1. Pallets, Pallets, Pallets

Keeping your items off the floor is almost essential. It might sound silly but before renting your unit there’s no way to promise that precipitation won’t come under the door that soaks its way into your heirloom sofa. Don’t take that chance. When your items are up and off the floor and on a pallet, you’re also helping to encourage air flow which is always a good thing.

  1. Wrap What You Can

It is always a good idea to wrap what you can in industrial plastic wrap. That way you know your personal belongings are sealed up tight and won’t collect dust or creepy crawlies.

  1. Use A Hefty Small Lock

You’ll want an all-weather padlock., that we have instore.

  1. Label, Label, Label

Even though you know exactly what you’re putting in your storage unit at the time you open it, that doesn’t mean in 6 months when you need back in that you won’t be digging for ages and opening random boxes until you find what you’re after. Label everything including the hidden and the obvious.

  1. Plan For Temperature Changes

You might have a few things that don’t like the cold or the heat and should either be double wrapped or well insulated or not stored at all. Electronics, vinyl records, old photos (if humid), etc. all come out a little less awesome when not stored properly.

  1. Monitor Weather Conditions

No matter where you live the weather can go from one extreme to another in a few short hours. It can be 40 degrees one day, and overnight creating icy conditions the next. Planning ahead is always helpful, especially when you are carrying heavy items between your vehicle and storage unit.

  1. Bust Out Your Tetris Skills

Even small storage units can hold a great deal, just make sure you use the space wisely which means packing things all the way to the ceiling. Bringing in plywood to lay across several boxes can help stabilize layers as you’re stacking it up, up and up! It will take the pressure off the tops of your boxes and help keep things safe. It is also wise to plan ahead with what you load first and last into the unit. If you know you will be accessing certain items more frequently, you will want to put those in closer to the door (put them in last). You might also find it helpful to create an aisle down the middle of the unit to the back, so you will be able to gain access to everything in your storage unit.