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How to Store Items During Home Improvements

Home Improvements are sometimes necessary or indeed desirable improvements to maintain or upgrade your home so that your home becomes more convenient, valuable, and personal to you. Planning Home Improvements can be exciting for the whole family; however, that excitement can quickly turn to dread without the proper planning. Renovations inevitably come with a lot of turmoil, disruption, and mess. You will want to steer clear of certain areas in your home during this time while still protecting your existing belongings from exposure to paint, chemicals, sawdust, and more. Therefore, it’s important that you have a plan to safeguard your furniture, supplies, and any items that can potentially be damaged.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best ways to store your items.

Move Everything Out

First, it’s essential that before you begin, you move out all of your valuable belongings and furniture out of the area undergoing improvements. Not only can things become damaged during the renovations, but people can bump into table corners, trip over items, and hurt themselves if you leave things lying around. Your renovations could be delayed and become even more costly if the builders have to constantly move around your belongings and don’t have enough space to get the job done. You will want a nice, clear area so that the renovations can proceed uninterrupted and without hiccups. Make an effort to move everything out of the area before you begin, and things will go a lot smoother. If a room being worked on has art hanging on the walls, it’s a good idea to remove that as well, since these items can fall and become damaged or hurt someone in the process.

 

self storage packing advice

Label Boxes for Convenience

All it takes to be organized when packing is a great marker pen and some labels and boxes.  Here at Need A Space we also sell the packaging boxes and materials. Label your boxes according to which room or category they fall into. This will make it much easier to sort through items and find what you’re looking for once the renovation is over. If you are in a tight spot for space, consider using stackable plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes. This way, you can easily store bins on top of each other to save space and carry multiple bins at once, to your self storage unit.

Find a Storage Unit

Suppose you don’t have the space to store your belongings during renovations, and you don’t want to embarrass friends or family members by asking to use their space. In that case, the best option is to rent a self storage unit or container. This is a  great and affordable option, as you will be able to rest assured that your items are safe and secure, with only you having access to them. This way, all of your belongings can stay in one place during the entire renovation process, and you don’t have to worry about items going missing.

Choose Climate-Controlled Units

If you are thinking of using self storage for your renovation process, make sure the unit you choose is climate controlled or thermally insulated, as offered by Need A Space. This is ultimately for the safety and preservation of any furniture and valuable belongings you keep there. Furniture made of certain materials such as leather and wood can become discoloured, warped, and damaged if exposed to humidity or certain temperature fluctuations. Valuables such as artwork, jewellery, electronics, and certain clothing can all succumb to humidity and the outside elements if left for a long period of time. Renovations can sometimes be unpredictable as well and take longer than expected. With a climate-controlled storage unit, your belongings will be kept in pristine condition, as the unit temperature is always stable. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about delays or rush the renovation process. Good things take time, and it’s important to prepare for such flexible timelines when choosing a self storage solution during your home renovation process. Here at Need A Space we make the process even easier with all our storage units being on the ground floor level and we can even offer a free move in van for longer bookings.

Next Steps

Home Improvements can be a difficult and tumultuous time for your whole family. Fortunately, the result is usually well worth the efforts. Make the process easier for both you and your loved ones by using self storage to keep your precious belongings and expensive furniture out of the way. For more information on self storage in East Kent, please call us direct at Need A Space on 01227-751673 or contact us via this site. With our many years of self storage experience we can help you find the best and most convenient storage solution for your needs, all the while fitting within your budget.

How To Maximise Your Storage Space

Need A Space Self Storage are always ready to offer storage advice:

Self-storage can be incredibly helpful for lots of people in various situations: storing belongings whilst you’re moving home, or if you’re planning to go travelling, if your children have flown the nest but left their childhood belongings at home, students travelling between a university ‘home’ and home, or even if you need to regularly access large items, such as bikes, but you don’t have space for them at home.
However, you could end up renting a larger unit than you need or taking out several units that you don’t actually need. It’s important to learn how to pack your storage unit to make the most of your space! A question that we get asked often at Need A Space Self Storage is: how do I make maximise the space in my self-storage unit? So, we’ve created this handy guide to help you make the most of the space in your self-storage unit!

Does it Bring You Joy?
Before you move anything into storage, take the opportunity to declutter your belongings first! There’s no point in storing items that you no longer have any need for or are broken. Some Experts suggest sorting through your items and asking if it brings you joy. By sorting your belongings into piles of: to keep, to sell, to donate and to throw away, you’re reducing the amount of things that clutter your life and instead only keeping the things that bring you joy.

 

Plan Ahead To Help You Organise.
Store your belongings thoughtfully to save yourself future stress! Put your most frequently used items or things you’ll need access to often near the front of your self-storage unit. This will allow you to quickly access the box or item that you need without having to go through everything!
If you’re like most people, your belongings are packed in a variety of odds and ends boxes, plastic storage boxes, and bin bags. However, this means that the boxes don’t stack as well, bags might rip and it’s harder to access things when you need them! If you’re in need of some high-quality packaging supplies and storage boxes, then Need A Space offer these too.
Extra Tip: Remember to label your boxes, plus some people even create a map or a list of their belongings and where they are located to save time and stress.

Portable Shelves.
Take metal shelving to your unit to help organise the space and to make the most of the less-used vertical space. Often, if you try to stack too many boxes on top of each other, the bottom ones will eventually get crushed and crumple under the weight. Alternatively, shelving will allow you to stack boxes safely and take advantage of the height of your storage unit.

Line the Walls.
When filling your self-storage unit, if you store your belongings around the outside of the unit first, this will allow you to make the most of the space in the middle when you find that you’ve started to fill up your unit! This will also allow you to create rows or aisles of items and allow you to access them easier.

The Only Way is Up.
If you’re using your self-storage unit to storage large furniture, such as sofas, dressers, or even bedframes and mattresses, to maximise vertical space, stand these bulky items up! Lots of the higher up space of storage units gets wasted, by standing furniture this way, you can make the most of the height!
However, before you pack your furniture, ensure you have prepared your furniture first! Properly wrapping your furniture is the first step: use mattress and sofa covers and cover wooden furniture to keep items clean and dust-free. We ofer these too.
If you’re ready to move your belongings into storage, why not see how our friendly team here at Need A Space Self Storage can help.

From Packing Materials to Free Move In Vans for longer term bookings, we have all sorts of ways we can assist you.

Discover more, contact our family run friendly team at Need A Space on: 01227 751673.

The Benefits of a Mailing Address Mailbox at Need A Space

Did you know Need A Space offer Mailing Address, Mailbox and Parcel services?

Benefits for Small Business Clients, Individuals and Students:

When you work from home, giving your clients, suppliers, contractors and other work contacts your postal address can be problematic. You may not want people to know you work from home and your residential address is a dead giveaway. Or perhaps you spend a lot of time visiting clients, working from coworking spaces or juggling other commitments so you’re not always available to receive deliveries.

That’s when a business mailbox service can come into its own. Providing you with a professional address for your home business, and solving the problem of whether or not to share your home address with work related associates.

1. Professional: 123 Acacia Close, Herne, doesn’t sound much like a business address and that might affect the way your customers view your business. While you may deliver a highly professional service from home, some people may question (unfairly) your capabilities and the resilience of your business.

2. Privacy: Not everyone wants their private residential address to be linked to their business. You might want to minimise the chance of a customer turning up unexpected on your doorstep, or unsolicited cold callers trying to flog B2B products.

3. Security: We all have stories to tell of deliveries being left on doorsteps or chucked over hedges, damaging products or leaving them open to theft. Many of our users have a business mailbox to avoid these scenarios so they know their packages are safe when they’re not available to receive them in person. Here at Need A Space we can arrange to take your packages in from the courier or dispatch for you.

4. Convenience: Waiting in for important deliveries is not always feasible when you’re running your own business. Using a mailbox service means you can pick your post and packages up at your convenience, rather than having your day controlled by the delivery company.

5. No change of address: If you plan to move home, or a move might be on the cards in the future, your business address can remain the same if you use a mailbox rather than your home address. This is advantageous if you have printed materials with a business address on, it can save you money as you won’t need to update and reprint these assets.

6. Not a PO Box: A Post Office Box (PO Box) is another alternative but there are often situations where you cannot use a PO Box number for your business. Some online stores do not deliver to PO addresses.

7. No wasted trips to check for mail: Feel free to call us and we can confirm if you have had any parcels or post in, with easy access just off the A2 between Canterbury and Faversham it is also easy for you to pop in and check.

8) Students. Often students find themselves moving between shared property during their University life. Mail may not be as secure as would be liked in such shared environments, stories of parcels going missing in shared housing is not uncommon. In addition, by using a mailing address you can keep the same address for the duration of your time at University.

9) Individuals, Expats and Digital Nomads. Now that Covid appears to be on the way out,  there is a hope that Digital Nomads may return to travelling freely and working purely online. Equally true for the retired who may now soon be embarking on long term travel. There is so much convenience to be gained from retaining a fixed and secure address in the UK whilst you are away travelling, whether a work posting, gap year or simply exploring.

Whatever your circumstances, contact our friendly, family team at Need A Space and see how we can assist you with a mailbox. Having the advantage of being established for many years we can offer you the lowest rates Guaranteed. Our mailbox rates are currently up to 66% lower than those charged in the centre of Canterbury. Call Today to find out more on 01227-751673

 

Happy & Healthy New Year 2022, now it's time for those resolutions.

Bear with me here for the start of 2022!  After what is approaching 2 years living with Covid, many of us have been working from home or at the very least had much more time at home with family. As we often hear, overwhelmed with clutter and those extra items that a life at home has added.

When the New Year’s resolutions have been made following those last festive season celebrations, don’t leave that crammed spare room or garage off your list! January is notoriously the month when we clean up our eating, sort out our cupboards, and turn over that new calendar to January 2022! It’s the moment many of us think of every time we say, “If I could just get through the holidays!”

January, as always, is perfect for new beginnings. You can aim to be anything you want to be in 2022. It’s a new year! Many of us set a rigorous schedule and commit to spending more time with family. The Christmas decorations in all their glory get cleaned up, and each year you might say to yourself, “I’m going to put the decorations away in a nice, orderly fashion this time. This is the new me!”

As your storage items and gifts at home return to a jam-packed state due to housing your holiday decorations, you flop on the sofa, glance over at where the tree once stood, and say, “Well….at least that area is better. What a clean, fresh start!” At that moment right there, stop and think.

What if your entire home could have less stuff in it? What if one of your New Year’s resolutions were to minimize the clutter? Sure, mail will keep coming through the door everyday, and needs to be sorted , but what if your partner’s forgotten purchases were not in the corner of your bedroom piling up with stuff on top? Would you have less clutter?  Or the chest of drawers unused, you took two days to sand that 100-year-old relic two summers ago… but now, it’s become a flat surface where everything from hair products to to-do lists have piled up. You find yourself never using it for its intended purpose. Well, you’d hate to get rid of it! Your late Aunt would never forgive you.

 

self storage

Have you considered self storage? 

What if you rented a small, secure unit and considered putting a lot of things you cherish in there? You could simply drive up to A Need A Space storage unit, and carefully place those items in the far, back right corner of your storage unit (covered with moving blanket or wrapped in shrink wrap for additional protection). No harm, no problem. Think about what else could go in there. In an effort to conquer your New Year’s resolution to simplify, you could take the older toys out of the playroom, and have plenty of space for the new ones. No need to donate them right now. Hey, someday you’ll have grandkids who will want to play with those old toys. They may even be valuable collectors items one day. New year, new mindset. Your kids are getting older… maybe it’s time to put some of those keepsakes in a safe place?  After all, it is the dead of winter. Spring and summer always prove to be chaotic, so getting things clean and organized now is a good idea. It’s January, what a perfect time to stay warm, busy, and burn a few calories by sorting through your stuff.

Knowing where to start, and getting motivated can sometimes be tricky, but, as it turns out, there is a lot of advice out there about becoming and staying organized. As an aside, research is even finding that living in a tidy, decluttered comfortable space could have positive benefits for your health. And January is all about your health!

What the Research Says

Research has been done that shows a correlation between the habits of people who live in a clean environment versus those who live in the chaos of clutter. The results don’t look good for those whose lives seem to be a constant mess. According to Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D, the “clutter effect” creates both physical and mental issues, especially when it comes to your overall energy level.

Guess what’s also common when you feel anxious due to disorganized spaces? Snacking. People actually tend to eat more when surrounded by a mess.

Sometimes, looking at a large mess is the issue, because it can be hard to know where to start. Over time, the “mental clutter” that builds up as a result of physical clutter is possibly linked to age-related memory loss. Oh my! We need to get on top of this. A new year is the perfect time to start!

Simple Steps to Conquering Your Resolution

There are several ways to begin (don’t be overwhelmed, deep breath in, and out), let’s start by making three piles.

Pile #1: Consider every item carefully. Has it served its purpose for you? Who else could find use for it? Donating your items to charity is a great idea. Place an item in this pile if this is your intent.

Pile #2. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, or so they say. Make some extra money and get some of your clean space back at the same time by selling some of your larger items on your local Facebook Marketplace or eBay. If it could bring in some cash, place it in pile #2.

Pile #3. Consider Need A Space Self Storage. Maybe you can’t fit into your favourite old jeans, yet. No need to worry! Place those along with several other “soon to fit” items in pile #3. Place other older clothes you haven’t made a decision on, the kids’ keepsakes, and space-taking stuffed animals (along with that chest of drawers) and carefully place them in “Keepers” Pile #3.

Need A Space Self Storage Can Help

You can do this, Need A Space is here with our family run friendly team offering years of experience to assist with your storage requirements. There are many reasons to remove junk food from your life, and clutter from your home, but you don’t have to give everything away, or have a sale to enjoy a greater sense of order. With easy access just off the A2,  Need A Space Self Storage has the largest choice for self storage units in East Kent with the most competitive rates around.

What are you waiting for? Kick off January right! Store the stuff, and start enjoying the benefits of a tidy living space! Breathe easier, feel calmer, and say goodbye to the stress-inducing mess. Load up your stuff, and take a trip to Need A Space. We’ll keep your things safe with the latest high tech security, for as long as you need! Free move in vans are on offer too.

Essential Packing Supplies For Self Storage & Moving

Preparing items for storage seems straight forward, right? Well, it isn’t as easy as it seems. Unless you are not too concerned about the well-being of your belongings.

When getting stuff ready for self storage or just packing away things for the winter months. You want to ensure that you pack your items correctly and the best you can. This will help to protect your belongings from potential damage.

But what do you need to ensure you do the job properly? You’ll need the following packing supplies, as well as great packing skills. If you want to unpack your items in the same condition that you packed them away that is.

Boxes, all sizes and shapes including Wardrobe Boxes.

Probably the number 1 packing supply, you’ll need lots of good quality moving boxes. Moving boxes as well as archive boxes can come in all shapes and sizes, as well as quality. Don’t go the cheapest option when buying moving boxes. You don’t want the bottom falling out when you’re walking down the street or anywhere else.

In addition, there are standard moving boxes that are suitable for most things. Along with speciality boxes, like a wardrobe box, which is worth the extra expense.

Also ensure that you don’t pack your boxes too heavy. It’s best to make sure you’re able to safely lift them on your own. If you can’t lift them on your own, you’ve probably over-packed it.

Need A Space offer all these kinds of packing boxes at very competitive prices.

Bubble Wrap

Don’t underestimate the importance of bubble wrap. Bubble wrap will help protect your fragile and more breakable items from potential damage. Plus, it’s great for wrapping up those oddly shaped items.

In addition, try to avoid using old sheets, towels or paper as these materials will not provide the same protection as bubble wrap will.

Labelling Materials / Permanent Marker

Label your items as you pack. You want to be able to identify what’s in each box without having to sift through it. Some people may be happy with using a permanent marker to label their moving boxes and some may prefer proper moving labels It doesn’t necessarily matter how you choose to label your boxes, as long they are labelled clearly. Try to be specific where possible. ie label your archive boxes with filing contents rather than just a generic “Office”. Much easier that way when you are hunting for some car documents for example in your storage unit.

Furthermore, make sure you label your boxes on multiple sides. This will help when trying to find items in your storage unit.

wardrobe boxHeavy Duty Packing Tape

Another key packing supply is heavy duty packing tape. You want to ensure you buy durable tape that’s strong and sticky. It’ll also make it easier if you have a proper tape gun to go with it. This way you won’t lose the end of the roll and the tape will dispense a lot easier and quicker.

Fragile Packing Tape

A great way to ensure your breakable items are going to be safe is to purchase a roll of fragile tape. This may seem excessive, however if you don’t want your items damaged, this is a great extra step to take. The tape stands out and helps to avoid breakages as people are aware that the box contains fragile items.

Need a Space can offer you a variety of tapes to suit your needs.

Now You’re Ready to Pack for Self Storage or your Home Move.

These are all essential packing supplies. They will help to ensure your items are stored correctly and avoid damage whilst in self storage. Plus, they’ll also make it easier when you need to locate something within your storage unit.

In addition, any of these packing supplies can be purchased from Need A Space at affordable prices. Our packing options makes us a convenient East Kent Self Storage Facility, offering everything you need right here on site. Stop by to pick up some supplies or pre-purchase them online – it’s that easy!

Looking for Packaging Essentials in East Kent. Don’t hesitate to Contact Us at Need A Space.

Self Storage for Tradesmens Tools & Equipment

Why Tradespeople from Builders, Plumbers to Carpenters use Need A Space Self Storage:

When it comes to tool and equipment storage, there’s no time to mess about. Whether you’re a sole trader, small or medium business, keeping tools and equipment safe should be at the top of your to-do list.

Not only are they expensive to replace but if a tool is broken or stolen, you may also lose out on potential business. That raises the question of where (and how) to store your tools when not in use so here we look at some simple tool storage advice and how Need A Space can help.

Self Storage for Tools and Equipment for all Tradespeople:

As a tradesman, you need your tools with you at all times, or at least in a secure and easily accessible location. If you were to rent business premises, you are likely going to use it mostly for tool storage and that’s not always cost effective.

You are better off renting a self storage unit as the cost is low and easily accessible which makes it incredibly convenient. A self storage facility can essentially help you save on rental fees, property insurance and staffing costs. It offers the ideal solution for all your tool storage needs as you can keep dirty work tools out of the house while giving you easy access as needed. If you choose a storage facility you can even use it as a halfway point of sorts. Here’s how it can work for you.

How Self Storage Can Help When Storing Tools And Equipment:

One of the biggest concerns for tradesmen is storing and transporting tools and equipment but self storage offers a unique solution. Whilst you may not need heavy equipment or loads of tools for every job, what happens when you do?
Many tradespeople simply keep everything in their van but that can be very risky. Even if you lock your van, install an alarm and have the necessary tradesman liability insurance in place, there is always a chance of would-be thieves getting their hands on your expensive tools and equipment.
If you rent a dedicated storage unit, all your tools will stay dry and safe no matter what. You can keep heavy and expensive equipment in the storage unit until you need them and only carry what you most often use in your van. This means there’s a smaller load on your van and less money spent on fuel.

self storage tools

Benefits Of A Storage Unit for tools and equipment:

All types of tradespeople need specific tools, equipment and parts, such as pipes, fittings and other items. Having your own tool storage unit filled with everything you most often need can make your life a lot easier. Here are some of the main benefits of a storage unit:

It provides 24-hour security (and peace of mind).
You can store more items than at home or in the van  It helps avoid running out of parts and being unable to finish a job.
Limits back-and-forth trips to DIY stores and merchants to find what you are looking for.
Employees can get access to your self storage unit so they can get stock whenever they need to and Units with drive-up access make storing heavy or bulky items much easier.
Collect or drop off stock and equipment between jobs, before or after work.

Knowing what you need and what you want to store beforehand is important to keep your business operations running smoothly. Different tools may need different types of boxes, containers, shelves or pegboard. Depending on the item and storage conditions, resealable plastic containers are typically better but you can also use sturdy, good quality cardboard.

Important tips for tool storage and a few things you can do to keep your space more organised:

Create an inventory for different tools and sort them according to category and ideally use a tool storage cabinet with pegboard backing.
Hang baskets or containers on hooks or even arrange some racking for your storage unit.
Maximise vertical tool storage space with wall strips.
Invest in a mobile workbench.
Use the excess space on the end of cabinets or shelves.
Keep nuts and bolts and all smaller parts in clear large jars.

Ideas For Temporarily Keeping Your Tools Safe In Your Car or Van:

Even if you have a storage unit, there are times you don’t have a choice but to keep things in your car. However, there are a few things you can do to keep everything as safe as possible:
Park in well-lit areas with CCTV coverage.
Tint your windows, install an alarm and an immobiliser if not factory fitted.
Display stickers showing that ‘no tools are left in this van overnight’ although thieves still smash a window or peel back a door just to check.
Make sure you have proof of what has been stolen by taking a photo of the van’s fully laden contents which will make an insurance claim much easier.
Take out separate tool insurance which is often easier to claim against and comes with lower excess than van insurance or save on the cost by using storage.

Why Choose Need A Space for your Self Storage

Need A Space is conveniently located just off the A2 between Canterbury and Faversham. Operated by a family run friendly team and the lowest storage rates around. With the latest in high tech security and all our units at ground floor level we have made the process as easy as possible. Contact us on 01227 751673 and find out more.

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