Dec
15

9 Tips For Packing Your Self Storage Unit

Whether you're moving to a new area, remodeling your current space, or you just need to get some things out of your house, a self-storage unit can be a great option. But you want to be sure you're packing it correctly, so you can get the most space for your money.

Proper packing will also help ensure that the items you're storing are protected and kept safe during their time in the unit, so you can use them again later, sell them, or donate them to others without worrying about damage. Here are nine important tips for making sure you pack your self-storage unit the right way.

1. Pack Your Items Tightly Together

To keep items from bouncing around and banging together, and to maximize the space in your self-storage unit, you'll want to pack your items tightly by following these packing and storage tips. There are two ways to do that. One is to pack each box fully and completely, so there isn't any extra room in it. The second way is to pack the boxes themselves tightly against one another when you put them into the storage unit.

By doing both of those things you have the most possible space in the unit, and you'll have the best chance of getting everything you need to store into the space properly, as well. Make sure you're packing the items the right way, though, and not just piling everything into boxes to make more space. You don't want things getting damaged when you move them from your home to storage.

By making sure everything is packed tightly together you reap the benefits of renting a self storage unit. 

2. Use Boxes and Containers to Pack Your Items

The right boxes and containers make the difference when packing up items. If possible, use boxes or containers that are all the same size, or only a couple different sizes. That makes it easier to stack and store everything, and also protects items better than a haphazard collection of storage containers. You'll want to select storage options that are sturdy, especially for heavier objects or anything that's easily breakable.

Books, for example, will need to be stored in a box that's solidly taped and sealed up on the bottom, because they weigh a lot. You can store clothing and linens in lighter-weight boxes that aren't as heavily reinforced, since they weight quite a bit less. Storage containers such as totes are great choices for items, too, and they're sealed up against the elements a little better, as well. That can be very important if your self-storage unit it's climate controlled.

3. Label Your Boxes and Containers

Labeling all your boxes and containers makes it so much easier for you to find the things you need at a later date. Whether you're moving them to another location later and need to know which room to put them in, or you just need to find something in the storage unit, labels will help. As you pack each box or container for the storage unit, clearly label it on at least two sides and the top. That will help you see the labels if the box is in a stack.

4. Pack Heavier Items on the Bottom and Lighter Items on the Top

All the heavy items that need to go into your storage unit should be on the bottom. That creates a solid base for the lighter items that will be put on the top, and also helps protect those lighter items from harm. When you pack boxes and totes, make sure you pack heavier items first.

These items can often fill up several boxes, and those boxes can go into the unit first. Make sure you don't put heavy items in the bottom of a box and fragile items in the same box, if you're planning on putting more boxes on top. That could result in broken or damaged items, but it's easily avoided.

5. Use Blankets and Towels to Protect Fragile Items

Instead of packing up boxes of towels and blankets that take up space, use those towels and blankets as packing material around fragile items. This is a great way to reduce the number of boxes and containers you're using, and also save money on packing materials. It's not always possible to use every blanket or towel this way, but unless the fragile items would cause harm to the linens there's no reason not to put them to good use.

6. Pack Your Items in an Orderly Fashion

Being orderly may make the packing take a little longer, but you'll be glad you took the time when you have to unpack things later. There's no reason to just throw everything into a box when you can pack it all away neatly and know that unpacking it later will be easy and free of stress.

Another reason to pack items neatly is that some of them are at a higher risk of damage if they aren't kept upright or are put together with other types of items. It's certainly tempting to just toss everything together when you just want to get things packed up and out of the way, but it's not worth the hassle that will come along later.

7. Use Packing Tape to Secure Boxes and Containers

Packing tape is the best choice to secure your containers and boxes. A lot of people use masking tape or even scotch tape or painter's tape, but these don't work as well as tape that's specifically designed for packing. You can buy wide packing tape for the bottoms of heavy boxes, and narrower tape for lighter boxes and smaller items.

Because packing tape is inexpensive, it's worth buying enough of it to properly seal up all the boxes and containers you're going to be storing in your unit. 

8. Make Sure That You Have Enough Space to Move Around in Your Storage Unit

Many people choose the smallest storage unit they can, with the hope that they'll save themselves some money that way. It may be a little less expensive, but that comes at the cost of being a huge hassle when you need to find something that's stored away.

Instead of getting the smallest self-storage space possible, consider getting a bigger one, so you have an aisle or a space in the middle where you can move around inside the unit. That way you can move boxes and containers around as needed, and have room to look through containers to find the item you need.

9. Keep a List of What You Have Stored in Your Self-Storage Unit

As you pack up boxes and label them, make a list of what's in them. Some people even number their boxes, and then list what items go with each number. That can help you quickly find items you need by locating the right box fast. It's also important if the items in the self-storage unit are damaged or stolen, because you have information on the things you owned.

If you have some items that are unique or valuable, consider also insuring them separately and taking pictures of them, for peace of mind and proof of ownership. With some care and planning, you can pack your self-storage unit and store all your items successfully.

By: Lee Preston
Lee is the Director of Marketing and Promotion for EZstorit.com. When she is not working with our storage facilities partners, she is writing about topics that affect our daily lives.