For most homeowners who need storage at any time, the two main options are box storage, where your possessions are collected and taken to the storage facility for you, and self-storage, which you will not be surprised to learn, means you take your items to the storage facility yourself. There is one scenario where we strongly advise you to use box storage and that is if you need storage as part of a house move. Indeed, utilising commercial storage options has proven to be a huge benefit for those who move home. If you read on you will see why that is the case and how storage can help you if, at any time in the future, you decide to move home. Makes Planning The Move Easier When preparing for a home move, you should start planning well in advance. One of the first steps is to identify which items will be coming with you to your new home, which items you will dispose of, and which items you are going to put into storage. This can help to streamline the moving process as you will be moving fewer items on your move day and it ensures that all the items you are keeping or storing are accounted for. Reduces Clutter Moving home presents you with a great opportunity to declutter your home. Disposing of items you no longer wish to keep, and temporarily moving several possessions into storage, frees up space in your current home. It also means that when you arrive at your new home, there is less opportunity for it to become cluttered the moment you get there. Provides You With More Space During The Move Anyone who has ever moved home will know that in the days leading up to move day, the current home can soon lack space due to all the packing and the disassembling of furniture items. This issue can be countered if you place into storage many of the items that you do not need to transport or will not be required at your new home immediately. This extra space now being available will also help enormously on the day of the move. Packing Your Possessions Is Made Easier It stands to reason that if you have fewer items being transported between homes on the move day, then there will be less packing that has to be done before that day. This means fewer packing materials and boxes are required which saves you space, time, and money. Another benefit is that there is less chance of something getting broken or damaged whilst being wrapped and packed, for example. The Day Of Your Move Is Less Stressful A house move is a stressful event for all kinds of reasons, and on the day itself, you can feel like everything is spinning out of control which can cause excess and unnecessary anxiety for you and possibly your family. With many of your possessions in storage for safe keeping, it can mean that as the move is better organised and it proceeds smoothly with the help of your professional removalists, you feel in greater control and those anxiety levels are diminished considerably. Delicate And Expensive Items Are Protected Be assured that 99.99% of removalists are dedicated professionals who will transport your possessions to your new home without incident, however, mishaps and events beyond their control can happen. So, if you want to take that extra step and have complete protection for your valuable or delicate items then placing them in secure and climate-controlled storage whilst your house move takes place, will provide it. Can Save You Time And Money Due to several of the reasons we have already cited, such as less packaging required, fewer items to be packed, and therefore less that needs to be transported between homes, it means you can save a considerable amount of time and money when moving home, thanks to commercial storage.
Whether you are an individual or a business that needs to store valuable and delicate furniture, there are several steps you need to take to ensure your furniture is stored safely and securely other than merely typing "storage units near me" into Google. Whilst finding a reputable storage facility is a key step, there are other steps you must follow to prepare and ready your furniture before it is placed in its storage unit. If you have never stored furniture before and are unsure what the steps we refer to are, then do not panic. We have explained each of them below, and if you follow each one it should ensure that your furniture is in the same excellent condition when you retrieve it as it was when you placed it into storage. Dust And Clean Your Furniture Before placing your furniture in storage, it is important that you dust and clean it thoroughly. This will help to remove any dirt or debris that could potentially damage your furniture whilst it is in storage. Use a soft cloth or brush to clean your furniture, and avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that could scratch or damage the surfaces. Disassemble Larger Furniture For larger furniture, such as beds, sofas, chairs, or bookcases, it may be necessary to disassemble them before storing them. This will make it easier to transport the furniture, and it will also help to reduce the risk of it being damaged during storage. Ensure you keep all of the accessories and assembly instructions in a safe place so that you can easily reassemble the furniture when you are ready to use it again. Protect Your Furniture With Padding For furniture with surfaces that might be easily damaged by scratches or bumps, such as leather and wood, when placing this in storage you must protect it by covering it with padding. Ideally use foam padding, but if none is available, blankets or large towels will suffice. Pay particular attention to corners, edges and protruding parts such as wooden chair arms. Cover Your Furniture With Plastic Sheeting For added protection, consider covering your furniture with plastic sheeting. This will help to prevent dust, dirt, or other debris from settling on your furniture during storage. It can also help when it is being carried to and from the removals van if it is raining. Use a breathable plastic material to prevent moisture build-up underneath it, and avoid using plastic material that could potentially stick to the surface of your furniture and damage it when being removed. Insist Upon Using Climate-Controlled Storage Units If you are storing delicate or valuable furniture, a climate-controlled storage unit is a must. These units are designed to maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level, which can help to prevent damage from environmental factors such as heat, cold, or moisture. This is particularly important for furniture made from wood or other natural materials that can be affected by changes in temperature or humidity. Elevate Your Furniture Off The Floor To further protect your furniture from damage caused by moisture, or worse, flooding, you should take steps to elevate it off the floor. This will help to prevent any water or moisture from seeping into the furniture which can cause warping or other damage. Use pallets or blocks to elevate the furniture, ensuring that each item’s weight is evenly distributed, and each item is safely secured in place. Organise And Label Your Furniture This might not be necessary if you are only storing one or two items, but if you are storing a lot of furniture then you should follow this advice. Use labels or markers to identify each item of furniture, and create an inventory to keep track of what is in storage. Insure Your Furniture Finally, you must insure your furniture to protect your investment should any damage or loss occur during storage. Check with your storage provider to see what insurance options they offer and that the coverage provided is adequate.
Depending on the type of business you own or run, it may require inventory, and that means there is a chance that at some point you may have to consider using a commercial storage facility. The reasons for this can include your business premises not being large enough to store your inventory, the cost of moving to and renting larger premises being beyond your budget, or your stock levels growing much faster than you can sell them. Whatever the reason is, if you do require commercial storage units to store your inventory then there is a right way and wrong way to go about it. What we are going to do is focus on the right way to use a commercial storage facility, and outline 7 excellent tips for using a storage unit effectively to store inventory. Tip #1 - Consider Carefully What Size Storage Unit You Require Before selecting what storage unit(s) you are going to rent, you must evaluate the capacity you require based on the inventory you have, and importantly, are likely to add to it. Our advice is to err on the side of renting a larger unit than you need rather than a smaller one for the simple reason that the upheaval and effort to move all your inventory to a larger unit later is something you want to avoid. Tip #2 - Create A Plan For The Layout Of Your Storage Unit Once you have chosen the right size unit, it is important to create a layout plan to make the most of the available space. Consider grouping similar items together and leaving enough room for access to your inventory. Label all boxes and containers clearly to make it easy to find what you need when you need it. Tip #3 - Invest In Decent Shelving And Storage Boxes/Bins Invest in quality shelving and storage bins if none are provided by your storage facility. This can help you maximise your storage space and keep your inventory organised. Shelving allows you to take advantage of vertical space, while storage bins and boxes can be used to store similar items together and keep them safe from harm. Ensure you also use a logical labelling system for both the shelves and the storage containers/bins. Tip #4 - Create A Detailed Inventory List Keeping an inventory list is essential to ensure that you know what is in your storage unit and where specific inventory is located within it. By keeping an inventory list, you can easily find what you need, and it quickens the process of stocktaking when that is required. Ensure you update your inventory list regularly and keep a copy accessible for those who might need to refer to it. Tip #5 - Choose A Climate-Controlled Storage Unit If Required You may not require this depending on the type of inventory you are storing, however, if you have delicate items such as electronics, artwork, or documents, you must opt for a climate-controlled storage unit. Climate-controlled units maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level, which can help prevent damage to your stored items. Tip #6 - Ensure That You Have Access Control In Place If your inventory is especially valuable, or you have documents stored with confidential or sensitive information, then it will serve you well if you have adequate access control in place. This means limiting the number of employees who can enter the storage unit to either add or remove inventory. Most storage facilities can provide individual security keys so that you know which person has accessed the inventory at any given time. Tip #7 - Ensure That The Storage Facility Has Adequate Security Robust security is essential when storing inventory which is why we advise choosing a storage facility with excellent security features such as surveillance cameras, gated access, and individual unit alarms. Consider investing in your own security measures too, such as locks for each container or box.
Most people likely assume a business can only operate from home, an office or other premises. However, it is also the case that a business can be partly run from a storage facility. We are not talking about someone setting up an office in a storage unit, although we dare say it has been tried. Instead, we are talking about businesses that can use one or more storage units to benefit their business by providing a cost-effective means of storing equipment, inventory, tools, and other items associated with running that business. Here are ten such businesses and why storage units can help them thrive. eBay/Amazon Sellers: Whether selling on eBay or Amazon, a commercial storage unit can provide a secure location to store inventory. By storing inventory in a storage unit, sellers can prepare orders and ship them with ease. Also, with 24/7 access, they can receive, retrieve, and prep inventory whenever needed. Independent E-commerce Retailers: A commercial storage unit provides a convenient location to store products, pack and prepare orders, and ship them directly from the storage unit. With several storage options, including climate-controlled units, many products can be stored optimally while saving money on rent and other overheads. Plumbing/Heating/HVAC Engineers: For these engineers, a commercial storage unit provides a location to store tools and spare parts for boilers, HVAC units, and heating systems. Using a commercial storage facility with 24/7 access, they can collect parts not usually carried in their vans for customers who need repairs, even outside normal working hours. Antique Dealers: The key benefits to antique dealers of a commercial storage facility are twofold. First, they are extremely secure, meaning if any antiques have especially high values, they are well protected. Second, thanks to the climate-controlled units, fabrics and wood on antiques will not be at risk from temperature variations or moisture. Auto Repair Shops: If fitting or selling car spares, a commercial storage unit can provide a dry and spacious location to store them, with the added advantage of no fuel or flammable materials in proximity. With climate-controlled units and 24/7 access, a car spare inventory is kept in optimal conditions and retrieved whenever a repair requires. Removalists: Commercial storage provides a much-requested service for removalist clients by offering short and medium-term storage when they move home or relocate their office. After establishing what needs to be stored and agreeing on a fee with the storage company, that fee is passed on to the client with or without adding a surcharge. Charity Shops: For charity shops, a commercial storage unit provides a way to store donated stock. By storing some of its inventory in a storage unit, stock flow can be monitored, and the charity shop can avoid being overwhelmed with all its stock or having too many of the same items displayed. Importers/Exporters: This will vary from business to business. However, some importers and exporters are at the mercy of supply and demand. This means they often have excessive inventory levels, and when that happens, an affordable and convenient location to store it is a commercial storage unit. Event Planners: Many events that event planners arrange are seasonal, which means many of the items they require are not used all year round. As such, storing such items in a commercial storage unit makes logistical and economic sense. Landscapers: Given the nature of landscaping, there are many tools and pieces of equipment, along with landscaping furniture and accessories, which are large. To store these in a warehouse would be expensive, making a commercial storage unit the ideal storage solution for landscapers.
For those that have never had any need to use commercial storage services, their idea of what they might be is thinking that they are as basic as a locker with a key or a container with a padlock. Whilst both of those might indeed be used in some storage facilities, what is more likely to be the case today is storage companies utilising the latest technology. Commercial storage has advanced considerably over the years, with technology and innovation playing a significant role in shaping the industry. From automated storage solutions to climate-controlled units, there are numerous emerging services and facilities in commercial storage that are transforming the way businesses and individuals store their possessions. To highlight how this is so, we are going explore some of the latest technological and innovative developments that you are likely to find whenever you use your local commercial storage facility. Automated Storage And Retrieval Systems Automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) are an emerging trend in commercial storage, offering not only increased efficiency but also making commercial storage facilities a cost-effective way for individuals and businesses to store and retrieve goods. ASRS uses technology to store and retrieve items automatically, reducing the need for it to be done manually and as a result, it minimises the risk of damage or loss. This technology also allows storage companies to optimise their storage space, as it helps them to utilise every inch of available space to maximize their storage capacity. Cloud-Based Inventory Management Cloud-based inventory management is another popular development in commercial storage, providing businesses a more streamlined and efficient way to manage their inventory. This technology allows businesses to track their inventory in real-time, access inventory data from anywhere, and automate inventory management tasks. With cloud-based inventory management, businesses can reduce the risk of errors, improve accuracy, and increase efficiency. Climate-Controlled Units Climate-controlled units have been around for a while, but they are becoming increasingly widespread in commercial storage to the extent that they are now considered the norm. These units provide a means to store items that are sensitive to temperature and humidity, such as artwork, electronics, and pharmaceuticals and can help businesses and individuals protect their items from damage, ensure they remain in optimal condition, and reduce the risk of decay. Robotics Robotics is transforming the commercial storage industry by helping it to offer a range of services and benefits to its customers. Robotic technology can automate tasks such as inventory management, order picking, and transportation. Robotics can also indirectly reduce client costs as the storage companies have lower manual labour costs, and many of those savings are passed onto customers via increasingly competitive storage fees. Mobile Apps And Online Platforms Mobile apps and online platforms are transforming the way customers interact with their commercial storage providers. These technologies allow them to manage their storage units from anywhere, access inventory data, and request additional services or support. Mobile apps and online platforms also provide customers a more convenient and efficient way to request customer service or support without email or telephone. Biometric Security Biometric security is another development you may have already experienced when accessing your bank account online, for example. Biometric technology, such as fingerprint scanning and facial recognition, can identify and authenticate individuals, reducing the risk of unauthorised access and theft. This technology also eliminates the need for traditional security measures, such as keys and access cards, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of loss. Sustainable Storage Solutions Sustainability is an increasingly important consideration in commercial storage, with businesses and individuals often preferring more environmentally friendly ways to store their goods. Sustainable storage solutions, such as solar-powered facilities, energy-efficient lighting, and recyclable packing materials, are becoming more popular in the storage industry and provide the storage company and their customers with environmentally-friendly storage options.
