Tips for Moving Belongings Into Storage

Have too much stuff and not enough space to hold it all? Don’t sweat it — get a storage unit.

Rentable for short-term (or longer term) contracts, self-storage units can be lifesavers when your living arrangements won’t allow you the room you need to house all your belongings.

To get the most out of your storage space and safeguard your belongings while they’re in it, follow these handy self-storage tips.

Moving belongings into storage

While you may not be able to control Mother Nature and her critters, there is one aspect of your self-storage unit that you have complete dominion over, and that’s access. Avoid the frustration of not being able to find what you need by doing some strategic packing.

Creating easy access to items in self-storage starts with packing properly. Before you move anything, determine which items you won’t need to access. Move those items into your unit first, being careful to place heavy objects on the floor and lighter items on top.

If space is tight, maximize your storage unit by loading small boxes and loose items into larger pieces of furniture like armoires or side tables. You can also use a heavy item like a mattress to block off your “won’t need it” area and keep items from shifting if they fall.

Storage unit tips
Beyond packing your unit properly, there are a few other precautions you can take to protect items in self-storage:

•Place a moisture-reducing product like Damp Rid in your storage unit and replace it every three months.

•Label all sides of a box so you can locate its contents easily.

•Wrap all paper objects in plastic to protect them from rain during transit and moisture in storage.

•Add mothballs to boxes containing clothes.

•Wax wooden furniture with a varnish to protect against moisture.

•Store CDs and DVDs in sleeves or storage boxes — not plastic wrap, which can melt and ruin discs in extreme heat.

Self-storage insurance

Sometimes, despite all your best efforts at protecting belongings in a storage unit, disaster strikes anyway. Unforeseen disasters like fires, earthquakes, vandalism, or burglary can happen at any time, leaving your items vulnerable.

The best way to safeguard against these unfortunate circumstances is to make sure your belongings are covered by insurance. Rental or homeowner’s insurance policies may cover belongings in storage. (Read your policy or call your agent to be sure.) Your storage company may also offer insurance against these circumstances; in many cases, this coverage is cheap. That’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.