You have stuff you use certain times of the year. Maybe it is the boating accessories you take to the lake each summer or the fishing gear you spend the spring using. Each holiday there are decorations for outside and inside. Your winter sports gear needs a place to stay during the summer. Using a mini storage building is the extra space you need to store your off season things.

The idea of a mini storage building evokes pictures of boxy, metal garage type buildings lining highways and dark industrial areas. The facilities built today are more modern, architecturally pleasing and made to blend in with their surroundings.

There are a few steps to take when picking a facility to store your belongings and packing the items correctly.

Estimate how much space you will need to store your off season items. Make a rough sketch of possible ways to arrange your items so they are organized and easily accessible when you need them. Choose a mini storage building and pack to the ceiling instead of paying for unused space in a larger unit. These mini units are specifically designed for small loads.

Check with facilities in your area to get an estimate on the square footage of their mini storage building . If your equipment takes up vertical space, be sure to get height measurements as well.

Ask about the monthly rental cost and if there is any security deposits required. Is there a minimum time to rent the building? Insuring your contents might be your responsibility so be sure to ask. Find out when you can access your belongings. Most mini store building facilities allow access 24 hours a day for free, but some will have restrictions and charges. Ask what type of security the facility uses. You do not want your valuable gear ending up in the possession someone else.

Will you need a flashlight to access your belongings at night or is lighting provided? Will you need electrical outlets? Ask if the buildings are wired for electricity. Will you need controlled conditions for your items? Storing holiday candles in a building that can easily reach over 100 degrees can lead to disaster. The building needs to be dry for those heirloom linens and electronics. Having your building temperature and humidity controlled usually costs extra.

You should give some thought to how you will organize your belongings. Pack carefully. Use boxes that close in size for easier stacking. Plastic containers will hold up better than cardboard. Leave room to walk between boxes and gear. Fill the boxes to the top with padding to keep them from collapsing.

Treat anything metal with a rust protector. Finding your lawnmower with huge rust holes next spring can be disappointing. Lay plastic sheeting and old bed sheets on the floor to protect from condensation. Leave room around the walls for air to circulate.

Do not store flammables or combustibles in your mini store building. This includes gasoline, oil, cleaning fluids and paint thinner. Empty all gas tanks in your lawn mowers, boat motors and other gasoline powered equipment.

Storing your off season holiday decorations, outdoor furniture, kids toys, winter clothes, golf clubs, skis, bicycles, tools, camping gear, and lawn equipment in a mini storage building allows you to free up space in your home. With a little planning and organizing, you can have your belongings stored and easily accessed when you need them.

Source : Self Storage Blog

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A little effort can go a long ways towards protecting your items while they are in storage. Anything worth paying to store is worth protecting it while it’s stored. For the safety of your items, those in neighboring units and in consideration of the owner/management of the storage facility, it pays to pay attention to pest control. Here are 10 Storage Tips to Keep Bugs, Mice, & Ants Out of Your Unit.

1. Before moving furniture into storage clean it and vacuum thoroughly. Get all the crumbs, debris and stains off sofas and chairs including down in the cracks and crevices. Any “extras” left in here is a calling card for bugs and once started it affects not only your stuff but that in other units too.

2. Thoroughly clean appliances, large and small, for the same reason. Those crumbs in the toaster tray, the food stuck on small appliances or pans invites in problems you don’t want. Clean means nothing to attract bugs or mice and without food and shelter they will not stay.

3. Mothballs work well in boxes of clothing. Be careful though and use cause as they can stain clothes. Putting some in the unit, where they won’t stain the contents, is a good idea however. Cedar scented blocks and sachets can be made or purchased to be tucked into boxes of clothing or household goods like towels, blankets and sheets. A good sachet can last three to four months, enough for short term storage.

4. Don’t be afraid to use contained insecticides – roach and ant baits can be an inexpensive thing to put in the corners as you don’t know what others have stored in their storage sheds.

5. Use mouse and rat baits, or traps with peanut butter instead of cheese. Don’t use the traps if you don’t check it regularly – leaving one sit in the trap doesn’t catch others after the trap is sprung.

6. For additional natural deterrents look to herbs. Catnip is said to repel ants, lavender repels moths, sage repels slugs and mint can be effective against many kinds of pests. Mint and tansy are said to repel mice, although tansy can cause allergic reactions in some people.

7. Stick to canned goods and securely sealed (screw on lids) jars packed to prevent breakage if you absolutely must store food . Because it attracts pests, food is highly discouraged.

8. Buckets from bakeries can be used to store rice or grains. It’s strongly suggested this be for a minimal amount of time in a storage unit. There are so many factors that are beyond our control that it pays to use caution. Boxed foods and plastic bags simply offer no resistance to mice and bugs, resulting in an infestation of pests that no one wants.

9. Make sure up around the top there are not holes that birds can get into. Having a bird trapped in a storage unit can be very messy and unpleasant!

10. Avoid storing candles in warm climates and those with liquid like snow globes in cold ones. Some units are not protected from heat and freezing, and not only can the items become damaged but anything under it also. This, in turn, can attract pests due to the oils or dampness. If you must store items like this go for a climate controlled unit, which better protects all of your items.

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson self storage facility with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. For more storage tips and information, visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

Life simply works best when we have our physical environment really work. When we’re organized, we can think more clearly, we’re more efficient, and we can take on projects that have lain dormant for months or even years.

Whether your storage room is at home or at work, the following advice applies. The key is always keeping the appropriate things in the storage room instead of allowing this room to be a place where things get put because there’s no other place to put them.

Remember, good, lasting organization doesn’t happen overnight. It is crucial to start smart because decluttering takes a lot of effort at the beginning. I strongly recommend getting expert advice in order to see results quickly and avoid getting bogged down in too much “stuff”. You’ll save yourself hours and hours of work if you listen to the right people.

If you’re cleaning the storage room, following these simple steps will at least get you started:

Step #1 in Cleaning the Storage Room – Sort Everything in the Storage Room. Always ask yourself, “Does this really belong here?” If it does, make a place for it. If it does not, find another place. For years, I had many things in our storage room that I never actually used. Therefore, the storage room became a place filled mostly with things I didn’t need plus several things that I used a lot, like wrapping paper, and office supplies.

Finally, I decided that I wanted the storage room to be a room that we used, like an extra room of the house where we put things that we’d need.

So, I sorted everything in the storage room into three categories: 1) keep, but never use, 2) stay in storage room, and 3) go somewhere else in the house

Step #2 in Cleaning the Storage Room – Clear Everything Out. All of the things that I wanted to keep but didn’t need to have readily available, like old pictures, family history, financial records, etc., I put up in the attic. I even put holiday decorations in the attic. I knew that I would need them once a year and since my attic is very organized, I figured that I could climb up there every few months to get holiday decorations.

Step #3 in Cleaning the Storage Room – Store Things Efficiently. Make the best use of your space. Instead of having a two-foot high CD storage unit that would carry 100 CDs, we converted a tall book shelf into a CD tower by getting extra boards cut for shelves and spacing them only far enough apart to place CDs on them.

Then, we set up bookshelves for all of the books that we wanted to keep but weren’t reading at the time. We also stored all of the children play toys that didn’t need to be out all of the time, but did need to be accessible. The wrapping paper supplies we put on shelves so that we could pull out paper, or bags, or bows without having to re-arrange a lot of boxes.

Now, our storage room stays organized and we use it daily. Having that extra usable space lets us keep our house clear of things that we don’t need available all of the time.

Dr. Isabella Santorini used to be a messy packrat until she and her husband began their family. Since then, she’s mastered the fine art of organizing her house for success. If you’d like to easily make your house a wonderful place to live, don’t waste valuable time and energy. Visit her at: http://www.Inner-Genius.com

Many people wonder how they can build their own shed. With all of the shed designs and instructions available today, it’s really quite easy! Here you will learn a little about the basics of building a shed, and find out about some of the shed designs that are available for you to choose from.

Some people try to go to their local home improvement or hardware store, buy a few tools, some lumber and begin to build their own shed. This is NOT the proper procedure, if you want to do it right. With thousands of storage shed designs available that include step by step instructions, there is no reason to throw up a ramshackle shed. Do it right, and you will be proud of your effort!

You really should begin by deciding where your shed will be located on your property. Make sure you find the most level spot, and that you’re not overstepping the boundaries of the roads or someone else’s property.

The next step should be deciding what type of foundation you will build your shed on. Concrete or wood is fine, but remember that should you ever decide to move your shed, you will have a concrete slab to deal with later. Many shed designs are now built using a wood foundation which works very well.

Once you have chosen a good location and decided what type of foundation you will use, decide what kind of shed design you want. There are many styles to peruse, from a simple square shed to much more elaborate styles. Make sure you have the perfect plan to suit your needs before you begin to build your storage shed.

Another thing to consider – how large your shed needs to be. If you are only going to store a few small items such as flower pots, garden tools, and a push mower, a small storage shed will probably do. But if you have big equipment like riding lawn mowers, four wheelers and things of that nature, you will want to build a larger shed.

Using your storage shed as a work area also needs to be considered. You will need plenty of room to move around your work bench, get to your tool location, etc. Think about these types of things when choosing your shed design and layout.

There are many other things to consider when you decide to build your own storage shed, but these tips will help you get started. With the proper planning, organization and tools, you will be able to build a shed that you will be proud to call your own for years to come! Storage shed plans are easy to come by, so do yourself a favor and do it right.

Learn how easy it is to build a shed that you can be proud of! For tips, ideas and a FREE shed plan, visit The How to Build Blog.

Garages are the perfect place to store all of your junk which you can’t find space for in your home. Everything from sporting equipment, to your treasured tools and even your machines. It was originally used to look after your car however these days have long since gone! If your garage is like mine and is only used to store food then you might need to organize it so you can reclaim your garage.

Garage shelves can normally be built in two different forms. Ones that are already made, or ones that are built on site. Site built shelves are much cheaper and more flexible. You will be able to find all of these things at your local home hardware store, or even lumber yard.

One of the most basic solutions is just a simple shelving system constructed out of plywood and held on strong brackets. You can strengthen the shelf by using braces at the studs.

Another type of shelving unit for your garage may be ones that stand on the floor. The most common and typical type of shelf is between 19 and 25 inches deep. It is normally constructed out of 2×4 wood and is arranged by 25 inches. These sizes can be adjusted in order to accommodate different sizes of items.

In order to store small items then you will need to keep small spaces between the studs. Attaching 1×2 strips of wood horizontally can make these shelving units much more functional for your purposes. This will prevent smaller units from slipping between the studs and falling off the shelf. Small shelves are a fantastic way to organize all of the small items in your garage including your screws and nails.

Another very important thing which you should consider when using prefabricated shelving is the possibility of adjusting the shelving system. By using prefabricated shelves which are adjustable you can set the shelves in at least two separate positions. This will enable a much more flexible and useable shelving system to help you to organize your garage. The pins should be able to be moved in order to move the shelves. You do need to make sure that these pins and shelves are heavy duty so that they will last for a long time. It is important you buy heavy duty shelving so that it doesn’t accidentally fall apart when you throw something onto the shelf!

Another thing which you need to think about when choosing shelving systems for your garage, in particular using prefabricated shelves. You should be careful when choosing shelves which are designed to handle heavy loads. Heavy duty shelves may need to be fixed back against the wall in order to stop it tipping over and crushing anyone.

Focusing on news and information about workbench designs, the author writes almost entirely for http://www.insidewoodworking.com – You can come across his work on garage workbench plans at different sources for garage workbench plans knowledge.

With more people today choosing apartments or smaller homes, the need for a place to store extra belongings that are only needed occasionally is on the rise. People used to store seasonal ornaments and clothing in the attic. With many homes today having nothing more than a crawl space for the attic, people have to find other places to store those items they only use occasionally. This trend of smaller homes-or at least less storage space-has created a boom in the self-storage industry.

For those who are not familiar with self-storage, these are units that you rent on a monthly basis and to which you have access to enter and leave at will within certain specified hours. The gates are often password or keycard activated in such a way that, if you fail to make your monthly payments, you are unable to even enter the gates to your unit. They come in several different sizes with larger units often having entry from both sides to allow easier access to the other end of the storage unit.

Self-storage units are convenient for storing those extras that you do not use frequently, but lack storage space when not in use. This includes such items as Christmas trees and ornaments, seasonal equipment and clothing, and even furniture you are not currently using. As long as you pay your storage fee each month, you are the only one with access to the unit. However, payment default allows management the authority to cut off your lock and replace it with another one. After thirty days, most self-storage facilities will place the contents of your unit up for auction.

With a self-storage unit, you can also purchase insurance through the facility that will cover your belongings each month. Of course, if you have homeowners’ insurance, you may not need this additional protection. Check your policy to see how far your insurance covers your belongings and whether it covers things stored in locations other than your home. If it does, there is no need for you to purchase additional insurance.

One problem that you are up against with a self-storage facility is that there is no actual contract, and as such, they can raise the rent on your unit any time they so choose. This doesn’t mean they WILL do it, but there is nothing legally you can do to stop them. You rent the units on a monthly basis, so therefore, the facility is free to raise the rent on you with little more than thirty days’ notice. For those who live in apartments, there is probably no other alternative, but for homeowners who simply lack space in their homes, it is likely to be more economical to purchase a storage building for their back yard.

Self-storage units are certainly an alternative to getting rid of a great deal of stuff you seldom use, but they are certainly not a sound economic move if other possibilities exist. They are, however, a growing market, and one that is being utilized by people and businesses alike.

You are most likely the same as everyone else. You clean the entire house only to be overwhelmed with the clutter. Organization is the key. Closet storage systems have become one of the best ways to stay organized. You can transform any small space into extra storage with the proper system. There are storage units available for any size closet from the broom closet in the kitchen to the walk-in closet in the master bedroom. When the clutter becomes overwhelming it is time to get organized.

You will find quality closet storage systems at most retail stores. You can choose from metal, plastic, or wood. There are many accessories purchased separately to complete the system. Purchasing the storage system from the retail store may be pricier than you think. By the time you get the wall brackets, drawer slides, and other hardware the cost may go up quite a bit.

You can purchase complete closet storage systems, including the hardware, online and at home improvement centers. The hardware is usually included. You should not worry about putting it together. Most of the organizing systems can be put together using simple tools. The instructions are very detailed and easy to follow.

The closet storage systems come in many different colors and styles. There is one to match any décor. The wood systems can be painted to match. Staining the wood will allow the closet storage system to match your cabinets or other furniture pieces. These versatile pieces can become part of your furniture.

The hardest part of any storage system is deciding what you want. You can choose a wall unit with shelves. You can add drawers and storage bins. Hanging systems with tiered dowel rods are available. The choice is all in what you what to do.

With a closet storage system you can turn a walk-in closet into a personal dressing room. Simply adding a mirror and sitting bench would make the transformation complete. Depending on the size of your closet it may be possible to install a vanity. This could make it the perfect room to get ready for the big date.

Closet storage units in the kitchen can turn a small broom closet into a needed pantry. With shelving systems and pullout drawers storage is a breeze.

Adding a closet storage system to the space available in your house can significantly cut down on the clutter. You will know where everything is at a glance. It is nice to have a place for everything and everything in its place.

The garage shelf design is just one of the many storage organizations available. It is one of the many popular systems in the industry. There are many advantages for such reason. First is its being very accessible. You can have a number of shelves in the garage and this makes it extremely convenient for you to store any kind of belonging you have. Working tools, sports equipment, and other excess items that the house inside cannot accommodate will find place for this system.

Shelves also take up only small areas of the vertical spaces of the garage. You can place lots of them in these particular portions, and yet you will still have spaces that can be used for other system as well.

Versatility is another reason why they are popular. There are a wide range of designs, styles, and configurations available in the market. With these choices, you can have one that will surely fit your preferences. Durable and heavy duty shelves are available as well. If you want a long-lasting storage system, make sure you pick these kinds but don’t sacrifice aesthetics over this quality. Choices will include shelves that are made of steel, free-standing metal, wood, composites, and others.

When it comes to costs, they are one of the least expensive systems in the market. Different shelves are available in various low prices, but some make it even more economical solution. Building your own storage shelves will save you lots of dollars. With the right materials, tools and design, you can construct those for your own garage. Wood planks are most ideal for this venture and you can find them through some home improvement dealers.

Plastic shelves are popular for the reason that they are very handy to install. They are also one of the most space-saving solutions as portable ones can be stack up over one another. They are also durable, highly-resistant against damaging moisture and elements. With them, you are also sure that they will last inside your garage.

If a shelf design is perfect for your needs, then there is no reason for you to delay the need to create one. If you can’t do it with your own hands, you have two options. Go to home improvement store and look for the right storage shelves. Purchase some and install them in your garage. Or, select crew people and have them built and install for you.

A storage shed can be found in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and even colors. They are becoming more and more popular, especially because they can be so versatile. There are many things that you can use a storage shed for, and there are a variety of different benefits to having one of your own. The following are a few great benefits that you could enjoy by purchasing your own storage shed.

1. Great for Extra Storage – One of the best benefits of having your own storage shed is that you can use it for extra storage. Many times you may find that you do not have room in your home for those boxes of Christmas decorations or for those knick knacks you just don’t care to display. Having a storage shed provides you with a nice sheltered place where that you can use for extra storage if you need it.

2. Gives You Space for a Workshop – Another great benefit of having your own storage shed is that you can finally have a place for that workshop you have been dreaming of. Perhaps your wife won’t let you have workshop in the garage, and you really want a place for that wood working hobby. Having a storage shed would give you your very own place to call your workshop, and you could tinker around to your hearts content.

3. Your Own Personal Gym – If you are a fitness buff, or just trying to keep that spare tire from creeping up on you, you can actually use a storage shed as your own personal gym. Why spend all that money on gym memberships when you can use your own storage shed for the exercising you need. It will definitely be very beneficial to you to be able to set up your very own workout room in your storage shed.

4. Provides Organization for Supplies – Getting organized is important, and having a storage shed can provide you with a place to get your tools, garden supplies, or even your pool supplies all organized. No doubt you want to be sure that you can easily find everything, and when you have a nice storage shed to store and organize your supplies in, it will make finding everything so much easier and also keep your supplies well protected too.

As you can see, there are a variety of benefits to having your very own storage shed. Whether you need a place for storage, a personal workshop, a place to workout, or even just a place to keep your supplies organized, no doubt you will benefit from installing a storage shed. The cost of these sheds are very reasonable, and for an affordable investment, you can enjoy all the benefits of having a storage shed in your back yard.

How does the saying go? “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure” Well weather you have treasures or junk you still need a place to put it and that is where a storage rental unit can be a great benefit. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to access and a great way to clean up the clutter in your home and finally get organized.

With this in mind let’s look at what we need to get the most from your AAA self storage. First of all it is important that you do a little investigative work when considering which storage rental unit you will rent. Check out the deals that some storage rental companies offer. Some may offer one or two months free rent. Others might offer free truck rentals to help you move or a combination or the two. In any event it is worth your while to check out several companies to see what kid of deals they offer.

The next step is to decide what size unit you will need. This is where you will have to decide what is worth paying for to store and what is junk and needs to be tossed. In some areas storage space is considered prime real estate and can be costly so it is imperative that you take a hard look to see if you really need those striped bell bottoms.

Once you decide what to keep you need to pick a storage unit that that will accommodate your belongings. Storage rental units come in various sizes but the most common sizes are 10X10 and 10X20. You can fit alt of storage in these units if you organize and plan properly.

When you plan your storage it is good to buy large Tupperware style bins (you can purchase at Wal-Mart fairly cheap) and store you items in these bin to protect them from dirt, dust, and mice and rats. You can label these bins for easy access and they will stack very neatly. When packing your unit always pack your most valuable item first thus making it harder for someone to take should someone gain unauthorized access to your unit.

Security should also be a concern when picking your unit. Pick a unit close to the manager’s office if possible and under their security light. You can also usually buy a lock from the manager’s office as well. I find these locks decently priced and they are the best locks for storage units.

It is wise to consider insurance if you will be storing anything of great value to you. Most make the mistake of thinking that their belongings are automatically insured but they are not! Most storage rental companies will provide you with an insurance carrier that will insure your belongings against fire, theft etc. for a reasonable price. It is important to check it out and know your coverage before going in.

The bottom line is that your storage rental units can be a godsend and will allow you to become more organized and stress free. So make the best use of your AAA Storage rental unit and get organized!