• What New Parents Should Know About Storing Baby Gear

    After the birth of your first child, you may be surprised at the sheer volume of stuff that is required for parenting a newborn. As your child gets older, many of your essential baby items will no longer need to be used. Rather than donating or tossing these items, however, you may want to place them in a storage unit near Palo Alto . A storage rental company that offers mobile storage can house your baby gear for future children or grandchildren. Read on for a look at what new parents should know about storing baby gear. baby - clothes

    Baby Clothes Should be Clean and Folded

    When you decide to have another child, you can save time and money by reusing many of the baby clothes that were worn by your firstborn. To prepare your baby clothes for storage, you will need to clean and fold them prior to packing. Ideally, you should wash baby clothing in unscented laundry detergent, as strongly scented cleaning products can attract moths and other unwanted pests.

    Baby Swings and Cribs Can Often Be Disassembled

    Prior to placing larger baby items, such as cribs and swings, into storage, you may want to determine whether they can be disassembled. Many baby items are specifically designed to easily break down for compact storage. If you are unable to disassemble a larger baby item, it is a good idea to cover it with a drop cloth once it has been moved into the storage unit.

    Baby Toys Can be Stored for Future Generations

    If you have invested in quality toys for your young children, you may want to consider storing these items for use by future generations of your family. Once your children have grown old enough to have families of their own, they may be delighted to discover that you have kept some of their favorite childhood playthings. Long term storage will allow you to keep these items around for many years, without having to take up valuable closet space in your home.

  • What Should I Do with a Deceased Family Member’s Belongings?

    The death of a loved one can be a very painful time for any family member. After your family member passes away, you may also be faced with the difficult task of sorting through his or her belongings. By renting a storage unit in Mountain View , you can safely contain your deceased family member’s belongings until you are emotionally ready to start the sorting process. A self storage company can offer you temporary storage during your time of grief. Read on for an overview of some strategies for going through a deceased family member’s belongings.

    Storage Facilities For Deceased Family Members in Mountain View, CA

    Hold On to Important Items

    When you are going through your loved one’s personal belongings, you are sure to find many items that you want to keep. Some of these items may be valuable objects, while others may be small keepsakes that remind you of cherished memories. Allowing yourself to hang on to important items may provide you with a sense of comfort and condolence as you are processing difficult emotions.

    Do Not Be Afraid to Let Go

    While some of your loved one’s belongings may be emotionally or financially valuable, others may not be important enough to save. It is important to allow yourself to let go of certain items that are no longer useful or valuable. Before you decide to toss out an item, you can give your other family members a chance to decide whether or not they would like to keep it.

    Consider a Storage Unit Rental

    From making funeral preparations to mourning your loved one’s passing, the time after a family member’s death can be both emotionally and physically draining. A storage unit rental will provide you with the space that you need to hold on to all of your loved one’s stuff until you are ready to start the sorting process. You can rest assured that all of the belongings will be safe and protected once they have entered the storage unit.

  • Quick Packing Tips

    If you are moving your belongings into a storage unit near Mountain View, you should take the time to pack your items correctly. This video from Chasing the Look will provide you with some quick packing tips to keep in mind during your move into a storage unit. As you are packing your boxes, you can label your boxes with painter’s tape for easy identification. Old towels and clothing can be used to protect delicate items when they are placed in boxes.

    For more essential packing tips , contact a company that offers self storage in your local area. The professionals who work at a storage facility will be happy to provide you with more information about the best ways to pack up your stuff in preparation for a move.

  • Convenient Access for Independence Storage Customers

    At Independence Storage, we are highly committed to the satisfaction of our customers. When you rent one of our storage units near Palo Alto, you will benefit from our state of the art facility and convenient storage rental services. One terrific service that we are pleased to offer is our convenient online access system. Using our online tools, you can manage your account and make sure that your storage rental is meeting all of your needs.

    There are several terrific benefits to our convenient online access system. As a customer, you will be provided with a secure login that allows you to take a look at your account and billing. Whether you need to make a payment or review your current account activity, our online tools make it easy to accomplish these tasks from the comfort of your personal computer or mobile device. Visit our website to learn more about our online tools and state-of-the-art storage facilities.

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  • Your Room-by-Room Guide to Home Decluttering

    Decluttering your home may seem like an impossible endeavor at times, but it can be easily done when broken down into manageable parts. If you declutter one room or space at a time, then you will soon find your home is cleaner and more spacious than you thought possible. Take advantage of different storage options in Mountain View —such as a storage unit or storage shed rental—to help you declutter your home room by room. Here is a quick guide to help you declutter your home. home - storage

    The Bathrooms

    Your bathrooms are one of the most important areas of your home to declutter, because you can save a great amount of time during the morning and evening. It is important to regularly update your medications, skin care products, and toiletries. Decluttering these items can significantly reduce the clutter and free up space in your bathrooms.

    The Closets

    Your closets naturally become a place for extra storage, such as clothing, shoes, toys, bedding, and rarely-used items. Closets are an important area to declutter, because you often find clothing that no longer fits, has become damaged, or was forgotten about. You can also separate and store seasonal clothing in your storage unit to create more space.

    The Office

    Your office can quickly become a dumping ground for old files, mail, and random pieces of paper clutter. Decluttering the office might take a little more time than other areas of your home, because you will want to inspect each piece of paper before recycling or shredding it. Once you clear off your desks, place filing boxes in your storage unit, and declutter your working space, however, then you have more freedom to finish your projects.

    The Garage

    You may find yourself storing tools, recreational items, and large appliances in your garage. These items can quickly overtake your garage space and prevent you from parking your vehicles. Choose other storage options, such as a storage shed rental, to store these tools and appliances until you need them.

  • A Look at Our Facility’s Security and Safety Features

    Independence Storage is devoted to giving our clients the most secure and safe storage unit options available. We want our clients to feel comfortable storing their most precious items with us, so they can enjoy a clutter-free home and peace of mind about the safety of their valuables. Let’s take a look at the security and safety features found with our storage rental company near Mountain View .

    Each storage unit on our lot has a security alarm and fire sprinklers in case of an emergency. Clients also have individual keycodes to gain access into the self-storage facility through a security gate. In addition to these individual security measures, Independence Storage also provides on-site managers to watch over our entire storage facility. These security and safety measures help us to monitor each client’s valuables to ensure there are no thefts or damages. Learn more about our many security features by calling Independence Storage right away.

    Secured storage units in Mountview, CA

  • Save Space at Home by Moving These Items into Storage

    There are several items that you can move to a Palo Alto storage unit to free up space in your home . These items—such as seasonal decorations, heirloom furniture, and old tax files—take up much more space than you realize. By putting these items into a storage unit, you can devote this extra space to more important items. Read on to learn which items can be placed into storage to free up space. storage - unit

    Seasonal Items

    You probably have several items that you only use for a couple months out of the year, and they take up much-needed space for the majority of year. Your seasonal items can be placed into a storage unit to free up space and prevent unnecessary damages. Seasonal items will include gardening tools, such as a lawnmower and shovels. Other seasonal storage items may include pool toys, holiday decorations, and winter and summer clothing.

    Large Valuables

    If you have valuable pieces of artwork, home décor, or heirlooms, then self-storage is the perfect option to keep these items safe and free up space in your home. Professional storage units are often more secure and free of common household hazards, such as flooding and pests. You will also have various storage options to choose from through a storage facility. Self-storage rental companies typically offer different-sized units, drive-up units, and climate-controlled units to provide you with the best options available. Storage units will also be protected by an on-site manager and individual access through a personal keycode.

    Archived Files

    Tax records, medical files, and insurance information can take up a lot of room in your office space and filing cabinets. You can free up this space by decluttering all of your paperwork and placing the necessary files into filing boxes that will be held in a storage unit. These important files will be better protected against flooding and fire damage, and you will have much more space in your office to work on other important projects.

  • Maximizing Storage Space at Home

    It is important to maximize all of your storage options in Palo Alto. You can store large furniture, artwork, and moving boxes in your storage unit. However, you can also utilize certain storage options around your home. Continue reading to learn some easy storage options around your house.

    As seen in this “Clean My Space” video, you can use stacking shelves in your kitchen and bathroom cabinets to maximize all of your storage space in these areas. You can also hang up adhesive hooks in your utility spaces and around the house to store common household tools, such as a broom and step stool. Consider hanging shoe storage options to hold extra shoes, jewelry, and clothing accessories as well.

  • Make Moving Easier by Taking Advantage of Self-Storage

    Moving to a new home can be a stressful process, but there are many ways to help ease the stress and make moving easier for you and your family. Using temporary storage near Mountain View is one way to take off some pressure to move items right away or store belongings you are not ready to part with. Let’s take a closer look at how self-storage can ease your moving process.

    The moving process involves a lot of organization. In addition to organizing your daily life to move from one place to another, you must organize the furniture, decorations, dishes, and personal belongings in your home. You can make this process much easier by renting a storage unit throughout the moving process. For example, if you must wait to move into your new home, then you can store many of your belongings into temporary storage until you can move into your new home. If you need to move right away, then you use temporary storage to keep items safe until you have the time to sort through them. Self-storage gives you more control and eases the moving process for you and your family.

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  • Features to Look for in a Self-Storage Location

    If you need a professional and secure self-storage unit, then there are certain features to look for in your Mountain View storage rental company . Tight security measures and customizability are incredibly important to the safety of your items and their housing. When you choose a storage location and storage units with excellent security features and expansive units, then you can feel more secure in your chose of storage rental company. Continue reading to learn the important features needed in a self-storage facility. storage - unit

    Excellent Security

    Security is one of the most important features to look for in your self-storage facility. You must feel confident that you can store your treasured heirlooms and belongings in a secure location. The most secure self-storage facilities will have on-site managers to monitor all of the units and the property. Facilities should also keep the property protected with gates and individual electronic key pads. These security measures will ensure that only you can access your items, and you can feel safe and confident in your self-storage facility.

    Expansive Units

    Stored items have a way of expanding, especially as you continue through your life and gather more mementos and personal items. You need a storage unit that can accommodate your growing amount of storage. Quality storage facilities and storage rental companies will rent out a variety of storage sizes to suit your needs. These units should have high ceilings to give you the maximum amount of space in whichever unit size you choose.

    Customizable Billing

    A great self-storage facility will give you many options in storage units and billing. There are many different ways to pay, such as weekly, monthly, and annually. In addition to versatile payment options, you can work with your storage manager to find the right price for you. A storage rental company should be dedicated to giving you as many billing and storage options available. Look for the facility that places a priority on your comfort and peace of mind.

  • Helping a Senior Loved One Move to a Smaller Home

    Senior parents and grandparents will reach a time when their house is too big, and they need a smaller apartment or condo. Your senior loved one may have many belongings that need to be organized and stored. You can help by offering different storage options in Palo Alto, such as self-storage . Let’s look at the simple steps to help your senior loved one move to a smaller home. items - moving

    Organize Belongings

    It is crucial to organize the entire house before a move. Organizing each room can better help you and your loved one visualize the items that are not useful or emotionally significant from those that are. Organizing will also ease the packing and sorting all of your loved one’s furniture, clothing, dishes, and décor. Go through each room and begin separating items into different categories. At first, these piles may be as simple as “trash, keep, and undecided.” However, as you continue organizing, the piles will become more specific like “donate, sell, store, and keep.”

    Declutter

    Organizing your loved one’s belongings is a great first step, but true downsizing involves decluttering the house of nonessential items. Your senior loved one may be hesitant to part with many of his or her belongings, because they hold sentimental or monetary value. Ensure that your loved one is comfortable and feels involved in the downsizing process. There are many ways to help your loved one cope with the loss of personal items. Help him or her understand that most items will not fit in a smaller house and many personal belongings can be stored in a storage unit.

    Store Non-Essential Items

    Once you and your loved one have sorted through the belongings, then it is time to trash, sell, move, and store them. If your loved one is having a hard time parting with certain belongings, then offer professional storage options to keep the items secure. Storage rental companies offer great security measures to keep storage units protected, and they often offer customizable billing. These are helpful attributes that can keep your loved one secure and involved in the process of moving to a smaller home.

  • How to Pack Dishes for Storage

    It is important to pack your fragile belongings , such as dishes, correctly to keep them from breaking during a move to your storage unit in Palo Alto. To keep your dishes truly secure against breakage, use dish-specific moving boxes and moving paper. Read on for how to use these items to pack your dishes for self-storage.

    As you can see in the video, packing dishes for storage is not a difficult process. Ensure there is ample paper at the bottom of your box. Place a dish in the middle of a stack of moving papers, and fold one edge over the plate. Place another dish onto the covered dish, and cover that plate. Use this process for four plates at a time, and fold over the rest of the corners. Put the secure stack of dishes vertically into the box and continue until full. Move each box into your storage unit with care.

  • 5 Easy Ways to Reduce Household Clutter

    Some people don’t even realize that they have a clutter problem until they handle it, and a storage unit in Mountain View can be of help. There are a few other ways you can keep your home neat, clean, and organized, and the steps aren’t difficult or expensive. Check out this video for 5 easy ways to reduce household clutter.

    Everything you own can contribute to clutter in one way or another, so think about what you need and what you don’t. Try to pay attention to what clothes you wear and what you don’t wear by turning the hangers backwards until you wear a given garment, and give the clothing you leave alone to someone else. Set aside a bin for important mail that you have to file, and recycle the rest. You should also consider what you use the most in your utensil drawer and organize its contents accordingly.

  • Store Your Belongings to Help Keep Them Safe

    A storage unit in Palo Alto can be a great way to store your belongings , but you need to know how to organize your belongings so that everything stays safe while you’re away. People often deal with broken or destroyed belongings because they didn’t do enough planning in advance when deciding how to store the materials. The good news is that it’s not difficult to store your belongings in a safe way—you just need to know how it works. If you’re thinking about renting out a storage unit, continue reading and find out how to store your belongings to help keep them safe.

    Just because your belongings were all fine when you dropped them off at the storage unit doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be in the same condition when you come back to them. Boxes can fall over and onto each other, and they can give out under the weight of their contents. If you are going to be stacking boxes, make sure larger boxes are placed near the bottom. You should also leave an aisle so that you don’t accidentally step on or kick any of your boxes when you return to the storage unit.

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  • Stress-Free Downsizing 101

     

    People decide to downsize for all kinds of reasons. Whether you are moving to a smaller living space or you’re simply taking a more minimalist approach to your home design, you should know how to downsize without stressing yourself out. In order to do this, you’ll need to come up with a game plan well before you decide to get started, and you should come equipped with the right packing materials. It’s always wise to use a storage unit in Mountain View , as this can instantly free up space around your house. Keep reading for a crash course in stress-free downsizing. downsizing - stress

    Leave Yourself Time

    No matter why you’re downsizing, it’s best to get started on the planning process early on. When you leave yourself time beforehand, you can get a game plan together and take steps to stick to it throughout the process. Planning your moves out in advance can work wonders when it comes to taking the stress out of downsizing. You won’t be rushing to meet a moving deadline or scramble to use your storage unit before you have to renew it. The longer you give yourself to prepare for your downsizing project, the less stress will be involved.

    Pack the Right Way

    Packing is an integral part of downsizing in many cases, and yet plenty of people still do it the wrong way. Instead of taking used boxes from your local grocery store, buy boxes that were actually designed for packing. These boxes will do a better job of keeping your belongings safe while downsizing. You should also label all of the boxes that you pack so you can easily tell what is inside each of them.

    Use a Storage Unit

    If you are downsizing because you want to clear up some space in your house, consider a storage unit. A storage unit can be a great thing to have when you want to make the most of your living space but you don’t want to get rid of all of your belongings. The right storage unit can make downsizing easy as well as stress-free.

     

  • Helpful Self-Storage Tips

     

    If you’re thinking about self-storage in Palo Alto for the first time, think about how you plan to organize your belongings. Although you can access your storage unit whenever you need to, keep in mind that it’ll be easier to reach some items than others. Consider the importance of each box that you pack and keep the most prudent items at the front, and cover up your furniture to preserve its condition. Don’t forget to label your boxes so you can easily find whatever you’re looking for when you come back to the storage unit. Read ahead for some helpful self-storage tips. storage - unit

    Make Your Belongings Accessible

    Depending on the size of your storage unit and the number of belongings you have to store, it might be difficult to access all of your items. Since there are certain items that you would rather be more accessible, keep these items by the front of the storage space. You can keep seasonal things like holiday decorations towards the back of the unit, as you won’t need them throughout the bulk of the year. If your storage unit is big enough, you can also leave an aisle open so you can easily move about the space.

    Cover Up Your Furniture

    It’s a good idea to cover up any furniture that you leave in your self storage unit. This will keep dust from accumulating on top of your sofas, couches, and coffee tables. Additionally, covering up your furniture will protect it from bugs. Pests can do some serious damage to your furniture, and furniture doesn’t tend to be cheap. If you want to do everything you can to protect the belongings you leave in your storage unit, don’t forget to cover them up.

    Label Everything

    Many people end up spending much more time than they meant to in their storage unit because they can’t find what they’re looking for. This is why it helps to label all of your boxes and include an inventory with each one. This way you can just look at the outside of the box to tell what’s inside instead of rummaging through it.

  • Mistakes to Avoid When Arranging Your Storage Unit

    Whether you are transitioning between homes, or simply need more storage space for your existing property, renting a storage unit is a great way to take charge of your household clutter. After you rent self storage in Mountain View , it will be your responsibility to make sure that your unit is properly arranged. By reviewing the dos and don’ts of storage unit arrangement, you can avoid an organizational problem at some point down the line. Read on to learn some important mistakes to avoid when you arrange your storage unit. storage - unit

    Forgetting to Label Boxes

    As you are getting your belongings ready for a move into storage, you may need to organize them into various moving boxes. When you are in the process of placing items into boxes, do not forget to create a detailed label for each box that you pack. Without informational labels, it will be impossible to know which items are located in your various boxes. Taking the time to label each box will prevent organizational problems in the future.

    Neglecting to Put Large Items in the Back

    Size is an important consideration when you are arranging your storage unit. Rather than simply moving your items into storage at random, you will want to take the time to organize them by size. Large items, such as pieces of furniture, should nearly always be placed in the back of your storage unit rental. Putting bulky items in first will allow you to organize smaller stuff more easily.

    Placing Essential Items Out of Reach

    While some items that are in your storage unit may not be useful to you very often, others may need to be easily accessible. If you can anticipate needing to take out an item from storage within a few months of your initial rental, you will want to place it as close to the front as possible. Taking the time to sort your stuff by importance will allow you to achieve the best results from your storage unit arrangement.

  • Practical Solutions for Cluttered Garages

    Your home’s garage may tend to accumulate tools, sporting equipment, and a variety of other items. If you have started to notice that your garage clutter has gotten out of control, it may be time to consider renting a storage unit. With a storage unit rental in Mountain View , you will be able to clear out any non-essential items from your garage, without having to donate or throw them away. To highlight the advantages of working with your local storage rental company to clear out your home, here is a look at some solutions that you can use to de-clutter your garage. cluttered - garage

    Create Functional Storage

    In order to keep the clutter in your garage in check, it is important to make sure that your space contains plenty of storage areas. If you do not already have closets or shelves built into your garage space, you may want to consider purchasing portable shelving and storage benches from your local hardware store. By creating a place for all of your stuff, you will be able to clear up additional space in your garage.

    Decide What You No Longer Need

    Garages often become storage spaces for non-essential items. In order to clear out the clutter from your garage, it is important to take inventory of the belongings that are no longer useful to you. Bikes and sporting equipment from your children’s earliest years may not have a function for your family. If you have not used an item in more than a year, it may be time to consider sending it to the donation center.

    Rent a Storage Unit

    If your garage remains cluttered, even after your best attempts at clearing out more space, you may be a good candidate for a storage unit rental. When you rent a storage unit, you can ensure that you have ample storage space to house all of your belongings. Tools, books, sporting equipment, and other essential items can be safely stored in your storage unit, rather than in your garage.

  • Affordable Self-Storage: Our Payment Plans and Discounts

    At Independence Storage, we are proud to provide our clients with affordable self storage in Mountain View . If you have decided that you are in need of a storage rental, but you are worried about the cost, be sure to review the many payment plans and discounts that we have to offer. By financing the cost of your storage unit, you will be able to create an affordable payment plan for your rental term.

    One of our best payment plan options is for those clients who are looking for temporary storage rental. For clients that will be renting one of our units for a year or less, we offer terrific savings on pay ahead plans. By paying for your rental in advance, you will receive a fantastic discount. If you would prefer to make monthly payments, we can also set you up with an affordable monthly plan. With our financing program, you will be able to easily afford your storage unit rental.

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  • Smart Tips for Stress-Free Moving

    When you are moving into a new house or storage unit, it is important to keep some essential moving tips in mind. In this video, you will take a look at some methods that can be used to reduce stress during a move. Before you start the moving process, you will want to take the time to create a detailed list for all of your moving tasks. A storage unit in Mountain View can provide you with additional moving tips .

    After you have carefully sorted and packed all of your stuff, you will be ready to begin the physical part of the move. A facility that offers storage shed rental may be able to provide you with a moving truck that will allow you to easily transport your belongings into your storage unit.