Whether you are moving house, decluttering or just need a bit of extra space, self storage can be a life saver, and with most of our customers being first time users of self storage, we thought we would put together the ultimate guide to ensure you have considered everything you need.

 

self storage room at The Store Room

Assess your storage needs

You may have already started doing this if you know that you need storage but here are a few things to consider:

  • What items are you planning to store?
  • How much space will you need? Once you have identified what you are planning to store you will have a better idea of how much space you will need, but if you are unsure, speak to a self storage provider who should be able to give you a better idea.
  • How frequently will you need access to your belongings? You may be moving house in which case, you may collect your belongings once you have moved in, but if you are using self storage to declutter your home, you may need more frequent access to your self storage unit.
  • How long do you expect you will need to store your possessions?

 

Choose your self storage unit

Once you have identified your storage needs and have answers to the above questions, it’s time to find your self storage unit! When searching for your unit you should consider:

  • Your self storage provider: Like with any service, you should shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. Often it can be useful to call the sites you are interested in as they can work with you to make sure they are offering you the best price and storage solution for your needs. Also make sure that the company has a good reputation by checking their customer reviews, (The Store Room use Feefo, but you can also check on Trust Pilot and Google reviews).
  • Location: Consider the proximity of your storage provider to you. Is the site easily accessible, will it be convenient to get to when required – this answer may vary depending on how frequently you will need to access your belongings.
  • Security measures: Choose a storage facility with robust security measures – if you are unsure what to look out for, your provider should be happy to point out all the security measures they have in place.

 

Prepare your possessions for Self Storage

Here are a few top tips for preparing your items for self storage!

  • Clean and organise your items before packing them into boxes.
  • Use good quality boxes – your self storage provider will usually sell good quality packaging materials, and can give you advice about what storage materials you will need and the quantities.
  • Label boxes with contents. If you are moving home you can also write what room they will be going into, as well as the contents, to make unpacking easier. You can even colour code them!
  • If you are able to, we recommend you disassemble any furniture to save as much space as possible and to make it easier to move.

Check out our other blog posts for a more detailed guide for preparing your belongings for self storage.

 

Image of self storage corridor with magenta doors

Packing your Storage Unit

We have a very comprehensive guide on ‘How to pack your self storage unit‘, but here are our top tips!

  • Stack furniture and boxes vertically to make use of the storage unit’s height. Make sure you have good quality storage boxes if you are stacking heavier items.
  • Use shelving – if you need access to certain items it can be very useful to have easily accessible shelving to make accessing your belongings easier.
  • Leave aisles between items for easy access to your belongings.

 

We hope this ultimate guide to self storage has been helpful, and that you are now ready to make informed decisions about self storage. The Store Room has storage facilities in Bradford, Darlington, Leeds, Leicester, Preston, Rotherham, and Salford, and we will be happy to support you through your self storage journey. You can either get a quote online, or give one of our friendly self storage specialists a call on 0330 333 7866. Happy storing!