Preparing Your Storage Unit For A Storm

Natural disasters happen and we can only do so much to control the damage. However, we can do our best to protect our belongings before the storm starts. Below are 4 tips on preparing your storage before a storm. 

1. Insurance. Insurance is one of those things that most of us don’t worry about. We usually think that nothing bad will happen to us and we don’t need it. However, especially if you are storing your belongings in an area with frequent natural disasters it is important to make sure your items are covered. Some facilities require insurance, but if they don’t your personal insurance company can likely help you. This is a great preventative tool that can save you the financial strife of purchasing all new items in case of a hurricane, tornado, or other natural disaster.

1. Store items on top of pallets. If it is possible, when you move into your storage try to store things on top of pallets with a tarp underneath. The tarp protects the floor from scratches and the pallets protect your items from water damage in case of a flood or hurricane. You can usually get pallets for free or extremely cost effectively from local shipping companies or other facilities. Remember to always check with the owner or manager of the facility to make sure this is in compliance with their rules! 

1. Check your storage before the storm starts. When you are aware that a storm is coming if it is still safe to do so, you should go to your and get anything extremely important out of it. For example, if you know you have stored birth certificates, or social security cards you should retrieve them before the storm. You should also check that the door is securely locked and things are as far off of the floor as possible.

1. Check your storage after the storm. You should go to your storage and check on your items as soon as (safely) possible after the storm or disaster. This can prevent unnecessary damage caused by water or other potentially damaging materials. Another reason to check as soon as you can is because if it is necessary to file an insurance claim you want to take prudent measures and get the claim filed as soon as possible. Many insurance companies will not accept a claim if you did not do everything you could to minimize damage. For example, if there was a flood and you went to your storage 3 weeks later and found mold the claim may not be covered. However, if you go the first day it is safe to do so and take preventative measures you will be more likely to have your claim accepted. 

While these suggestions may not fully protect your items from a natural disaster they will certainly help. It’s always better “to be safe than sorry”! 

Categorizing Your Storage

Categorizing Your Storage

Once you have begun renting a storage unit, there are some tricks in the way you organize it that will help keep the things you need most accessible. When most people move their stuff into a they begin stacking it from back-to-front until it is full. Taking a little time to organize will save you a lot of time in the future when you need to find something. 

Here are some things to consider when moving:

• Label Your Boxes, Bins, and Containers

If you mark what type of items or specify the room contents on the outside of the box it will save you from digging through all your boxes when you need to find something. For example, simply marking “kitchenware” or “photography equipment” on the outside of your boxes will help you know directly where to go when you need to find a specific item.

• Place Frequently Used Items at the Front

Take a moment to assess which things you use most and will potentially need to access in the near future. Keep those items at the front by the door and you won’t have to crawl over all your stuff to find the things you need. 

• Sketch a Diagram

Of all the suggestions, this one is probably the most ingenious. As you fill your storage, draw a sketch of where boxes and items are stored to reference when you need them in the future. 

• Use Vertical Space

Using shelves in Storage is a great way to maximize the efficiency of the space you have while keeping your stuff organized and easy to access. Make sure you determine what size of storage you will need by using a “storage size estimator” and then fully utilize the space you have by neatly stacking it with shelf. 

Being organized is one of the most efficient ways to save time and energy, but also to avoid the headaches that come with using self-storage. If you have any questions about what type of storage you might need, call or email us by clicking on the link!
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Finding & Renting A Storage

Forget about the old days of using the phonebook to call a bunch of different storage facilities with half of them answering their phones, and half of those people having what you have available to rent, and then half of those not being able to meet you at the facility to let you in until it’s on their time frame. Today we have the greatest resources ever, the Internet. You can quickly search on the internet to find a website for the storage facility and see everything they offer, what storage are available, you can rent, and move in the same day. When it comes to finding, the Internet is the source to go to! Now that you’ve found a bunch of different storage facilities, it’s time to ask yourself some questions about the storage facilities that you’ve found.

• First, is Cost: How much does the storage cost?

• Location: Is it close to roads? How is the Neighborhood? Are the Neighboring businesses kept in good shape?

• Lighting: is there good lighting available for those darker winter months?

• Easy Access: Can you easily maneuver a truck around the facility?

• Fence & Gate: Is there a fence or a gate?

• Features: Do they have any convenience features, such as the ability to rent? Receive Text/Email Notifications about your bill or account? Can you access? Can you be set up on recurring billing?

Keep all of these questions in mind as you search for and rent your next storage facility; it could save you some headaches down the road.

Packing Your Storage

Now that you have found the perfect storage facility you were looking for, you are ready to move all your stuff in right? Well, before you do, there are a few things you should know that might make your experience go a little smoother. First of all, think about what you’re storing and for how long. Will anything need packed separately, or require special attention depending on how long it sits in storage?

For example, you might have some wood furniture that you will be storing for a long time. It might be smart to add some wood preserver oil to the that furniture. Also, depending on the type of storage you have rent, climate control or non-climate control, be sure to plan how you will store your electronics if you have any.

As you start packing up your items, remember that these items will most likely shift during the move to the storage facility, and then again when you take them out of the storage facility. Be sure to tape those boxes securely so they won’t break apart. Also as you’re packing your items use plenty of bubble wrap, packing paper, and blankets.

When you get to your storage facility take a moment to look at the space you’re working with and the items you need to store. It’s almost like a game of Tetris. As you start moving your items into your storage unit, place the heavier and bulky items towards the bottom and the rear. While packing your storage, try your best to fit things as close as you can to one another in order to maximize your space. Keep in mind, as you move your items in, it is often smart to leave a pathway along in order to grant future access to items in the back of the storage . This will help in case you ever need one item in the back of the later. Also, if you have your items label make sure to keep those labels facing out toward the door or the isle.

Finally, when you get everything packed in your storage, place a strong, secure lock on the door. We usually recommend disc locks. They prevent bolt cutters from getting around the lock bar, which provides your with more security.

Good luck and happy storing!

Three Tips To Overcoming The Fear Of Towing An RV

Don’t let the fear of towing stop you from enjoying the RV experience. Every year over one million RV’s take to the road. Towing an RV is doable! Here are three tips for overcoming your fear of towing an RV. 

Step One: Get in the right headspace

RV towing can be intimidating. However, it’s not only for people with specialized skills. Like we said before, over one million RV’s take to the road every year. Towing is just a skill you need to learn, and in no time you’ll be comfortable towing on your own. 

Step Two: Start your training

There are plenty of resources available to get you started. A great resource is looking up “How to tow a travel trailer” on Youtube. It’s important to learn the components of a hitch and the principles of towing before you hit the road. Learn things like, how far to pull out before pivoting so you don’t jump the curb when pulling out of a gas station. By researching ahead of time you’ll calm nerves and have a better idea of what you’re doing.

Step Three: Be prepared

When you’re ready to hit the road, make sure you are prepared. It’s important to get a reputable RV dealer that will make sure your RV and tow vehicle are a good match. A reputable RV dealer will also make sure your hitch is properly installed. This ensures your safety and that your towing experience will run smoothly.

To learn more about overcoming the fear of towing and RV, make sure to watch this video from Janine Pettit: https://youtu.be/JfQghscWCVo

Janine is the founder of Girl Camper and Camper-in-Chief of Girl Camper magazine. She has been training both experienced and novice campers for years with a focus on inviting more women into the wonderful world of camping and RVing. For more tips on RVing, check out Go RVing on Youtube.