Efficient Long-Term Storage Tips
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Most of us get attached to the things we own. After all, the reason we have them is that we like them and most of the time we are not ready to let them go when we lack the conditions to properly house them. Maybe we are preparing for a big trip, moving into a smaller house/apartment or simply starting to get our home cluttered. Whatever the case, your best alternative to getting rid of emotionally and financially valuable possessions is to put them into a storage unit. Of course, since you are planning for the long haul, you might need these efficient long-term storage tips:
Know your storage – here are some efficient long-term storage tip
If you are planning to move, you don’t want to just leave your valuables with no thought given. Depending on what you have, you need to investigate available storage units and find one that will fit your needs. Many of these advice holds true when you are when moving in your area.
For example, these are some things to keep in mind:
- Security – First and foremost, make sure that you trust in your storage provider. They should be reputable, well organized and the facility should be well kept. Should this be true, there is not a lot of chance of your things getting stolen. However, better safe than sorry – check the insurance. While lock and key make your stuff as safe as it gets, you will give yourself a peace of mind with the knowledge that you are covered should things turn out bad. Efficient Long-Term Storage means safe long term storage.
- Storage size – After you decide how much stuff you want to actually store, you should look into available sizes. You don’t want to have your items crammed or there to be a too much-unused room that will only make an unwarranted dent in your long term storage cost. If you are moving to Manhattan, why not check out alternative storages in Manhattan.
Internal elements – what to be careful about
- Climate- If you picked the right size and you are sure that no one will break in, you have internal elements of misfortune that earn your attention. Moisture and humidity can be big problems for anything that isn’t plastic. Make sure that storage units are in order and make further preparation while packing items, more on that later. Having air circulation is key.
- Rodents and insects – Check very carefully. There is no better way to protect your stuff from insects and critters that to make sure that there aren’t any in your storage in the first place
If you are in need of storage on a moving day rather than long term, here is some more info. Also, it never hurts to be prepared. Small World Moving TX and be prepared as it gets!
Packing tips – what and how to pack?
Presuming you decided to put your items on long time storage, here are a few precautions you need to take:
- What do you need to pack – be honest! If you just can’t fit everything into a storage unit you can afford, it might mean you are trying to pack too much. It’s ok to keep some things for simple sentimental value, but you might have give some of them up…
- Take inventory – make a list of your things and be sure to write down any relevant details. Is it breakable? Vulnerable to temperature shifts or light? Make sure that all of that is written and categorized. It might seem like a job you rather wouldn’t do now, but keep in mind that you won’t be seeing your things for some time. When you try to pick them later, you might want to know what’s there and in what state. Especially check if everything is in a good state of repair.
- Moisture protection – plastic is a good choice, but items have to be thoroughly dried beforehand or plastic will simply trap moisture and compound its harmful effects. Take special care of refrigerators and freezers. They are extremely prone to this issue should you fail to properly dry them. As a bonus they serve as boxes (even if packing that high school diploma into a fridge might seem strange)
- Fragile and big items – wrapping paper and disassembling. If you have something fragile (or deemed of high enough value) make sure it is individually wrapped. Pack fragile items (or those deemed important enough) in soft packing paper for protection. Cables, cords and hoses should be tied and big furniture disassembled if possible.
During Long-Term Storage
Off you go! You left and your things are well packed and properly stacked in climate and bugs resistant storage unit… what happens now? What if you suddenly need one of your items while you off from home? Or maybe you are worried that some things you stored simply don’t have the capacity to be kept without maintenance for more than a few months and your trip has been unexpectedly prolonged?
For situations similar to those, appoint someone to check in on your storage compartment on a regular basis. Having a friend or any other trusted person near your storage stuff is important as it will help prevent any unforeseen problems. If you are in need of something, you will very easily be able to get it by mail, and should somehow previously mentioned problems of moisture and humidity get the upper hand in the fight of good preservation, your appointed person will be there to inform and intervene.
So, to sum thing up. For Efficient Long-Term Storage you need:
- appropriate storage – there is no “all size fits all – storage”
- careful packing – Always pack your boxes full and make sure that there is space in between them to fight moisture and humidity
- a person of trust – a friend near your items, even when you are not.
We hope that you successfully follow our tips and have a nice trip!
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