It’s natural to be a little worried about leaving your belongings at a storage facility. Just remember that the security of your things are a top priority for the company—after all, the company doesn’t want a break-in to cause legal liability or ruin the facility’s reputation. High-security storage units in Mountain View take extra steps to safeguard your possessions.

Myth: Anyone could walk in and steal my stuff.

Reputable self-storage rental companies take the safety and security of their customers’ belongings very seriously. Good storage companies invest a great deal into their security measures. When you choose a facility, look for well-built security fences and gates. Most storage facilities secure the property with a high-tech alarm and electronic keypad access.

Myth: Employees are rarely on-site.

Once you rent a storage unit, you’ll have easy access to it whenever you want—without having to find an employee to help you. Unfortunately, this has led many people to mistakenly think that managers are rarely at the facility to supervise the grounds and protect the storage rentals. This isn’t the case at reputable storage facilities. Look for a company staffed by capable professionals who are readily available to keep an eye on the facility.

Myth: I have to buy extra insurance, even if the facility looks safe.

Most storage facilities do force their customers to purchase storage insurance coverage. This is usually unnecessary and only adds additional fees to the rental. Look for a facility that accepts your current renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy.

Myth: If I’m a day late with the rent, my stuff can be auctioned off.

This is a frightening prospect, but you can rest assured that your belongings will be protected by state law and the terms of your rental agreement. In California, absolutely nothing can be done to your rental unit until it’s been at least 14 consecutive days since the payment was missed. Even at that time, an auction can’t take place. The storage facility must send a written preliminary lien notice to the renter, which provides notification of the date of termination of the rental agreement. This date must be at least 14 days from the date of the notice. At that point, the facility owner must send another notice of a lien sale, notifying the renter when the unit will be auctioned. This date can’t be any less than 14 days from this second notice. At any point, the renter can satisfy the arrears and halt the sale.

Every self-storage facility can be susceptible to pests, but you should still look for a reputable, clean storage rental company in Mountain View to improve your chances of keeping your belongings bug-free. After you rent the unit, set out a few mousetraps along the walls before you move your stuff inside. You could also put down a perimeter barrier of bug spray. Or, a natural pest control option is to sprinkle some diatomaceous earth around the storage unit.

As you listen to the featured video, you’ll learn that bugs are often repelled by the scent of peppermint. Soak some cotton balls in peppermint oil, and place them in and around the furniture you’re storing. This video lists a few other natural pest repellents you can use in your storage rental, such as vinegar, baking soda, and cayenne pepper.

Before you move your furniture to temporary storage in Mountain View, give each piece a thorough cleaning. Then, place the disassembled furniture pieces in a ventilated area to dry completely—this will discourage mold growth. Remember to label the pieces, so you’ll know how to reassemble them, and to put all hardware in sealed bags. If you have any breakable items, such as mirrors and lamps, or blunt objects like table legs, wrap these pieces in bubble wrap before putting them in the storage unit.

Try to avoid using plastic materials like bubble wrap on non-breakable items, as this can trap condensation and lead to mold growth. Instead, pad the furniture with blankets, drop cloths, or furniture pads. Next, rent a storage unit that’s large enough to leave a couple of clear zones in between items. This allows air circulation, and it also lets you access items in the back of the storage unit. Place the larger items at the back of the unit and the smaller items at the front.

If you decide to use temporary storage in Mountain View , having the right supplies will make it easy to organize your unit and access your items when you want to. Although some of the specific supplies you need will depend on what you’re putting in your storage unit, there are some items that everyone who uses self storage can benefit from having. As you prepare to move your items into storage, make sure you have the following supplies on-hand:

Boxes and Tape

Just as when you’re packing for a move, when you pack for self storage, you can’t rely on tattered, old boxes from the grocery store. You need strong boxes that will adequately protect your belongings and that won’t get crushed when they are stacked on each other. Likewise, you need packing tape rather than masking tape or the other types of tape you may have lying around your house. Strong tape offers an additional layer of protection and helps your boxes keep their shape. An alternative to boxes and tape is plastic storage containers. These containers can be helpful, but be sure not to overload them, so that they are easy to move.

Wooden Pallets

When you move your belongings into a storage unit, the best thing to do is to store them off the ground. You may choose to put shelves along the walls of the unit for some smaller items, but placing wooden pallets on the floor is also helpful. With wooden pallets, everything you put in your unit, no matter the size, will be off the ground, which allows air to circulate and discourages pests.

Furniture Covers

If you plan to store furniture, then you will need to cover it to protect it. Avoid using plastic furniture bags, which stifle airflow and allow odors and dampness to grow. Instead, use bubble wrap on parts of the furniture that are fragile, such as the legs and arms, and then use a cloth or sheet to cover the upholstery.

Decluttering your home can make it feel more organized and make it easier to relax when you’re there. The idea of tackling a big decluttering project can be overwhelming, however, which is why many people put it off. Fortunately, by knowing the dos and don’ts of getting the job done, the process can be easier than you think. To get started, you will need a storage unit in Mountain View and a plan. Here are the dos and don’ts you need to know to make your decluttering mission a success:

Do Start with One Room

To make the idea of decluttering more manageable, start with a single room. Get everything done in that room before moving on to your next space. One room is a realistic goal, and once you accomplish it, you’ll feel ready to repeat the process in the next room and the one after that. Before you know it, your whole house will be done. Be sure you finish a room before moving on. Leaving unfinished projects will only make things feel even more insurmountable.

Don’t Stock Up on Bins

You may eventually need boxes and storage bins to help you get organized, but don’t go out and buy those things before you actually start decluttering. Start sorting and cleaning, and then go buy storage containers once you know what you will really need. Stocking up on containers before you organize may seem like a fun way to get started, but you’ll only end up adding to your clutter rather than getting rid of it.

Do Use a Storage Unit

A storage unit is the perfect way to keep your home decluttered without having to make hard decisions about what you want to keep. Storing things like holiday decorations and seasonal sports equipment in your storage unit keeps extraneous stuff out of your house but puts it in easy reach when it is time to use it.

Self-storage in Mountain View can help you keep your home organized without having to give up possessions you love, from seasonal decorations to your book collection. However, getting the most from your storage unit means packing it the right way. Resist the urge to off-load boxes as quickly as possible when you’re moving into your unit, and instead, set it up so that you can easily access everything in the unit any time you need it. Protect your property and prevent headaches with these do’s and don’ts.

Do Prepare the Unit Before You Move In

If your book collection is taking over your home, but you can’t bring yourself to part with your tomes, then self-storage in Mountain View may be the answer. By packing your books in the right way, you can preserve them for years to come.

Before you pack up your books, wipe them clean of any dust or dirt, and remove any bookmarks, which are acidic and can cause damage. Use small cardboard boxes for packing, so that they can easily be moved. Choose high-quality boxes, not store throwaways, so that the boxes don’t break down over time. Pack books tightly, to prevent shifting, and keep similarly sized books together. Stack books, rather than sitting them on their sides, which can lead to spine damage. Label each box carefully, so you know where to find a book when you want it. It can help to organize books in some way, such as by genre or author, before packing them. In the storage unit, keep boxed books on free-standing shelves instead of on the floor, where they could attract pests.

As the summer season winds to a close, many students are gearing up to move into their college dorm rooms. This video from Meredith Grace provides essential tips and tricks for saving space in a dorm room. If your closet is crowded with clothing, consider doubling up your hangers and packing them in storage bags. A storage unit in Mountain View can also provide you with additional space for your college items.

If your son or daughter is getting ready to move into the dorms, consider renting a student storage unit . A storage unit rental will provide your college student with plenty of storage space throughout the school year and during the summer season.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If maintaining a clean and tidy workspace is among your New Year’s resolutions, you may want to take the time to declutter your office environment. Removing excess office supplies, paper, and other items will make your office much easier to clean. With a storage unit rental in Mountain View , you can safely store any essential items that may be cluttering up your workstation. Storage units are great for housing paper, office supplies, and any other materials that are crowding up your office. To highlight the terrific benefits of a storage unit rental, here is a look at three quick ideas that will help you declutter your office.

Clear Off Your Desk

One of the most effective strategies for decluttering your office is to make sure that the surface of your desk remains as clean and tidy as possible. Rather than stacking mail, documents, and other nonessential items on the surface of your desk, you can file them safely away. By taking a minimalist approach to your desk, you can provide your office space with a tidier look and feel.

Organize Your Electronics

A modern office typically contains several different electronic devices, including computers, printers, fax machines, and phones. When you are decluttering your office, you will want to make sure that your electronics are as organized as possible. For example, it is a terrific idea to take the time to tame your power cords using twist ties or other forms of housing. Getting electronic cords off of your desk will free up additional empty space.

Rent a Storage Unit

Rather than facing the hard choice of having to throw certain items away, you may want to instead rent a storage unit for those excess materials that seem to be cluttering up your office. When you place your extra office items in storage, you can rest assured that they are secure and protected from water and sunlight. Your storage rental facility can provide you with additional information about the benefits of renting a storage unit for your office.

When you rent a storage unit , you will enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your items are securely stored in a safe space. Still, it can be helpful to have insurance coverage for stored items in the event of a flood, fire, or other unavoidable catastrophe. As you are reviewing your storage options in Mountain View, you may want to ask your insurance company to provide you with information about your personal property coverage and how it relates to items that are stored outside of your dwelling. Typically, homeowners’ insurance offers partial or full coverage for belongings that are placed in self storage. Here is an overview of what you need to know about personal property coverage.

Homeowners’ Insurance Includes Personal Property Coverage

Personal property coverage is probably already included in your current homeowners’ insurance plan. If it has been a while since you read over your policy, now is a good time to review its details. A comprehensive homeowners’ insurance policy should cover your personal belongings, whether they are stored at your house or in a storage facility.

Off-Premise Personal Property Coverage May Be Limited

Off-premise personal property coverage is defined as any coverage that extends to items that are stored in a storage unit, rather than in the home. Depending on the terms of your insurance policy, your plan may offer up to half of the coverage limit for your private home. Before you place your valuables in a storage unit, you will want to review any limits that may pertain to your off-premise storage.

Valuable Belongings May Be Eligible for Additional Coverage

A storage unit is a safe and secure place to store your most valuable belongings. If you are planning on placing your valuables into storage, you may want to ask your insurance company about the possibility of extending your personal property coverage limit. Typically, your insurance company will be happy to work with you to create a coverage plan that provides adequate protection for your valuables. With your additional coverage in place, you will be ready to move your valuables into storage with total peace of mind.

Taking advantage of self-storage is a smart option for many people, but keeping your unit tidy can be tricky. If you’re planning on using a storage unit near Palo Alto , then use the following tips to help keep it organized:

Plan

While many individuals don’t think about making a plan for their storage unit until after they’ve already filled it, deciding in advance where you will place types of items can be incredibly useful. If you are using your unit for only boxed items, then creating a diagram of where different categories will be located can make finding what you need later on much simpler.

Pack

If you are in the middle of a move or are a student that is storing belongings over break, it can be tempting to hurriedly pack your items without taking much time to organize them. Although you are probably working within a busy schedule, it can be beneficial to take a bit of extra time and pack like items with one another and to place small items into organized containers within your boxes.

Label

A step that you can take that is even more helpful than creating an organizational chart is to properly label your boxes. In fact, labeling boxes should be considered an essential part of using a storage unit if you want a fighting chance of finding any belongings that you may need later on. To get the most out of this process, label your boxes with an extra-large marker and use helpful descriptions. For example, writing “clothing” on a box is not nearly as useful as writing “Dad’s summer clothing.”

Store

When it comes to keeping your storage unit organized long-term, one of the best measures that you can take is to leave at least one path through your stored belongings. When you fill the unit completely, you will end up having to continuously shift boxes around each time that you need to get to one of them. On the other hand, leaving a path makes it easier to see and reach the boxes, as well as keep them more organized.

Preparing your valuables for storage is crucial to keep them in good shape while in your storage unit. Even though your storage rental company serving Palo Alto strives to keep their units secure, your possessions still need to be protected. Unforeseen damages from pests, improper handling, and excessive moisture can ruin the items you have taken great care to protect. Continue reading for the necessary packing materials everyone should have when renting a storage unit.

Plastic Containers

By using plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes, your linens, dishes, and treasured heirlooms will be better protected against invading pests, potential water damage, and other unforeseen conditions that might occur in your storage unit. Cardboard boxes can degrade even in the best of conditions, but plastic containers will keep your items safe while in storage.

Plastic Covers

Laying large plastic covers over your furniture will protect all of your large items against dust and potential rodents. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation to prevent excess moisture under the plastic sheet or cover. This will prevent the growth of mold and mildew.

Shrink Wrap

Shrink wrap is mainly used while moving dressers, china cabinets, and other furniture with opening storage units. This packing material can keep your items protected while in temporary storage. If you are keeping dressers and cabinets in your storage unit for longer than a few days, be sure to remove the shrink wrap to allow air ventilation.

Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap is a safe way to keep your treasured heirlooms and breakable possessions safe while they are set in your storage unit. This kind of protective packing material is good for dishes, glassware, and other breakable household items.

Packing Paper

Many people pack their valuables, kitchen supplies, and other household items with newspapers. This is a mistake that can result in ink transference and damage to your valuables. Instead of using newspaper, purchase plain packing paper to wrap your breakables. This purchase will go a long toward protecting your possessions during the move and time in storage, and you can often find packing paper made with recycled materials to reduce your environmental impact.