One of the best ways to keep all of the important paperwork that you need to save for business purposes safe is to lock it up in a storage facility . By doing this, you will ensure that it is secure at all times and that you have access to it whenever you need it. Before you place your documents into a self-storage facility in Mountain View, though, there are some steps you should take to make sure you don’t have to worry about your paperwork while it’s being stored. Check out some of those steps out below.

Use Boxes Designed for Document Storage

Keep Your Document Storage Boxes Off the Ground

When you begin moving your document storage boxes into your storage facility, you should make an effort to keep them off the ground. Ideally, you should install shelving units inside of your storage unit rental, but you can also place palettes down in the unit if shelving isn’t an option. This will prevent the documents from getting damaged if your unit ever takes on water or has a pest problem

Place Extra Important Paperwork Into a Fireproof Safe

In the event of a fire at your self-storage facility, you want to ensure that your most important documents are safe. You can protect them by purchasing a fireproof safe and filling it with those documents that are the most important to you. You should also lock up any documents that need to remain private and check on your self-storage unit periodically to make sure your paperwork is secure.

If you have a large number of handbags and you are running out of storage room for them in your home, you should consider using a self-storage unit to keep them safe. Watch this video to see how to pack your handbags before placing them into a self-storage unit serving Palo Alto.

Prior to packing a handbag and putting it into a self-storage unit, you should make sure that it’s completely empty. Your handbag could be in storage for years, so you don’t want to have a bottle of water or a tube of lipstick ruin it while it’s in storage. You should also wrap it in a dust bag to keep it free from dirt and debris. By renting space at a high quality self-storage facility and packing your handbags properly, you can keep them looking like new for years to come.

The average college dorm room or apartment doesn’t provide much room for storage. As a result, you will probably not be able to keep all of your personal possessions in your room or apartment with you when you attend college. This doesn’t mean that you can’t bring them with you to college, though! Instead of leaving them behind at home, you can store items in a storage unit located nearby. Here is why you should consider renting space at a self-storage facility in Palo Alto.

You won’t have to bring all of your possessions back home at the end of every school year.

At the end of every school year, you are required to move out of your dorm room and take all of your belongings back home. This can be a huge hassle for you, especially if you live far from campus. Rather than moving your items back and forth several times over the course of your college career, why not rent a storage unit that will serve as the perfect place to store your belongings? It will cut down on the moving you need to do at the beginning and end of every school year.

You will give yourself more space to study and relax in your dorm room or apartment.

If you bring too many items to school with you and try to make them fit into your dorm room or apartment, you will be forced to sacrifice some of the precious space you have. College dorm rooms and apartments usually aren’t that big to begin with, so it will have an impact on your ability to use your room or apartment. By investing in a self-storage unit, you will give yourself the space you need.

You will give yourself a space to safely keep your valuable possessions.

Storing valuable possessions in a dorm room or apartment is never a good idea. Thefts take place on college campuses all the time, so if you have items that are especially important to you, you should keep them locked away in a secure storage unit at all times.

When you are selling your home, you want to make potential homebuyers feel like it could be their home when they walk through it. In order to make this possible, you should stage your home by taking any personal possessions you have in your house and putting them into a storage unit. Independence Storage offers affordable storage units near Mountain View that are perfect for helping homeowners stage their homes.

As soon as you make the decision to sell your home, you should walk through it with boxes and put any items that are personal to you and your family inside of them. From photos to knick-knacks that you have accumulated over the years, you want to declutter your home as much as you can. You can then take those boxes and place them into a storage unit until your home has been sold. Staging your home like this will usually help you sell your home quicker, and it will also allow you to get a jump start on packing for your move. When you trust Independence Storage with your possessions, you can rest easy knowing you have a secure storage facility on your side.

Renting a storage unit at a storage facility is an excellent option for those who have run out of storage at home. You can keep your personal possessions safe and secure inside of a self-storage unit in Mountain View and get access to them whenever you want. However, once you decide that you want to invest in a storage unit, you should do what you can to make sure your storage unit works for you. Check out some of the steps you should take when you start using a self-storage unit.

Label everything that you put into your storage unit.

Regardless of how large your self-storage unit is, there’s a good chance that, over time, you will fill it up with various items. These items will be very difficult to find if you haven’t labeled boxes properly. You should write what is inside every single box and attempt to keep boxes that go together in the same part of the storage unit.

Arrange boxes and furniture strategically so that you can access them later.

When you begin moving items into your storage unit, consider which items you will need to access frequently and which you can afford to stick all the way in the back of the unit. The last thing you want to do is place important boxes in the back behind a stack of heavy furniture. It will make it hard for you to access the boxes later. By coming up with a plan about how you want to stack things in your self-storage unit, you will be able to put everything that you need within arm’s reach in the unit.

Visit your storage unit regularly to check up on the contents of it.

While self-storage facilities will do everything in their power to keep your possessions safe, water, pests, and thieves can present problems in storage facilities from time to time. For this reason, you should check on your self-storage unit every month or so to make sure everything is maintained properly inside of it.

Whether you are in need of extra storage space at home or you have items you don’t need but aren’t ready to part with, renting a self-storage unit in Palo Alto is a convenient, inexpensive way to give yourself extra storage space . When looking for a storage unit, you will find that most self-storage facilities offer a range of sizes of storage units.

Check out this video to get a better idea of what types of storage units are available to rent. Ranging from the size of a large closet all the way up to a multiple car garage, storage units come in a variety of sizes to suit anyone’s needs. This makes it easy to find the right storage unit for you!

Rent the perfect self storage unit

There are many reasons to use a self-storage unit in Mountain View . Self-storage units are a great space to store items that you don’t have room for at home, when children are away at college, or in between moves. No matter what your reason for renting a self-storage unit is, you may have one lingering question—do you need self-storage insurance?

Many people who visit a self-storage unit for the first time may be unfamiliar with whether or not they should take out additional insurance for the storage unit. In many cases, your existing homeowners or renter’s insurance already includes any items in a storage unit rental. It is important to check your policy to ensure you are covered. If you aren’t or you don’t have insurance, ask your storage unit facility for more information. To guarantee the safety of your items in storage, find a facility that offers additional security.

Renting a self-storage unit in Palo Alto is a great way to store items you want to hold on to, but just don’t have the room for at home. There are many reasons to consider renting a self-storage unit. Many people make use of storage facilities to store furniture, family possessions, and seasonal items that are only used a small portion of the year. Storage unit rental is an easy way to transition during a move, especially when downsizing homes. Having a storage unit in a secure storage facility means you can be assured that your belongings are safely stored. Even though many people take advantage of all the conveniences self-storage has to offer, not everyone knows the history behind self-storage. To learn more about how self-storage units have become commonplace for many people, continue reading.

Origins of Self-Storage

While it is difficult to provide concrete confirmation to support this theory, there is actually some evidence to suggest that self-storage dates all the way back to ancient China. Artifacts that date back thousands of years indicate that the Chinese used clay pots as storage vessels and that these storage pots were all kept in one location. Of course, it is hard to say how exactly these storage units were used.

Foundation of Modern Self-Storage

Beginning in the late 1800s, different businesses pioneered the concept of moving household items locally and long distances, which also led to the storage of personal items in warehouses and other facilities. However, self-storage units as they have come to be known today originated in Texas in the 1960s. These were the first self-storage units to feature garage-style doors and could be accessed individually by the owner. This is when the idea of self-storage facilities gained popularity.

Self-Storage Today

From the 1960s to today, the number of self-storage facilities steadily increased. Eventually, demand for more facilities led to an influx of self-storage facilities across the United States. Today, storage units offer state-of-the-art technology in security and 24-hour monitoring, as well as features such as temperature control and different sized units to meet any need.

After you’ve found the perfect storage unit rental near Mountain View, you need to start packing the belongings that you want to move to the storage facility . You must take special care when packing glassware to prevent it from breaking while you’re moving it or while it’s in the storage unit. The best type of box to use for storing stemware in a self-storage unit is a cell box.

Watch this video to learn how to make your own cell box to use for your stemware before bringing it to a secure storage facility. A cell box will protect your stemware during your move, and prevent it from becoming damaged in your storage unit.

Are you in need of a storage unit rental or student storage? If so, it’s important that you choose the right storage facility in Mountain View. Your storage facility should offer self-storage units that meet your needs and budget, and it should be conveniently located. Here are some helpful tips for choosing a storage facility in your area.

Determine the Size Needed for Your Storage Unit Rental

The first thing that you need to do is determine what size storage unit you’ll need. Most storage facilities have storage units in a variety of sizes, and you want to make sure that you don’t end up with more or less storage space than you need. You can estimate your self-storage unit size by mapping out which items you plan on storing. You should always choose a storage unit that is slightly larger than you think you’ll need, so that you’ll have room to retrieve items from the unit as needed.

Visit a Few Storage Facilities in Your Area

Don’t just choose the closest or cheapest storage facility in your area. Instead, visit a few different storage facilities in person. You want to confirm that the storage facilities are clean, well managed, secure, and easily accessible. You can even ask the manager or owner to show you a storage unit rental so that you can see what you’ll be working with. Once you’ve visited a few storage facilities, it will be easier to make your decision.

Ask About Security Features and Billing Options

It’s crucial that you rent a storage unit at a secure storage facility. The storage facility that you choose should have locked or keypad access to storage units so that only customers can enter the storage area. You might also consider looking for a storage facility that has security cameras or security guards on duty after hours. Also ask about the storage facility’s billing options. Some facilities offer flexible billing options and don’t require yearly leases.

At Independence Storage , we pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service and an overall wonderful experience for our customers. Our customer-friendly features make us one of the most popular self-storage facilities in Palo Alto. Each storage unit rental is a ground level storage unit with ten-foot high ceilings. We offer a variety of self-storage unit sizes to ensure that each customer gets the storage unit rental that he needs.

Our secure storage facility protects customers’ storage units with electronic keypad access. Our office is open Monday through Saturday, and customers have access to their storage units seven days a week, 365 days a year. During office hours, there is always a manager on-site to answer customer questions and provide service.

To make self-storage easy for our customers, we offer flexible billing and payment options. There is no minimum stay for our storage unit rentals, and any unused rent is refunded after your first month of use. You can rent an affordable storage unit without having to commit to a full year’s lease. We also offer discounts for pre-payment, and allow our customers to sign up for automatic payments.

If you’ve recently rented a storage unit near Palo Alto , you’ll want to organize it effectively so that you can make the most of your space. When your ground level storage unit is properly organized, you will have quick, safe, and convenient access to your belongings. Here are some tips on how to organize your self-storage unit.

Rent a Slightly Larger Storage Unit than You Need

If you rent a self-storage unit that provides just enough space for your belongings, the storage unit will be cramped and difficult to access. Instead, you should rent a slightly larger storage unit so that you have room for your belongings and to create a usable walkway through the center of the unit. When you create a walkway, you’ll be able to quickly and easily retrieve boxes without having to unpack and repack the entire self-storage unit.

Plan Out Your Space Before Moving Belongings

Before you move any boxes into your ground level storage unit, you should map out how you plan on using your space. If you create a simple drawing of your storage unit and determine ahead of time where you will place boxes, furniture, and other belongings, you can figure out how to make the best use of your space. Keep in mind that it’s best to store taller items in the back so that they won’t block other items from view. You should also avoid stacking too many boxes on top of each other in order to prevent safety hazards and damage to your items.

Pack Carefully and Effectively

When you pack carefully and effectively, you’ll be able to fit more items into your storage unit and store items safely. Try to use boxes that are all relatively the same size, so that it will be easier to create short stacks of boxes within your self-storage unit. You might even consider using plastic storage tubs instead of cardboard boxes, as they are more durable and easier to stack. Don’t overload boxes, as heavier boxes are more difficult to move and stack.

If you’re packing up boxes to move them into a storage unit near Mountain View , you can color code your boxes to make it easier to find and retrieve your belongings from your self-storage unit in the future! Develop a color-coding system before you begin packing and be consistent when using it. Be sure to write down your color-coding system to make sure that you remember it later.

Watch this video for more information about how color-coding your storage boxes will help you when moving belongings into a secure storage facility. You’ll see a demonstration of this useful system from beginning to end so you can keep it in mind when preparing items for your self-storage unit.

Color Coding Your Moving Boxes

You can make sure that you get the most out of your storage unit rental near Mountain View if you ask the right questions of the self-storage facility’s manager before signing a rental agreement. You should make sure that you know the storage facility’s rental contract and billing options, access hours and security features, and available storage unit sizes. Here are just a few of the questions that you should ask before committing to a storage unit rental.

What Are Your Rental Terms and Billing Options?

Before renting a self-storage unit, you should determine how long you think you’ll need to store your belongings there. If you aren’t really sure how long you’ll need your storage unit, you should choose a storage facility that offers flexible rental contracts and billing options. This allows you to rent a storage unit month-to-month, rather than on a long-term lease, making it easier to store your items without worrying about them. You can also choose to pre-pay for your unit when it’s convenient for you, rather than receiving a monthly bill.

How Secure is the Storage Facility And What are Your Access Hours?

Regardless of what you’ll be storing in your self-storage unit, you want to choose a secure storage facility. A secure storage facility will only allow access via an electronic keypad to ensure that your belongings are safe from theft or vandalism. You’ll also want to be clear on what the access hours are for your storage facility. Some storage facilities only allow renters access to their storage units during certain hours.

What Sizes Do You Offer for Self-Storage Units?

You should rent a storage unit that is slightly larger than you think you’ll need, so that you’ll have room to find and retrieve boxes when you need to access your items. Find out from the storage facility manager what storage unit sizes they offer to renters. Make sure that they offer a storage unit in a size that meets your particular needs.

If you’ve ever packed or unpacked a box, chances are you’ve come across plastic sheeting better known as bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is an excellent packing material that protects fragile items during shipment and storage—and it’s also satisfying to pop! You might be surprised to learn that bubble wrap was originally invented not as a packing material, but as a way to create textured wallpaper. When that idea didn’t take off, it was used as greenhouse insulation. Eventually, bubble wrap was used to protect IBM computers during shipment in the late 1950s, and has been the packing and storage material of choice ever since. Take a look at this infographic from Independence Storage, a self-storage facility in Palo Alto , to learn more about the history of bubble wrap, and what makes popping it so entertaining. Please feel free to share these fun facts with your friends and family.

At Independence Storage, our secure storage facility in Palo Alto offers customizable self-storage options that will meet your individual needs. Our managers are on-site six days a week, and you can access your self-storage unit 365 days per year. The storage facility is only accessible via an electronic keypad to ensure that your belongings are safe and secure at all times.

All of our units are ground-level storage units, making it easy to load and unload belongings directly from your self-storage unit. Each storage unit has 10-foot ceilings, so they can accommodate unique storage needs. Our customizable storage unit rental agreements and billing options make it easy for you to rent a storage unit on your terms, for as long or short a period as you need one.

We have no minimum rental period, so you can rent a unit for less than a month if you need to. You can pay monthly, pre-pay, or sign up for automatic payments. We also offer storage unit rental discounts to customers who pre-pay, and pro-rated refunds for unused storage units after a customer’s first month of renting with us.

Storage units in Palo Alto can provide many amazing benefits to large and small businesses. You can use a self-storage unit to free up valuable office space, securely store important business records, and create a more flexible office environment. Here are some of the ways that a high quality storage unit can help you do that.

Free Up Space in Your Office

Storing business records, unused office equipment, and party supplies can take up valuable space in your office. By moving these items to an off-site storage facility, you’ll create more floor space and workspace for your employees. This will create a more comfortable work environment that will help your employees stay happy, efficient, and productive. You’ll also eliminate safety hazards caused by stacks of boxes or office equipment that may be stored in inconvenient areas of the office.

Develop a Program for Secure Records Storage and Inventory

Most business need to retain business records for a certain period of time before they can be destroyed. A secure storage facility will ensure that confidential and important business records remain safe in your storage unit until you need to access them or destroy them. You won’t have to worry about crucial documents being destroyed in a fire or flood, or being accessed by those who shouldn’t see them. When you store secure records in a storage facility, you’ll also have the opportunity to create a comprehensive inventory of your records, which is incredibly useful when you need to find and use certain records.

Create a More Flexible Office Environment

As your office grows and changes, you may find that you need more office space to accommodate additional employees or evolving business services. When you utilize a self-storage facility for your office storage, you have the ability to adapt your office environment to meet the changing needs of your company. Professional storage services can also be customized to complement any new business developments.

It is easy to allow clutter to build up in your home, but it can also be easy to remove it! Between donations, recycling, and storage units near Mountain View, you have plenty of options when it comes to clearing out your living space. Be sure to stay organized and methodical in your storage unit planning approach, put your needs to the test, and give your extra things to someone who could use them. Read on for a closer look at some of these creative ways to get rid of clutter.

Break It Down

rounding up a few large boxes and sorting your clutter among them. One box might be for items that you plan to donate, another might be for recycling, and a third might be for belongings that will go to your storage unit rental. Keep these boxes handy as you gradually sort more and more items into each of them. After a week of sorting into these boxes, take them to their designated locations.

Challenge Yourself

Many people hold onto items that they do not need because they are convinced that they will still make use of them someday. You can look at your belongings objectively by challenging yourself to only use the ones you need. You might decide to wear only a certain amount of outfits per month so that you can eliminate the ones that you evidently do not favor; then you can give these eliminated garments to friends, family members, or those who are in need.

Spread the Wealth

Some have overcome extensive clutter by making it a point to give their things away on a daily basis. If you give even one item away to someone else each day, you can eliminate your clutter while making a different person happy. This can even serve as an opportunity to strengthen your relationships with friends and family members by giving them thoughtful gifts.

Uprooting your belongings and moving them into your new self-storage unit in Mountain View can be taxing, which is why it helps to use a few handy tools throughout the process. Hand trucks, dollies, and moving straps can all help you move your things into your secure storage facility safely and comfortably. Watch this video to learn about the tools that make moving into storage easier.

Hand trucks, dollies, and moving straps are convenient because you can rent them or purchase them. A hand truck will allow you to move a stack of boxes out to your moving truck or into your storage unit without the risk of dropping them. Dollies can support a substantial amount of weight, which makes them ideal for moving large appliances or heavy furniture into a storage unit. It is always helpful to secure your belongings to the moving apparatus with moving straps to keep them from falling over.

How to use dollies, hand trucks and moving straps to make your next move easier!