Failing to plan is planning to fail. The way you pack your storage unit can make for an easy job or leave you pulling your hair out! In this blog post, we share some useful tips on how to pack a storage unit without the stress…
Step 1 – Plan Ahead
Creating an inventory will help you remember every item you want to store. Fill out your inventory list as you go from room to room. Add extra information about each item to further categorize them. That way, you’ll store them better!
For example, consider the following:
- Fragile items
- Large items
- Small items
- Heavy items
Naturally, you want to protect fragile items with bubble wrap. Larger items should be stored at the back of the unit, along with items for long term storage. It’s also convenient to keep frequently accessed items at the front of your unit. And of course, heavier items should always be stored at the bottom of piles.
Step 2 – Choose How You’ll Organize Your Items
The best way for you to pack and organize your items depends on why you’re renting a storage unit in the first place. Perhaps you are renovating your home? Or storing a valuable family heirloom? Or reorganizing your business premises?
There’s more than one way to pack and organize your storage unit. Here’s some examples of organization strategies:
- Store by description – remember when we said go room by room? This method is helpful for people renovating or decorating their homes or moving home. Label boxes with the name of the room and some description of the items they contain. E.g., “Kitchen – Cutlery”, “Kids Room – Board Games” and “Living Room – Fireplace Ornaments”.
- Store by priority – maybe you want to store that beautiful table your grandma gave you until you’ve got your own place? Or put that series of books away until you revisit them some day? Store items low on your priority lists at the back of your unit and top priority items at the front.
- Store by layout – why not map the layout of your items? This could mimic the way your office documentation is organized. You could arrange documents in alphabetical order or in familiar categories. The main point here is to draw a map that clearly shows how and where everything has been organized.
Step 3 – Prepare Your Unit & Belongings
There’s always a chance that your belongings might get damaged during transit or be exposed to mould during long periods of storage. Your items should have room to breathe, even in smaller unit sizes. These neat little tips will show you how to pack a storage unit like a pro.
- Avoid damage – lay down tarps or sheets to prevent scuffing. Damage usually happens when loading and unloading units.
- Maximize space – save storage space by installing shelving. Shelves encourage you to store vertically!
- Use better storage equipment – plastic containers are more reliable than cardboard boxes.
- Climate control – although slightly more expensive, climate controlled storage ensures your belongings are mold resistant. Alternatively, lay down plastic sheets or wooden pallets.
- Reduce/optimize item size – disassemble larger units of furniture. Store smaller items inside bigger items. This gives you more space to stack boxes as required.
- Make avenues – give yourself space to roam inside your mini world! A corridor that runs from the entrance to the back of the unit gives you great access to your items. Depending on the size of your unit, you could even have a crossroads at the center!
If you think there’s more ways we can help you, give us a call or check out our services here.
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