I recently had a relative that was making a major move and was going to be storing the majority of her personal household items. She came to me, being in the business, and asked the proper way to store her house. If this would have been simple... rent a space big enough, rent a truck, pack and label, insure and pay on time. But NOOOOOO I was dealing with my cousin who has a manual on everything from cleaning the kitchen to properly raising your child.
I took my time in replying to her request, as I was sure of the amount of work that was going to go into this. So anyone that gets a bit of useful information from these instructions, you owe a thank you to my cousin.
The first step is to determine how much needs to be stored and begin determining how much space you will need. Nine times out of ten you will need more space than you originally estimate. Then start shopping for a storage facility that meets your needs and whose units rates fit into your budget. Search for facilities convenient to work, home, family etc. You want to look at how well the facility is maintained and the cleanliness of the facility. Ask who their pest control company is. How is the temperature in the space you are in... take into consideration current temperature, humidity and the amount of dust in the unit and how much dust will be coming in. Remember to inquire about lease conditions and rules. Some facility leases limit the value of items that can be placed in storage and require written permission to store a larger value. Many will also require that you insure or purchase a warranty program to cover the value of your possessions.
Preplan the way that you will be packing your storage unit using either a storage calculator or sketching it out. Depending on the time frame that you are working with, and the amount of items that you are storing, prepacking and stacking in the spare bedroom or garage is a good way to estimate the space you will need. Use good packing materials and don't skimp on the amount you use. If you are storing your precious belongings... pack to protect!
As you pack your boxes, take photos of precious items. (Digital cameras hold hundreds of shots) Wrap knick knacks in wrapping paper, and make a list of each item you place in the box. Number each box and place box number on the top of each list. Use packing paper, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap to fill in dead spaces in boxes to strengthen them. As you prepare your furniture for storage, again take photos from several angles, and list each piece going into storage. Use blankets to wrap furniture and secure with stretch wrap to hold the blanket in place without sticky residue. Stretch wrap is also great for securing drawers in place, protect sofas, protect mattresses and even secure those rugs that you rolled up.
There are several different type and sizes of boxes for various items. Small boxes should be used for heavy items such as books, canned goods and small kitchen appliances. Many dish and crystal kits are designed to fit in the small box. The Medium box is great for many of your basic household knick knacks, lamps and table statues. Large boxes should be utilized for those light bulky items from pillows and bedding to the cookie sheets and pots. Mirror boxes protect those precious paintings and mirrors when properly wrapped. The one box that I can never seem to get enough of for my wife, are wardrobe boxes. A 24 inch wardrobe box will comfortably accommodate about 18 to 20 inches of clothes as they hang in the closet. She has also learned to pack her shoes that are in shoe boxes, in the bottom of the wardrobe boxes that she is placing her blouses in.Again, DO NOT FORGET the photos and list!
When you are making arrangements for transporting your belongings to the storage facility, you have to decide whether you are physically capable or can round up the help to assist. If you are the do-it-yourselfer, be sure to consider renting your moving truck during the 7th and the 22nd of the month and try to avoid weekends for the best rental rates and mileage rates. When reserving vehicles and the accessories that you may need to assist in moving, remember that sometimes equipment will not be available because someone else did not return it on time or the truck broke down. During the first of the month and on weekends, these events are more likely to occur.
If you are using movers or a moving service, be sure and check their references, ask for proof of insurance and search the Internet for reviews.
As the storage unit is being filled, those photos again become an important part of your record. You should always make a copy of your lists and photos, whether it is kept in your safe deposit box or on your cloud in the computer... a back up is always suggested.
When completing the rental agreement at the storage facility many will ask that you place your account on auto debit, which automatically charges your credit card or checking account each month. This is a great plan, but be sure that their software system can be accessed via the Internet to obtain copies of your rental receipt or that one will be emailed to you each month.
To sum it up... Plan ahead, list and photograph possessions, Rent a space large enough, Pack It Right and insure it through your agent or through insurance or warranty programs offered at the facility. Make sure that the amount offered is appropriate to cover any loss that you might encounter. If you are using homeowners or renters insurance, check with your agent that your policy specifically covers your belongings in storage or anywhere in the world. You have spent a life time collecting these items close and dear to the heart... pack them with care and respect.
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