How Storage Companies Can Bring Down Relocation Stress?

Ah! The moving day is closing in. Apart from the sheer excitement of shifting to that new home you have been waiting for, there is also a thought that it is going to be an extremely long day of physical labor. Oh, yes! You have to pack and clean the cupboards full of stuffs that you haven't seen for years. Apart from the aforementioned ones, there are some other hassles, which you will have to face during your move and after you settle down in the new place. For instance, you have to take care of your belongings during the transitional period, placement of furniture etc.

So what should be done in these situations? The thought of renting a storage unit might be a good idea, but is it really useful? Yes, it is! Here are a few benefits we compiled to make you aware of the advantages in leasing a storage unit.

• Proper planning on placement of things

By keeping the furniture in a rented unit you can devote some time to deciding the placement of various items. An empty home will let you visualize space more easily, and you will be able to make more informed decisions as to where to locate your belongings.

• Make some space at your new home

By storing some extra items in the unit you can manage the space in your new home. Extra items will be out of your way.

• Some renovation work

If your new place demands some internal upgrades, you can complete the tasks without any hassle while the items remain secured in the unit. In other words, furniture and boxes will not interrupt the movement and they will also not be damaged during the renovation work.

• Space challenges at the new place

Your new home could be a small apartment, but this doesn't mean that you have to sell off some items. All you have to do is resort to a reputable storage unit for securing your belongings safely.

• Extras

Stack extra items in the storage unit so that there is no clutter in your new home. That family heirloom, an artwork which you bought on a holiday, an old photo album or any other item which you can't do away with, can be placed safely in the unit.

• Safe storage of valuables

During your move, you would never want to keep expensive items like a television set, a set of speakers in the vehicle, or at a place where there are chances of damage or theft. However, a storage unit facility will provide a much safer scenario to secure all your valuables.

By renting a storage unit, you can comfortably shift to your new location. However, there is also a need to hire a reputable storage company, ensuring safety of your belongings so that you can have peace of mind.

Clive Robert is an author and an active contributor specializes in business consultant and home improvement services. For many years, he has been writing about individual and business self storage unit services in Puyallup, Milton, Tacoma, Seattle and in many other cities to make the relocation stress free.

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Choosing the Right Self Storage Facility

There are many reasons to use a self storage facility. You might be between homes and staying at a hotel or with friends in the meantime. You might need to move into a smaller place for a little while, and don't want to get rid of your furniture and then have to buy all new things when you have more room again. Or you might just have too much stuff and too little storage space at home.

Whatever your reason, you will need to know how to choose a self storage facility that suits your needs. Here are a few things to consider.

1) How much space do you need?

Self storage facilities usually offer units in several different sizes. For instance, a small-size storage unit is typically about five feet by ten feet, which would hold the contents of a one bedroom apartment if packed tightly. Ten feet by ten feet is another common size for self storage units, and can hold the contents of a two-bedroom apartment or home. Garage-sized storage units are also common, and are used for larger homes and/or car storage.

Once you have figured out how much space you need, the first question you should ask each storage facility is what size units they have available. This way, you will be able to immediately eliminate any facilities that don't have the size you need.

2) How long do you need the storage unit for?

The length of time for which you are intending on storing your stuff can make a big difference when choosing between storage units. For instance, if you are only going to store your stuff for a couple of months, you will probably want to pay closer attention to rates and contract terms. On the other hand, if you are planning on long-term self storage, then the amenities each facility offers may weigh a little heavier on your decision.

3) What features are most important to you?

When you start looking at storage facilities, it is important to know which features you are willing to give up, and which you just have to have. For instance, if you are on a tight budget, price will probably be one of your deciding factors. Someone who works odd hours might require a self storage unit that doesn't lock down at 8 o'clock every night. Location is another thing many people aren't willing to negotiate on, especially with current gas prices.

4) Is the monthly rate a move-in special, or an ongoing rate?

Many storage facilities offer move-in specials in order to entice potential customers. Their goal is to make you sign the papers without continuing to shop around. Be sure to keep this mind, and don't let them trick you: Ask how long the move-in special will last, and how much the regular rate is. If you will need to use the storage unit for more than just a few months, you will probably want to compare regular rates as well as move-in specials.

5) How much is the deposit, and what are the terms?

Some self storage facilities require a deposit. When you are comparing prices between units, be sure to ask how much the deposit is, and what the terms are for getting it back after moving out.

6) What are the terms for moving out?

Even if you won't be moving your stuff out of self storage for a while, you will want to know a facility's terms before committing to anything. Most self storage facilities rent space month-by-month, which means that you can leave at any time. However, you will usually be required to notify the facility 30 days in advance.

7) What happens if you are late on a payment?

No one likes to think that they might not be able to pay their bills on time, but things do happen. Make sure you find out what the self storage facility's late policy is. Usually you will be charged some fees according to how late you are, and if you wait too long to pay, your belongings will be sold or otherwise disposed of. Ideally, you will want a grace period of a couple of months before this happens - this way, if you fall behind you will have time to get caught up without losing everything.

8) What amenities does the self storage facility offer?

There are a variety of amenities offered by self storage facilities. Some are climate-controlled, meaning that they are kept at a certain temperature (and sometimes a certain humidity, too); this type of environment is perfect for valuable items or collectibles that can be damaged by extremes in temperature or abrupt changes in humidity. Many have fences, gates, and security systems to protect customers' belongings. Extended hours, special padlocks, and on-site management are other amenities self storage facilities may offer.

9) Are you allowed to take the contract home with you?

Reading the contract for the first time during the sign-up process is dangerous for two reasons. One, the manager's office is generally not a good environment for concentrating on difficult-to-understand legalese. Two, the manager is usually waiting for you to finish and sign, which puts a lot of pressure on you. Perhaps as a combination of these two factors, many people quickly skim the document, and sign without fully understanding what they are agreeing to.

If you can take the contract home with you, you will be able to take your time reading it. Another advantage is the ability to compare contracts between different self storage facilities. The contracts will be similar in many places, but this way you can also make sure you don't agree to unfair terms that you could avoid by taking your business elsewhere.

Final Tips for Choosing a Self storage Facility

The best way to choose a self storage facility is to consider all your options carefully, and then choose the one that works best for you. This is easier said than done, however. When you are touring a storage facility, the manager's sales pitch usually sounds very convincing, and the move-in special very enticing - which is exactly the point.

To make sure you don't get sidetracked by convincing sales tactics, write out a list of the things you want to ask - then keep the list in your hand the entire time, to make sure you remember to check it. Get information first and make your decision later, when you can determine which self storage facility best satisfies your needs.

Jason Kay recommends that you find self storage at http://www.EasyStorageSearch.com, where all self storage units in your area are displayed on an interactive Google map.

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Why Your Business Should Utilize A Self-Storage Unit

Many businesses have found the benefits of using self-storage units for their storage needs. There are many uses that a self-storage unit can provide for the growing business especially when it comes to record-keeping and housing assets for future use. Most businesses know the value associated with space. In fact, the amount of space that is utilized to handle inventory is calculated into their overall profit margin. Storage units provide a different kind of value than inventory space because the space does not promote income so it is considered an overhead cost. This is why when a business looks at storage space they are looking for the most cost-effective means for storage.

How Self-Storage Units Can Be Cost-Effective

In most cases the cost of self-storage will be based on the size of the space that is rented and will be a monthly set fee. The business will calculate what the savings is in comparison to if a storage was not used. For example, in the past companies would house their retained records with document storage companies. This has lessened in recent years due to the cost associated with a company that handles all retained documents, especially in comparison to the cost of getting a storage unit that is managed by the department the documents came from. Another savings that has come about is the storage of assets such as furniture and fixtures.

The Flexibility And Control Over Stored Items

Another benefit to businesses having self-storage units is the convenience of having the stored items available when needed. As with any company, time is money. A lot of time can be spent waiting for a stored document with many systems. By having the convenience of a local storage unit there is no delay in getting what is needed at the time that it is needed. An example of this is if a company needs to add another office and the furniture needed for that office is in a local storage unit than the office can be set up and functional in a matter of hours instead of days. Instead of liquidating assets businesses are smart and investing in storing them for future use.

Be Sure To Set Up An Efficient Self-Storage Space

For a self-storage unit to be cost-effective, the business needs to organize the space in such a way that it is very efficient. This means that there needs to be an inventory of what is kept in the unit and where it can be found especially if it is a large space. If a company has several units that it uses and there is not a sufficient means of knowing where everything is, hours can be spent looking for the wanted item. This also goes for keeping records stored, which should have a filing system that can be readily understood. Most businesses will agree that the use of self-storage units was a smart maneuver for their business.

Ben Wells is a self storage expert, managing several Self Storage Facilities in the western United States. He also contributes articles with tips for organizing and moving and self-storage at several websites.

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The Expanding Use of Self-Storage in the United States

People are always collecting things, and when they run out of space in their home or garage to store their collections, they often turn to self storage. Once the collectibles are safely stowed away in a unit, they don't feel like moving them, because that would involve a lot of time and work. As long as people can afford their storage units, they may leave items there for months or years, not wishing to sell them.

The Golden Age of Self-Storage

Storage companies that were once seen as barely-legitimate business opportunities in the 1960s reached their golden age in the late 20th century, and into the 21st. People buying new homes, getting divorced, and baby boomers helping their parents clean out their basements all added to an increased need for cheap storage.

Some business owners who started with one storage facility ended up purchasing two or three, as more and more Americans found more items that needed to be stored. Some are more upscale, with all-interior rooms and 24 hour surveillance, but all serve a need for people to store things that they don't have room for in their homes.

Americans Accumulate Stuff

Americans have a knack for accumulating things. As disposable income grew up until 2008, we spent a lot of it. Prices for many things dropped. Even as early as the 1990s, Americans had about twice as many possessions each as they had 25 years before.

When families bought new vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens and coffee makers, they stored the old ones, if they still worked. As the buying trend continued, the US headed toward the middle class staring at an over-accumulation of possessions. Garages were filled. Outdoor furniture and sporting goods were stacked into the corners of yards.

The Storage Crisis

The storage crisis had reached what some people called epic proportions. People had so many home goods that they could possibly have almost filled another house. Faced with no more room in basements and garages, more Americans decided to rent storage units.

Families moving, couples divorcing, and children heading off to college all needed - and still need - a place to store the things that they no longer had room for, as they downsized houses or moved into college dorms. Storage companies fill this need.

Cheap self-storage is initially seen as a short-term solution for the logistical problem of too many goods. However, many people, once they start storing items, add to the unit, rather than moving the initial goods out. Renters find storage handy, especially if they move frequently, so that their less-often used possessions don't have to be moved every time. Self-storage is a valuable option for everyone who simply has more goods than they have room.

Christine writes for AccessSelfStorage.com, a self storage company with locations throughout New York and New Jersey. Visit their Cookstown storage location to learn about services.

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Top 5 Breakdown of Items Stored in Self Storage Facilities

Self storage is essentially DIY storage which you yourself have to plan and manage your own storage space. You have full control over how you want to store and using what tools to. Self storage is also very flexible, allowing customers to access their items whenever they need to and have a short rental package that are renewed periodically. Let's take a look at the breakdown of items commonly stored in self storage facilities.

Documents

Self storage is used not only for personal items but also for office documents. Office rental rates are soaring and it does not make sense financially to rent additional space in a prime area just for the storage of archive documents. Therefore, more and more small-medium enterprises (SME) are moving their documents to be stored in self storage facilities which offer exactly the same storage flexibility as that of their own office but at a much lower rate.

Clothes

A house is only so big and storage space for clothes is limited. One popular item stored in self storage is clothes such as thick winter fur coats which are only used occasionally in a year. This is especially so for customers who are living just next to the storage facility, providing those with extreme ease when they need to remove clothes for their own usage.

Cars

Cars are another hot item that is stored in self storage facilities. Due to reluctance of exposing your "wife" out to the natural elements, most people choose to store them in a sheltered area that offers security features so that they do not have to worry about break-ins. Without any restrictions to access the car, owners do not need to plan in advance when to use their own cars.

Seasonal decorations

Seasonal decorations such as Christmas trees or Chinese New Year greetings are only used once a year and keeping them in the storeroom for the other 11 months simply does not make sense. Therefore, many people prefer to keep them in self storage facilities together with the rest of their excess items, accessing them only when needed.

Emergency supplies

We can never predict when the next emergency will occur, be it an earthquake, hurricane or even the ongoing haze. Did you manage to get your N95 mask from the retailers during this haze period? How nice it would be if you had your own masks and eye drops stored in a self storage unit. Self storage units are excellent to store emergency supplies and you can immediately access it when something happens.

Running out of space at home? We introduce to you Big Orange where professional storage tips and storage space will be offered to maximize your storage space.

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Self Storage Units At Railroad Ave Self-Storage

Whether you have a need to store a few boxes, and some pictures, small furniture, an entire room of furniture, or an entire house contents, we have a space that can handle it and the pricing is much more reasonable than you might think.

We also have boat and RV storage.

We are located at 515 Railroad Ave in Suisun City, CA. Call us at 707-425-7300.

How To Make The Most Of Your Self Storage Experience

Using some kind of self storage unit can be quite helpful for the active individual or family. With the ways of the world today, we all sometimes need a special place to store our unused prized belongings while we go through a transition. Public storage units are like personal garages for those in need, but they are only helpful when you know how to take care of them. In order for you to make the most out of your self storage experience you will need to perform the following simple tasks as much as possible.

1. Keep your Unit Clean and Clear of Excess Debris

It will likely be nobody's fault but your own when you walk into your self storage unit and find it in disarray. Even stationary items can become messy after a long while, especially if you find yourself storing goods that have expiration dates. It is best that you steer clear of storing those things, and meanwhile always keep your unit as clean as possible. Clear the doorway of excess debris to make sure everything stays put and remains secure while you're gone.

2. Always Pay your Storage Dues on Time

This might seem like a pretty obvious tip, but you might be surprised to learn how many people lose everything they have in their storage unit because they refused or forgot to pay their dues. Each self storage unit operates in its own unique way, but most of them offer customers pretty flexible payment plans. Either way, the fees are typically very reasonable which means paying for your dues a few months in advance is always an option. Just don't forget to repay your fees when it becomes time ago, even if it has been a long time since you have had to.

3. Try to be Respectful of Other People's Property and/or Units

Never forget that there are other folks just like you who need the convenience and security of a self storage until in order to comfortable live their lives. With that in mind, never try to tamper with someone else's lot no matter how abandoned the site might seem. You would not want someone doing that to you. In addition, some self storage facilities carry harsh penalties for vandalizing, breaking and entering, or even tampering. To be safe, just stay to yourself and treat others and their things with respect at all times.

4. Check on your Items Often

Keep in mind that not everyone who has a self storage unit will be as friendly or respectful as you are. On top of that, there may come a time when criminals or even wild animals could gain access to your things. Moreover, the general passage of time can wreak havoc on even the most organized of spaces. For this reason, it is important that you go back and check on your stored items as much as you possibly can - perhaps once a week. This will eliminate most problems and help you to catch other issues before they get out too far of hand.

For more information on Self Storage visit http://www.mystorageworks.com.

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Should You Insure Your Items in Self Storage?

It's just human nature: when your belongings are out of sight in a storage unit, they are out of mind. This is one of the biggest benefits to renting storage, but it can also come back to bite you if you aren't careful. Valuables placed into storage should be insured, not forgotten. Your possessions may be covered by your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, but they may not, and it will be your responsibility to make sure.

Virtually all self storage facilities provide insurance that covers any damage to their building, but this does not necessarily cover damage to your items. Make sure you ask about optional tenant insurance when you rent a storage unit. This will be available for a small fee that will be added to your rental fee for valuable peace of mind.

Why You Should Get Insurance

In most cases, you can get $2,000 to $4,000 in coverage for your belongings in self storage for a fee of around $9 per month, and you can choose additional insurance if you will be storing valuables. This is a small additional price to pay if you are storing family heirlooms, furniture or other items that would be difficult to replace. Most tenant insurance policies cover damage caused by accidents like water, theft and fire damage, which are the most likely causes of damage to your belongings, and you can request additional flood insurance.

If you need to file a claim, you will do so through your tenant's insurance company, not your own policy that covers your belongings at home. This is a big advantage because it means claims will not cause a cancellation of your personal or business policies or affect the price you pay for homeowner's insurance or renter's insurance at home.

If your storage facility is located far from home, you can also request coverage for belongings in transit within a fifty mile radius. This is very important if you are going to hire a moving company to transport your belongings to self storage or to your home.

Business owners can also benefit from insurance. If you store business supplies, inventory or equipment in a self storage facility, ask yourself how your business would fare if you were to lose these items? Purchasing insurance can be a very wise investment to keep your business running.

What's Covered?

The items and situations covered will depend on your specific policy, but almost everything that can be stored in a self storage unit can be covered, except for vehicles, which require auto insurance. Be sure you read through your policy to make sure everything will be covered. You can get coverage against fire, theft and water damage, as well as flood damage.

Make sure you calculate the value of items you place into storage and know what your items are worth. Keep an inventory and buy the right amount of insurance for your own peace of mind.

Christine writes for http://www.accessselfstorage.com/, a storage company with locations throughout Metro New York and New Jersey. Learn about the deals they have now at the Cookstown, NJ location by clicking here

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A Complete Guide To Self Storage

There are companies that offer storage spaces to be rented out to clients. These storage spaces are then used by the clients so they can store their belongings. This is the whole idea of self storage.
These spaces can be rented out on a monthly or yearly basis. The target market is those who need to store a lot of their belongings because of any of the following reasons:

• They don't have the space at home.
• They're renovating.
• They're moving.
• They're selling the home.

Business owners would also avail of these services in order to store some of their properties.

The industry of self storage is mainly based in the United States. Currently, there are about 58,000 storage facilities all over the world and 46,000 of them are based in the United States. In fact in 2007, it has been said that the industry of self storage renting and leasing has earned an income of about $6.6 billion.

Self storage facilities are usually rented on a monthly basis, but there are also long term options available. Among the things that are being stored are household goods, appliances, furniture, boxes, supplies, sporting goods and pretty much all kinds of things. For businesses, they would often store inventory and archived records, including excess inventory of goods, etc.

History

There is no historical evidence of any publicly available storage before the year 1958 when the first modern self storage facility appeared. That was the Lauderdale Storage in Fort Lauderdale in the State of Florida, in the United States. The storage facility was owned by the Collum family.

In the 1990s, the number of storage facilities has increasingly grown. In fact, at that time, the demand for these services has outnumbered the number of supply.

From the year 2000 up to the year 2005, there have been more than 3,000 new self storage facilities that have been built in the United States alone. Since then, the growth of the industry has been very consistent.

Insurance

Items are normally not covered by the insurance of the facility. The lessor might be covered by his or her insurance policy if such insurance comes with coverage for items that are stored on the premises of the insured party. The lessor may also choose to purchase insurance in order to cover the items and this might be one of the services that the facility will offer through a third party company and in most instances, might require that the lessor will have to purchase as condition of the rental.

The rented self storage space is secured using the tenant's own key and lock. Since it's your very own space during the duration of your rental, employees of the self storage company will not have access to the storage space. With this, the company will not be liable for any theft. Furthermore, the company will not take possession of any of the contents except for non-payment of the rent. In this event, companies usually hold an auction for the unpaid storage spaces.

For more information on Self Storage visit http://www.mystorageworks.com.

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Avoid Problems With Self-Storage And Maximize Its Benefits

The benefits of anything good is easily offset when problems related to it cannot be overcome swiftly. In fact, the object should be is to address issues before they actually escalate into a problem. In the use self-storage facilities, it is fairly easy to anticipate potential problems and totally avoid them to maximize the benefits of the service.

Transacting with the Wrong Self-Storage Facility

This is easily avoided by doing prior research about self-storage facilities and the available options to choose from. Obtaining information about the performance and reputation of a self-storage facility of interest is always a wise move. With the wide availability of reviews and forums, it is possible to separate the good ones from the undesirable service providers.

It is also important not to enter into long-term contracts so that it would be easy to transfer to another facility in the event that the chosen one does not measure up to expectations. Typical issues that may arise are related to security, convenience, and safety. It would be best to get recommendations from family or friends who had actual experience with the service.

Damage to Stored Property

Damage to stored property may come about due to natural occurrences which cannot be prevented or negligence on the part of the self-storage facility and the owner of the stored property. Insurance usually takes care of the first cause. However, negligence of any of the transacting party is a more complicated issue although less devastating than the havoc created by nature.

Negligence on the part of the owner usually happens in packing stored property. When the wrong type and size of boxes are used, there is a high possibility that the stored items' condition will be compromised through time. Negligence on the part of the self-storage facility usually arises from the lack of proper maintenance of the facility such as the failure to do a timely repair of a water leak. Water is especially damaging to any stored item.

Rate Increase

Short-term contracts are usually not affected by rate increases. Rate adjustments by logic tend to be an unwelcome change for customers especially if the increase is drastic, unexpected, and unreasonable. Reputable companies rarely do this unless absolutely justified since they are highly concerned with keeping the customers.

Customers can protect themselves from unreasonable rate increases by looking into the provisions of the company with regards to such a situation. They should also be keeping in mind a second choice just in case the first choice doesn't work out as well as expected. The good thing about this issue is that there really many available options available today in a wide range of budget. Physically transferring may be the more challenging part.

Self-Storage Auctions

Self-storage facilities are allowed by law to auction the content of unpaid units. The only way to prevent this from happening is to pay the rent due as they fall. Other than for this reason, there is nothing else that can put the contents at risk for being the property of another.

For more information on self storage, visit: http://www.storagedepotpa.com.

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Happy New Year!

Wishing You and Your Family a Wonderful Year Ahead!

Happy New Year from Railroad Avenue Self Storage!