later date quickly and without unloading absolutely everything you’ve put away. Make an inventory of what you’ve packed and where it is as you go along. Other packing and storage preparation tips include:

Make an estimate of the replacement value of each item you store to help with accurate insurance policies and in case of unforeseen damage in the self-storage facility.

Invest in quality, sturdy boxes and packing materials. If you buy boxes of similar sizes it’ll be easier to stack them securely in the self-storage facility and will save you space.

Box everything that you can. Everything that is left unboxed in a self-storage facility will get dusty and potentially dirty.

Fill boxes to capacity wherever possible to avoid breakages but dont make them too heavy – remember you’ll have to be able to lift them. You can use materials such as paper or towels special packing materials to fill spaces if necessary. Depending on the space you opt to rent from your self-storage facility, you might be stacking boxes on top of each other and the lower levels need to be sturdy enough to take the strain. Boxes that are only partly filled may tip over or collapse.

Label all boxes clearly so you can identify the contents and keep an inventory. Label them on more than one side so you can see what’s what quickly. Mark ‘Fragile’ on any boxes containing breakable items.

Don’t be tempted to fill large boxes with heavy items such as books as they’ll quickly become impossible to carry and may break. You can buy small book boxes from your self-storage facility that will do the job just as well. If you do pack heavy items in a large box put in just a few and then fill the box up with lighter items or filler.

Don’t pack items into sealed plastic bags, since humidity can cause mildew. Don’t store wet items in a self-storage facility as they can cause water damage, mold and mildew.

Large appliances need care before placing in a self-storage facility. Make sure you defrost fridges and freezers thoroughly before storing them, to avoid water damage. Tie doors up for the move, but leave them slightly ajar once in storage to stop condensation forming and help ward off bad odors. Drain washing machines before storing them and tie down hoses etc. Appliances should be clean and dry and it’ll be worthwhile to wipe the insides with bicarbonate of soda before storing.

Wrap all fragile items and breakables such as dishes, glasses, and ornaments separately. Paper will do but bubble wrap is a good investment. Pack them tightly into strong boxes, filling any gaps with paper or filler. Try to avoid putting heavy items on top of fragile ones in a self-storage facility.

If you’re going to be storing clothes think about buying wardrobe or clothes boxes so you can simply hang the clothes in them and they’ll keep their shape. It’s not wise to simply put your clothes in bin liners in a self-storage facility as moisture can get trapped inside when they’re sealed and your clothes could be ruined.

For the best protection for mirrors and pictures in a self-storage facility, wrap them in a protective covering such as bubble wrap and stack them on their ends. Mirrors and pictures should never be stored flat. Mark them as ‘Fragile’.

Separate lamp bases and lampshades and wrap them for protection.

If you’re storing upholstered products such as mattresses and sofas in a self-storage facility it might be a good idea to invest in covers, bags or sheeting to give them some additional protection. Stand sofas and mattresses on end wherever possible to save space and don’t stack too much on top of soft furnishings. Mattresses are best stored on the long end and should be ideally raised above floor level or laid on protective sheeting.

If you’re storing a few items of furniture on top of each other a simple dust sheet or cover placed between items will minimize scratching and damage.

You’ll save space if you can dismantle furniture such as beds and tables before you store them. Wrap and cover furniture sections and keep them together, clearly marked, for quick retrieval. You can put components such as screws and bolts together in a plastic bag, mark them clearly and tape to the relevant piece of furniture. Store large pieces of furniture vertically to save space.

Chairs can be stacked seat to seat to save space. Cover chair legs with protective wrapping for extra protection.

Spray your wood furniture with a quality furniture spray before storing it to give it some added protection.

Electrical equipment such as TVs, stereos and computers should be packed in their original boxes if possible. If this isn’t possible, pack them into boxes that are the right size making sure that you pack gaps with paper etc. Make sure you tie down the player arm of a record player and secure your turntable.

If you’re storing items with fuel tanks such as lawn mowers and cars etc in a facility, expect to drain the tanks before you put them in storage. Fuel is one of the few things that you CANNOT store in a self-storage facility.

Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil before storing to avoid rust formation.

You can tie tools and long-handled items in bundles. Don’t store a brush resting on the bristles.

Don’t store vacuum cleaners with the bag, throw it away before you store them.

Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.

Think hard about whether you really want to store photographs in a self-storage facility. If you do store loose photographs, place them between pieces of clean cardboard and tape them together to avoid curling. Photographs will suffer temperature damage and, if the facility you have chosen is not climate controlled, you might want to keep them out of storage to avoid losing them.

Think creatively and you’ll make more space. Plan to use furniture drawers as an extra box (they are especially good for fragile items) and you can use the inside of wardrobes to store boxes. Kitchen appliances such as stoves and fridges can also be used in this way.

Seal all your boxes with packing tape before you put them in a self-storage facility – this will help keep dust out of the contents.

ORGANIZING YOUR STORAGE UNIT

Its worthwhile to take some time to plan exactly how to pack your items into the unit. Unit sizes are determined by price so you can save money by assessing what you have to store and planning to pack it in efficiently – a smaller and well-packed unit will be cheaper than a larger one that is badly organized.

There are two key things to remember when organizing your self-storage unit. Firstly, you need to make sure that you can easily access the items you’ve stored in the facility when you want them. Secondly, you must take care of your things when storing – these are your belongings and there are measures you can take, apart from careful packing, that will help protect them during their time in storage.

If you’re worried that the floor space in the facility is not clean enough and might cause damage to your items, put down protective sheeting or boards.

If you’re storing heavy items or boxes check with the facility to see if they have trolleys or other machinery you can use. Some self-storage companies will offer these free of charge.

In all but the smallest units, try to create an aisle and leave enough room to be able to get around the back.

Store your largest items first. If you’re stacking your unit high with boxes, always make sure to put the heaviest boxes at the bottom to avoid damage.

Stack boxes and similarly sized items together to save space.

Try not to lean furniture against outside walls. If you’re storing metal objects avoid resting them against items susceptible to damage.

Try to assess what you’ll need to access frequently and keep it at the front of your unit.

Fill anything that’s hollow – i.e. wardrobes, drawers, washing machines and fridges with small boxes and other items to maximize your available space.

Make sure to stack boxes and containers so you can see the labels you put on them.

Wedge the doors of all kitchen appliances whilst in the facility open to avoid bad odors and mildew etc., building up.

Don’t store anything in the facility you’re not sure is sturdy vertically; if it seems wobbly store it horizontally.

If you’re worried about the atmosphere/environment in the unit put down moisture absorbers, deodorizers and vermin bait.