How To Pack For Self-Storage

Packing your belongings properly and efficiently for self-storage (in a storage facility) is beneficial in a number of ways. A. If you will be visiting your storage unit frequently to retrieve, use, or put away belongings, it helps to have room to move about within the unit. B. You will have room to add any unplanned items to the storage unit in the future. C. You may be able to reduce your costs by saving enough space to rent a smaller sized unit. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to properly pack your items for storage. The steps below apply to most standard storage situations. If your storage needs are unique, however, take the uniqueness of your situation into account when following this guide. 1. Plan & Prepare Your Belongings       A. Identify which of your belongings will be packed in boxes and stacked in the unit.       B. Identify which items you will need to access more frequently. These boxes will be organized closer to the front of the unit.       C. Group and pack heavier items together. These boxes will be placed on the bottom of the stacks.       D. Identify your more fragile items. These boxes will be placed on top of the box stacks. 2. Pack Your Belongings       A. Use sturdy, cardboard boxes to pack your items. It is highly recommended you use new boxes that are made for moving. Boxes protect your belongings from dust, damage, and help stacking and organization. Distribute item weight evenly within each box.       B. Wrap your breakables in bubble wrap or newsprint. You can use newspaper or purchase clean, blank newsprint paper.       C. For hanging clothing, consider using wardrobe boxes. These are heavy-duty boxes that include a bar for hanging your clothing. This is the best way to ensure your clothes are properly protected.       D. Label your boxes appropriately for easy identification within the unit. Mark boxes with fragile items appropriately with FRAGILE stickers.       E. Furniture with drawers (i.e. dressers) should be stretch wrapped. This will prevent dust-damage, as well as keep the drawers closed.       F. Disassemble any furniture you can. Be sure to keep screws and bolts together in a plastic bag. 3. Unload Your Belongings       A. Be sure to arrange boxes according to how often you will need to access them, placing the ones you’ll need most often closest to the entrance.       B. Place boxes with heavier items on the bottom of stacks, and boxes with fragile items on the top of stacks.       C. If you have valuable items such as a television in your storage unit, be sure to place them far back in the unit, preferably concealed by other boxes and items for security. Finally, be sure to take advantage of all the space you have. Get creative. Make the best use of the unit’s layout to ensure maximum efficiency. If you know that you’ll need to spend time in the unit accessing your items, be sure to leave enough space for you to move around. Keeping a small stool or folding step in the unit may also help with those hard-to-reach boxes.