Storage Tips

MOVING IS STRESSFUL. USE THESE GUIDELINES TO MAKE IT EASIER:

1. DO know which items store best in climate-controlled units — Electronics, antiques, and anything else you’d be nervous storing in more extreme temperatures should be kept between 50° and 90°F. You can also ask yourself are you ok with this going into a garage-like space or do you want it in a space that is more like a spare bedroom. The garage is more convenient to move in and out of, but the spare bedroom is less dusty, a moderated temperature, and tends to be more secure.

2. DON’T wait ‘til the last minute to order a unit — If you show up with a moving truck without an RSVP, there’s no guarantee we’ll have a unit the right size for you. Call a day or two ahead to reserve your spot.

3. DO make good use of all the space available — Make life easy by planning to leave an aisle through the middle of your unit, so you can reach more, and by storing things you’ll want often in front. Also, consider setting up shelving to use vertical space better and more safely.

4. DON’T store things directly on the floor of the storage unit — Stack your belongings on top of pallets or 2 x 4’s, or anything else that will keep them dry in case an Act of God lets water into your unit.

5. DO stack your furniture — Free up room in your self storage space for other things by setting couches on end (except sofa sleepers — they don’t do so well), stacking chairs seat-to-seat with padding between them, and disassembling tables and shelves. Labelling furniture parts and taping nuts and bolts to them is also a good idea.

6. DON’T store flat, delicate items lying down — Avoid smashing mirrors or ruining paintings by instead wrapping them in paper pads or mirror boxes and setting them on end rather than flat on the floor or in a stack.

7. DO pad items to protect them — Cover or wrap furniture with moving pads, sheets, or blankets to prevent them from gouging or scratching each other while in transit or in your unit.

8. DON’T wrap your belongings in newspaper — Keep your possessions safe by wrapping them in something other than printed newspaper (which can smudge ink on items you want to protect).

9. DO pack and stack to avoid crushing your boxes — Prevent damaged property by using high quality boxes, packing each box full to the top (use packing peanuts or newspaper for filler as needed), sealing boxes with good packing tape, and stacking light boxes on top of heavier ones. These tips will prevent boxes from crumpling and smashing one another. (If you need boxes and packing materials, you can find those here.)

10. DON’T overpack boxes so they’re too heavy to lift — Be careful not to pack boxes so heavy they’re dangerous to lift — for example, use a small box for books. Book boxes get heavy fast! If necessary pack with a mix of heavier and lighter items.

11. DO label boxes — Make it easy to find specific items ASAP by labeling each box (preferably on all sides so you can recognize them easily in a stack). One really good way to do this is to number each box and keep a list of what’s in each one (Hair dryer in box #12).

12. DON’T store food items — Food does not belong in your storage unit. It attracts pests which will ruin your stored property and can also cause damage to your neighbor’s stored property. This applies to things like refrigerators — make sure all food is cleaned out of them and the doors are slightly ajar.

13. Also DON’T store toxic or flammable substances — This includes paint, oil, gasoline, propane, and anything else that gives off fumes that could combust and destroy your (and others’) belongings.

14. DO get insurance — Despite the best precautions crazy stuff can still happen. Make sure you’re protected with a good insurance plan that covers smoke, fire, flood, and theft.

15. DON’T assume homeowners’ or renters’ insurance covers everything — Check the fine print in your policy — and the reviews online by those who have filed claims in the past — to find out what’s really covered. If your current insurance isn’t up to snuff, you can purchase the protection plan or insurance offered by your on-site manager.

16. DO put a lock on your unit — Help keep honest people honest by locking your unit up each time you leave.

17. DON’T give out your Shield Storage information — Do your part to keep unauthorized people away from the units by not sharing your password, gate code, or other information with anyone you don’t intend to have access to your property or account details. If someone shows up with your gate code and key we assume you gave them permission to access your unit.

And, finally…

18. DO save time and money by using our truck (where available) — Book it well in advance since it’s a popular amenity. It’s super convenient and free to use (except the cost of gas).

Happy packing — and we’ll look forward to seeing you soon!