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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