Storing your goods successfully

Self storage is convenient and easy to use if you choose a professional operator that is situated in the right location for your needs.

However, there are some things that are helpful to bear in mind when storing your goods that will ensure your possessions stay safe and that the process remains simple and effective.

The following advice is based on Self Storage Association information and covers some helpful tips about storing successfully.

Pack your unit correctly

How you pack your unit is important to keep your belongings in tip-top condition. There are a few things to remember:

• Pack what you use the least, or are least likely to want first, and leave the items you may need or use more regularly at the front, closer to the doors.

• Label your boxes – take time to add detail by listing the individual/group of items you put in them. This will help you stay organised when accessing your unit and also when unpacking if you move the boxes elsewhere.

• Do not stack anything heavy against the walls and leave gaps between items/boxes to allow air to circulate.

• If you stack upwards, make sure that boxes at the bottom are sturdy enough. Cardboard boxes can soften and lose their strength over time, so something that looks strong enough when you pack the unit, may not be in a month or years’ time.

Visit your unit regularly

If you are a business customer or you use your unit to store items that you use regularly, you will probably visit your storage operator frequently.

But even if you don’t need such regular access to your goods, you should still make frequent visits to check your unit.

This will allow you to open the doors, air the unit and check the condition of the space and your goods. Professional self storage facilities are generally safe, dry and very secure, however, incidents can still happen and it is better to detect any issues as soon as possible.

Remember to check your insurance cover

If you add or remove items from your unit, do not forget to check your insurance cover is adequate. Speak to your self storage provider about any queries you may have.

Check the list of prohibited items when storing new items

Likewise, when you are adding items to your storage unit, just have a quick check they are not on the prohibited items list.

Some of the items on the prohibited items on the list are obvious (such as anything illegal) but there are some things that you might happily store at home which cannot be stored in a unit (such as paint, cleaning solvents or compressed gases which are combustible or flammable).

If you are ever in doubt, there is no harm in asking your storage provider to clarify if you can or cannot store an item. You can also view our Prohibited Items.

Ensure you keep your details up to date with the storage provider

Part of your contract with the storage provider is to keep your account up to date, but other than being a legal requirement, it just makes sense. If there is a problem with your payments, or if there is a problem at the storage facility, it is important that the storage provider has the most current details to be able to contact you.

It could be as simple as they have maintenance work going on and need access to your unit, or an incident has happened at the storage facility, and they want to check your belongings haven’t been affected.

Similarly, if there is a problem with your payments it is important you know as soon as possible to make sure the debt recovery process is not tiggered unnecessarily.

Security

• If you are given a pin code, be careful not to share it and be vigilant that nobody is watching you when you key it in.

• Your pin code is individual to you and for security reasons, your access and exit is tracked every time you access the storage facility. If you think someone else knows your pin or you have any concerns around security, speak to staff and they can provide you with a new pin number.

• Adhere to advice about logging in and out of the facility to make sure you don’t inadvertently set off alarms. If you forget just ask a member of staff and they will happily go through the process again with you. Also remember that your pin may only give you access to certain parts of the building, so try not to wander too far off your normal path as this may trigger an alarm. Likewise, please do not open any other doors, even if they don’t have a padlock on as they may well be alarmed.

• If you see any problems or damage, please report it to the staff as soon as you can. It may be a security breach if left.

• Always make sure doors and shutters are shut properly after use, and do not allow others to follow you through any gates or doors.

If you follow these general guidelines, you should have a stress-free storage experience.

Happy storing!

To find out more about self storage in Clevedon or Weston-super-Mare contact Yeates on 01275 872251 or 01934 900525 or email info@yeates.co.uk

Alternatively visit the website at www.yeates.co.uk