Downsizing can be a major transition for any member of your family. In this video, you will receive some tips that will help your loved one throughout the process of downsizing. To keep from getting overwhelmed, you will want to take the time to make a detailed inventory of all of the items that are currently in the home. Large or sentimental items that cannot be brought to the new space can be safely housed at a storage unit in Mountain View.

With services from a storage rental company , you will have many different storage options available for your home. By relying on the services of a secure storage facility, you will be able to obtain the additional space that you will need throughout the downsizing process.

Whether you are moving into a new home or getting ready to relocate your office, it is important to ensure that you are fully organized and prepared for your big move. To help free up space and secure your items during the moving process, you may want to consider renting temporary storage in Palo Alto. A storage unit rental can provide you with additional peace of mind as you are packing and sorting through your belongings . If you are wondering when you should rent your storage unit, take a look at these handy moving timeline tips.

Evaluate Your Schedule

In order to create your moving timeline, you will need to first determine how much time is available for your big move. Moving your home in a month’s time will take considerably more effort than stretching the move over several months or more. After you have evaluated your schedule, you will be able to set up key services that will be needed during the course of your moving preparation.

Set Deadlines for Your Household

Rather than completing your moving tasks at random, it is a great idea to set moving deadlines for your entire household. If you will be moving some of your furniture or belongings into temporary storage, you will need to schedule a deadline for setting up this service in advance. Some other deadlines to consider include when you will start packing boxes, when you will begin mail forwarding, and how soon you will transfer your utilities.

Start Packing Early

To reduce stress during your big move, it is very important to start packing up your belongings as early as possible. Giving yourself plenty of time to pack will allow you to carefully consider which items you will bring to your new residence right away, and which items you will place in temporary storage. After you have created your moving timeline, you can proceed with confidence towards your big moving day.

With the holidays already in motion, it is time to break out the dozens of holiday decorations that have collected cobwebs and bugs sitting in your garage year-round. These types of seasonal items can be placed in your storage unit instead, so you can save room and avoid possible critters skittering around. Here is a quick look at some of the seasonal items you may wish to put in your storage unit in Mountain View:

The easiest seasonal items to place in storage are the decorations you only use once a year. These might include Fourth of July decorations, Christmas lights, and Thanksgiving cornucopias. No matter which holidays you celebrate, place them in a secure storage unit for the parts of the year when they aren’t in use. In addition to holiday items, you may also place certain sports gear, camping equipment, and gardening tools in your storage unit. Pool, camping, and gardening equipment are not typically used year-round; instead of clogging up your garage or attic with these items, place them in a long-term storage unit so you can access them whenever you wish.

All kinds of items and belongings can go into your storage unit in Mountain View, including your fragile heirlooms or wedding china. Safely packing your fragile belongings into a secure storage unit can keep your items protected from burglary, mold, and several other potential dangers that could befall your fragile items.

If They Are Rarely Used

You may have old paintings, heirloom furniture, or expensive china and crystal that you rarely use, but you still want these items protected and kept for safekeeping. This is the perfect opportunity to look at your various storage options. Many fragile items are often placed in a closet or attic as in-home storage options. However, your closet or attic could be damaging to your fragile items, especially if they are stored incorrectly or in a moist environment. To avoid potential damage, store your rarely used items in an established storage unit.

If You Are Transitioning

Transitions can come in several different forms, such as moving, family moving in or out, or remodeling projects on your current house. Either of these transitions could end up damaging various fragile items. Temporary storage options are the perfect response during these moments of transition. Many storage facilities are more than happy to work with you to find the right storage solutions to suit your needs.

If They Will Be Protected

When deciding how to store your fragile items, you must also consider how well they will be protected, whether in a storage unit or in your home. Professional storage rental companies have several measures in place to protect your items from burglary and environmental dangers. Your attic, garage, or closet may not have the necessary protections, especially if your home were to suffer a burst pipe, burglary, or mold. When placing your items into a professional storage unit, ensure they are packed and stored correctly to avoid any damage while in storage.

Packing materials are the key to keeping your belongings safe during a move or in temporary storage near Palo Alto. Packing paper, item specific boxes, and labels will keep your items protected while sitting in a storage unit, and they can make it easier to move items throughout your new house. Let’s take a closer look at the essential packing materials you will need the next time you move.

Correct Boxes

Using the correct boxes to pack and store specific items is the key to keeping these items safe and secure while moving or sitting in storage. For example, your mirrors and artwork should be moved or stored in mirror-specific boxes. If you no longer have the original packages these items came in, then ask your storage rental company or professional movers for narrow boxes that will fit and safely contain your fragile mirrors and artwork. You can also purchase wardrobe boxes that have a hangar rod in them; these boxes will help you move and store your hanging clothes and other items that can safely fit in the box. Speak with your storage rental company about available boxes that can be used to move or store certain items correctly.

Labeling Materials

One of the simplest, yet often overlooked, packing aids are labeling materials. Purchase large, colored markers, colored tape, and any other colored labels that can safely affix to your items and the walls of your house. By labeling your boxes with a marker, you can clearly locate what is in every box and where it should be packed. You can use different colors to denote different areas of your house. Label each room with the corresponding colored tape so that movers can easily place boxes and furniture where they should be.

Safety Materials

In addition to the correct boxes, you need to use the correct materials to keep your items safe while traveling or in your storage unit. Bubble wrap and packing paper will be the items of choice to keep your mirrors, dishes, and other fragile items safe.

The key to making a stress-free move is to plan ahead and stay organized. Packing and moving unused items out of your house and into a temporary storage unit will help you focus on other important moving details, such as packing your most-used items. In addition to renting temporary storage near Palo Alto , use some of the simple tips found in the attached video.

Whether you are storing your items in temporary storage or moving them straight to your new house, keep them well protected. Your breakables can be wrapped in newspaper, packing paper, and even towels. You can also easily move clothes to your new house by keeping them in their drawers or on their hangers. If you are placing these clothes in a storage unit, however, you may consider using a secure box or plastic container to deter any sort of critter infestation while in storage.

How to Organize a Stress-Free Move

Storage rental locations offer individuals a convenient way to store their belongings outside their home, which can be particularly beneficial for students. Continue reading to learn about a few of the reasons why renting a storage unit in Mountain View can be a smart choice for students.

More Space

If you’re like most students, then you probably find yourself with more belongings in your place than you can comfortably store. You may also have plenty of items back home that you wish you could have on hand for certain occasions, such as holiday décor or sports equipment. If this sounds like you, then you are one of the many students who could benefit from moving some of their items into a storage rental.

Better Convenience

For many students, frequent changes in living arrangements are standard. If you are planning to move into a new place or are traveling home for the holidays, then you may realize how challenging it is to repeatedly move from place to place. Student storage units can make moving and traveling easier by providing you with a place to store your items while going from one location to another.

Less Stress

Student life can be busy and overwhelming at times. If you have too much clutter, then moving some of your items into storage until you need them again can make it easier to keep your place neat and give you less to worry about. Also, trying to move out of a place in the span of a day or so can be incredibly stressful, but self-storage options provide you with a way to move out at your own pace.

Easier Travel

At the end of each semester, do you find yourself trying to pack everything that you have into your car and then spending a good portion of your time off unpacking and organizing? If so, then consider taking advantage of a storage unit. This option allows you to neatly pack and store your belongings and to leave them conveniently near school until you head back again to begin classes.

Keeping your belongings in temporary storage in Mountain View is an excellent way to help facilitate a move. Watch this video to learn how to pack your belongings in a way that makes them easy to carry and less likely to break as they go to and from your storage rental.

Start by collecting sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and a permanent marker. Before you begin packing, assemble your boxes and secure their bottoms and corners with tape. Next, line any boxes that will contain fragile items with bubble wrap. After adding the fragile items, fill in any extra space with more bubble wrap. While packing, be sure to make no box weigh more than 50 pounds so you can move them into the storage unit more easily. Finally, use the marker to provide each box with a descriptive label to help keep them organized within the storage rental.

Putting extra furniture into storage is a great way to free up some space at home or to make moving easier. If you are getting ready to move some of your furniture into a storage rental in Palo Alto , then continue reading for some helpful tips on storing this type of item.

First, if any of your furniture can be easily disassembled, doing this before putting them into the rental unit can help prevent them from being damaged and taking up a lot of space in the storage rental. Next, wrap any wood or upholstered furniture with plastic and secure it in place with tape. Also, clean anything made of fabric before moving the furniture into the storage unit to help reduce the likelihood of bacteria and mold growth. Finally, cover each piece of furniture with plastic or sheets to help keep them dust free while they are in your storage rental.

Are you planning to move some of your belongings into a storage rental near Palo Alto? If so, then you should know that there are a few things that you should avoid putting into storage.

Items That Are Perishable

One mistake that you do not want to make when it comes to storing your belongings is placing any perishable items into the unit. Any type of food, even pet kibble, can make the unit attractive to rodents. If rats or mice were to smell the food and get into the unit, not only will they eat the food items, but they may also chew up and defecate on the rest of your belongings. Also, storing food in your storage rental can promote bacteria and mold growth that can contaminate the other items in the space.

Items That Are Living

A storage unit is not designed to hold anything that is alive. For this reason, pets and other animals should never be kept in your storage rental, even for short periods. Also, plants should not be stored in your unit.

Items That Are Sensitive to Temperature

Most storage units are not climate controlled, so if this applies to your rental, then it’s important to consider if any of your items are temperature-sensitive before putting them into storage. Some leather and wood furniture can be affected by extreme temperature changes and may not be ideal for storage. Also, musical instruments and some household appliances should remain in a temperature controlled location. Finally, wine, collections of coins and stamps, artwork, photographs, and electronics should be kept in a temperature controlled space.

Items That Are Weapons

Most storage facilities do not permit the storage of any weapons or ammunition. Because they are explosive and dangerous, this usually extends to fireworks, as well.

Items That Are Hazardous or Toxic

Finally, the last category of items that should not go into your storage unit is hazardous and toxic items. Some examples of these materials include cleaners, propane tanks, compressed gas, kerosene, grease, motor oil, gasoline, toxic waste, and biological waste.

A common issue faced by homeowners is having more stuff than they have room to hold. If you have too many belongings to store or keep organized in your home, then taking advantage of self-storage services in Mountain View can be incredibly beneficial. While moving your items into a storage unit is a simple process, deciding what should go into storage and what should remain at home can be difficult. Use the following tips to help choose what should go into your storage unit .

First, it’s important to know what items should not go into storage, and this includes anything living, toxic, highly flammable, or edible. Next, consider the size of your storage unit. If you have something large or bulky you’re thinking of storing, then you should first determine if your unit can accommodate it. Finally, consider the time of year and your household’s needs. There are likely to be items that your family won’t need again for several months, such as summer gear or holiday décor, and these types of belongings are often an ideal choice for putting into storage.

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.

Are you thinking about renting a storage unit , storage shed rental, or other storage option in Palo Alto? If so, then you may benefit from learning how to make quick and smart decisions to help you eliminate unnecessary belongings. Clutter is usually the result of a lack of decision-making, so being able to make better and faster decisions can be crucial for organizing your home.

So you’ll have fewer items to put into self-storage, watch this video for steps to get rid of clutter. First, take ownership of the clutter so that a decision can be made. Next, set a deadline for yourself to help motivate the process. Third, narrow your options for how you will handle particular types of clutter. For example, if you have a pile of papers, you can either take action on it, file it away for later, or throw it in the trash.

The way you use your storage unit in Palo Alto will have a substantial influence on your storage rental experience. You will want to keep your belongings in great condition no matter how long you store them for, and it should be easy to find what you are looking for when you do come back to your temporary storage unit. As long as you do some research ahead of time and consider how to arrange your unit, you should not run into any problems. Continue reading and make sure you are prepared to make your storage unit as easy as possible to navigate.

A number of factors contribute to a neat and organized storage unit, but it all starts with the way you pack your belongings. Make sure you use sturdy materials that won’t break, rip, or deteriorate, as these will help to keep your belongings in place rather than spilled all over the floor. You should also keep a walkway open so it is easy for you to find and access what you need. Labeling your boxes and attaching a list of contents can make your storage unit experience much easier and cut out any potential frustrations.

When you look at your storage options, it’s often a good idea to consider renting a storage unit in Palo Alto. This can help you crack down and get rid of the clutter that’s been building up in your apartment, and it can also make it easier for those who travel on a regular basis. Some people look to storage units when they move, whether the plan is to temporarily move to college or to move away from an area where friends and family will remain. Keep reading to see why people choose to rent storage facilities.

Clearing Out the Clutter

It doesn’t matter if you live in a shed or a mansion; if you have enough belongings, you may find yourself dealing with clutter. This inefficient use of space can be annoying and inconvenient, and for some people it can even induce anxiety. A local storage unit can be an excellent solution to this problem. You won’t have to throw away anything with exclusively sentimental value, but you will reap the benefits of a cleaner and more practical living space. You can even visit your storage unit and access your belongings any day of the week, so you should never feel like you are taking a risk.

Enjoying Regular Travel

Some people live a lifestyle that is based around travel, and a storage unit may be just what this type of personality needs. You might travel for business, for pleasure, or to see your friends and family. No matter what keeps you on the road, it’s nice to have a home base for some of your belongings. You can use your storage unit rental to keep clothing, a toothbrush, or anything else you might need after your travels.

Moving to a New Location

Some people move to a new area with no intention of looking back, while others have reasons to regularly return. If you fall into the latter category, a storage unit can help you keep your belongings safe. Even if you are moving just a few hours away, a storage unit makes it easy to access anything you didn’t take with you.

Storage units in Mountain View can make your move easier or help you remove clutter from your apartment, but the way you use them is crucial. If you want your belongings to remain in the same condition they were in when you left them in the storage unit, it helps to think ahead. Make sure you pack using the proper materials and techniques, work with a storage rental company you can trust, and consider the arrangement of your belongings within your unit. Read on to pick up some tips and make sure your fragile items stay safe in storage.

Pack smart.

Poor packing is one of the most surefire ways to end up dealing with broken belongings when you return to your storage unit. Fragile items deserve even more attention, especially because they tend to be more valuable than the belongings that you can toss around without fear of damage. Use sturdy boxes that are appropriately sized for your items; the less free room you leave in the box, the less your items can move around.

Choose a safe storage facility.

A quality storage rental company will be attentive and accommodating so you can rest assured that your important belongings are in good hands. Make sure your storage unit is adequately protected so you don’t have to worry about criminals breaking in and vandalizing, breaking, or stealing your fragile items. You can also look into insuring your belongings.

Arrange your storage unit.

When it comes to keeping your fragile items as safe as possible, much of the responsibility falls on the arrangement of your storage unit. You never want to stack heavy boxes on top of ones that contain fragile items, even if you think those boxes are perfectly secure. You also don’t want to stack boxes with fragile items high up; if any of the boxes crumble over time, you could return to your storage unit to find your prized vase shattered on the floor. Keep fragile items out of aisles where you might accidentally kick them, and be sure to label your boxes so you know which ones contain vulnerable materials.

You may think your home has plenty of room for all of your possessions, but you may find that self-storage near Mountain View can help significantly while organizing your home. By renting a storage unit , you have a safe and protected space for all of your extra furniture, seasonal clothes, and important documents.

Store College Students’ Belongings

When your children head off to college, you may be left with a couple rooms full of unused furniture, clothes, knickknacks, and decorations. Instead of letting this collect dust in your home, pack all of these items safely to be stored in your storage rental. Self-storage is easily accessible, so when your children return from college, either permanently or for an extended break, they can retrieve their items whenever they want. Using college storage is another way to keep your children’s possessions safe until they have a house or family of their own to furnish with their childhood memories.

Store Seasonal Clothes and Decorations

Instead of letting clothes clutter your dressers and closets, keep them stored by their season. As each season turns, you can easily return to your storage unit and switch out a container of winter clothes for spring clothes, or vice versa. The same goes for seasonal decorations. Many people love decorating for the winter holidays, but they have no convenient place to keep their decorations the rest of the year. The longer these items are not put into storage, the longer they will clutter up your house.

Store Important Documents

You are supposed to keep tax documents for a certain number of years. Mortgage information, bills, and any other important documents must also be kept for a certain number of years. Even though you rarely need these items, they need to be accessible at times, and that is where self-storage comes in handy. You can organize your office by packing your documents in a secured document container and placing them in your storage rental. This will go a long way toward decluttering and organizing your home.

When packing your picture frames for temporary storage in Mountain View, there is a right way to keep them protected. Picture frames should be moved and stored in boxes specifically meant to hold these items in self-storage. This will ensure that they are properly protected while they set in your storage unit .

Watch the video for the right way to pack your picture frames in a frame box. Set your picture in the middle of several sheets of packing paper. Fold the paper around the frame, like you would if you were wrapping a present. Tape the sides down, and label the paper. Stuff paper into the frame box to rest on the bottom, and slowly slide the wrapped frame into the box. Stuff more paper into the top of the box, and tape it shut. Label the box so it does not get lost in the storage unit.

No matter what you store in your storage unit, it is recommended by all storage rental companies that you keep your items insured. Your items should be protected by being at a secure storage unit near Palo Alto , and you should have the added protection of insurance in the event something unfortunate occurs.

Most homeowner’s and renter’s insurances will cover the items that you keep in your storage unit. It is best to double check with your insurance, though. If your insurance company does not cover your items in storage, then your storage rental company will most likely have policies to offer you.

It is necessary to insure your storage items. In the unlikely event that your storage unit is invaded or vandalized, your insurance policy can cover the damages. Policies may also cover potential water damage or pest damage, if these were to occur. Speak with your storage rental company and insurance company on the best ways to protect your items from damage.