How to Prepare Your Possessions for Long-Term Storage

Whether you want to declutter your residence or simply organize your business inventory properly, self-storage units are one of the best options out there. They are most commonly used when an individual needs to store their possessions while they plan a relocation.

However, that’s not always the case. Many businesses use self-storage units to avoid overstocking and cluttered spaces. In addition, some individuals want to keep their prized possessions completely safe, and self-storage units offer just that.

Regardless of your reason for seeking a self-storage unit, you must prepare your items if you plan to store them for a long period of time. So without any further ado, let’s take a look below at some of the best long-term storage practices.

Find The Right Unit

Let’s say that you are based in Canada and you are in need of storage. The first step you need to take is to research what kind of storage unit you require for your possessions. Regardless of whether you are searching for Toronto self storage units or Quebec-based ones, it’s important to rent the right one with the right features. Otherwise, you can’t expect to store delicate items.

Once you add some unit providers to your shortlist, start your due diligence process. You will first have to factor in the price. Will the service provider offer you units at an accessible price, or will you have to fork out a lot of money? Once you find unit providers that give you a reasonable price, inspect the unit yourself. 

Some units are not designed for the storage of delicate items, such as expensive furniture or beverages like wine. If you are planning to store items that can suffer thermal degradation, you should ask for a unit with controlled temperatures. This will allow you to store even the most delicate of items.

In addition to that, if you are planning to store something valuable, inquire whether the service provider has completely secured the lot and whether there are CCTV cameras constantly monitoring the units. If that’s the case, you can start packing the items you want to store.

Pack The Items Carefully

Sometimes, to speed up the whole packing process, you might reach for a plastic bag, but that might not be a good choice. Plastic bags can collect moisture and cause the plastic-wrapped items to rot, which is not something you want. 

So, opt for the old-fashioned method and carefully organize your items in new, sturdy cardboard boxes. Old cardboard boxes are not a good option as they have natural wear and tear that will make it hard for you to carry them safely.

If you have to move many items, it’s best to hire individuals to help you move them to your storage units. Moving everything on your own is not advised as it will take a lot of time.

Never Store Food In Your Units

While we mentioned that wine could be stored long-term, other types of beverages, such as non-alcoholic drinks and food, should not be a part of your self-storage unit inventory. Food items can attract rodents, insects, and other pests. Besides that, if food starts to rot, it may even cause an unpleasant smell.

Always store items that can’t go bad. If you want to store food in your storage unit, look for ones specifically designed for such use such as cans, jars, etc.

Be Careful With Your Documents

While self-storage units are incredibly safe, storing the original versions of valuable or sensitive documents can be very risky. If you lose these documents, it might be very costly for you, and that’s why you should always make copies or store the originals in a deposit box rather than a storage unit.

Use the storage units to store valuable items instead, such as jewelry, gold, old vinyl collections, retro magazines, expensive furniture, etc. 

Bottom Line

Storage units are amazing for individuals that need that extra bit of space. If you have never previously used self-storage units but plan to, go over the tips we outlined above and prepare your possession for long-term storage. 

That being said, if you are planning to store delicate items for a longer period of time, look for units that are climate controlled. And lastly, avoid storing food as it can attract rodents and other pests.