Top tips for long-term self-storage
When looking to hold your belongings in long-term self-storage, there are a number of things to consider. Making sure your loved items are in the same condition you left them in is priority number one.
To make sure this happens, there are a number of things you can do when packing and storing to make sure everything is in good condition when you return.
Tip one: Clean your items
Your belongings aren’t going to survive well in long-term storage if you don't leave them in good condition in the first place. Dirt and dust can break down materials over time, leading to corrosion, rust or mould.
So, make sure everything is thoroughly wiped down or laundered prior to storing. It’s also vital you make sure all your belongings are 100% dry before you pack them so no moisture is trapped inside leading to dampness or mould.
Tip two: Use high-quality packing supplies
When it comes to packing up your possessions, make sure you think carefully about how you want to store them and what kind of packaging will work best for the items. Cardboard boxes are great because they’re breathable and light, but lower-quality boxes can weaken over time with pressure. You don’t want to return to your storage unit and pick up your box only for everything to fall through the bottom.
So, we recommend using high-quality cardboard boxes designed for packing, rather than boxes you may have collected through deliveries etc.
We don’t recommend leaving long-term storage in plastic bags, as we mentioned earlier if there is any trapped moisture in the bag it could damage your property.
You don’t have to spend a fortune, but we recommend using tape, boxes and bubble wrap that are designed specifically for storing and moving.
Tip three: Treat fragile items with care
This one goes without saying, but when you’re packing for the long-term you may have a lot of items to get through and rush to get done, potentially damaging fragile items in the process.
Fragile items should not be packed with other, especially larger, items that may move around in transit to your long-term storage unit.
Use bubble wrap to protect your items, and scrunched paper to stop them from moving inside the boxes.
We would also recommend placing boxes with fragile items in a place where they are not like to fall, be knocked over, or crushed under a pile. That leads us to our next tip…
Tip four: Pack your items strategically
There’s an art to packing. Packing strategically not only helps protect your property whilst in long-term storage, but it also makes your life easier when you want to retrieve any of your items later down the line.
We recommend packing in categories, placing items that belong either in the same room, or the same genre of item, and labelling all boxes clearly. This means when it comes time to collect your items from long-term storage, you don’t have to go through every single box to find the one item you are looking for.
Packing strategically also goes for your unit too. You can’t be sure when you may need something back out of storage, so it’s important to leave your belongings in a way that’s easy to access all corners of your unit.
We recommend leaving a walkway down the middle of your unit so you can get to the back with ease. If you are storing large furniture, it is best that these go in first at the back or side of the unit so they don’t block the rest of your belongings in.
If you are using long-term storage because you are leaving the area for an extended period, you may grant access to your unit to a trusted family member or friend. It’s important to keep this in mind when storing your items, making sure everything is packed logically so they are also able to locate items should they need to.
How do I choose the right long-term storage unit for me?
When choosing the right long-term storage unit there are a number of considerations to make based on your preferences and individual needs.
Here are a few considerations you should make when choosing your long-term storage solution.
Location of the long-term storage unit
Location, location, location! When looking for the right long-term storage unit, it’s important you choose a unit that’s easily accessible to you. It all depends on how often you plan on accessing the unit. If you require access to your storage unit regularly, it is important you choose a location that is close and convenient, so you don’t have to go out of your way all the time.
When do you need to access your storage unit?
It’s important to factor in what time of day you may need to access your storage. If you need to have access 24 hours a day, this is a main consideration of where you choose to store.
Contracts for long-term storage
When you're looking for long-term storage, it's important to consider the expense. Some personal storage units may want to tie you into a contract for the long term. If you want to be more flexible with how long you keep your items in storage, we recommend choosing a storage facility that can accommodate that.
At Dickens, we offer an easy in/out policy, which means you can store your items with us for the long term but are able to move out when needed with just 7 days' notice.
Security of your long-term storage unit
Leaving your most-loved possessions in storage for a long period of time can feel daunting. That’s why security is so important when choosing a long-term storage facility.
Does your chosen facility have 24-hour surveillance? Is your unit access area well-lit? These are both considerations to make when viewing potential units so you can be certain your belongings are safe and secure.
Looking for long-term self-storage in Stockton-on-Tees?
If you’re on the lookout for a long-term storage solution in the North East, get in touch with us today. Request a call back, or book in for a viewing of our facility to see how we can help.
