There is nothing as exciting as the thrill of going away on a long journey, but it also leaves you with the responsibility of planning for the entire trip in advance. You are done with booking your travel and accommodation but that is not all, there are many more to-do-list you need to tick before you embark on your long vacation. From paying all your bills to planning what to do with your pets, the list is long but one of the most important things is how to protect your belongings when you are away. Yes, you have a home where you can lock everything but if you are away for months, what about the security of all the unsupervised belongings?
A self-storage facility can be an affordable solution to storing your belongings securely in a climate-controlled condition which is under surveillance 24/7. Here are some tips that would be helpful in renting and storing your belonging in the self-storage unit before your long-term travel.
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Make a List of Things You Need to Store:
The first step is to consider the items you need to store. Do you want to just store the outdoor unsecured items such as vehicles and bicycles or do you want to store away your entire belonging to avoid unnecessary rent payment of the house? It is better to make an itinerary of the things you plan on storing in the unit.
If you decide upon storing only a few items from the house, then focus on storing valuable items first. Do not pack the unit with a lot of unwanted items which will lead you to rent a bigger unit unnecessarily.
Decide Upon the Size of the Storage Unit You Need:
Once you are aware of the number of belongings you need to store, you can decide the size of the storage unit you need to rent. Self-storage units come in several sizes, you have the freedom to rent a small unit which stores few items to renting a unit which can store your entire house belongings. You can further take the help of the storage sizing guide self storage Danville.
Choose the Right Storage Facility:
Once you have made a list of items you need to store, the next step is to find a storage unit that fits all your needs. Do not make this decision in a hurry as you will be trusting this company with all your belongings. Do some research, get references, visit the unit and inspect thoroughly to make sure it is clean and well secured before you finalize a storage unit.
Use Climate Controlled Storage Unit If Required:
If you plan on storing climate sensitive items such as paintings, electronics, wood furniture, you need to rent a climate-controlled unit. The cost of this unit will obviously be higher, but you can be assured that your belongings are safe and won’t be subjected to extreme climate changes.
Pack Your Items Properly:
You need to properly pack your belongings and make sure they are secure. You can use boxes to stack breakable items and make sure boxes are off the floor. If you are not careful about how you pack and stack your items, there is a possibility your items will get damaged in a long term.
Organize Your Unit:
Store the boxes in a systematic manner with bigger boxes in the bottom. Store fragile items separately and make sure you leave an aisle to walk. All boxes and container need to be labelled on all sides.
Pay Rent in Advance:
If you are going away for many months, either set up an auto debit option every month or prepay in advance for the number of months you plan on being away. When you are traveling, you might forget to pay the rent sometime. You don’t want to come back to see your unit locked by the company.
Purchase Insurance for Items in Storage Unit:
It is a good idea to be covered in all senses when it comes to the security of your belongings. Adding insurance will make sure to add another layer of security to your items while you are away.
Make Your Friends Visit the Unit Now and Then:
If you are away for many months, you can request a friend to access the unit for you on a monthly basis to check if everything is in order. If there is an issue, they can respond to it immediately rather than you finding about it after many months.
Keeping a note of these easy steps will take off your mind from worrying about your valuables and make your travel just a bit more exciting.
