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Archive for the ‘Self Storage Tips’ Category
Sunday, August 1st, 2010
1. Is the company franchised or under sole ownership & will they sub-contract the work out.
2. Do they have references that you can call.
3. What is their policy on broken items.
4. Are the movers that are handling your things bonded? Licensed?
5. Do they charge a flat fee and will they give you a price for the job in writing.
6. Does the company have any unresolved claims against them. What are they?
7. Should I tip the movers? This is solely based on your experience. Did they arrive on time? Provide good service? Did they go out of their way to accommodate you? Do you have alot of stairs, heavy, bulky items? It is recommended to give a minimum of $20.00 per person, up to whatever you feel comfortable with.
8. It is also a nice touch to have some cold drinks and snacks or pizza on hand if they are working over lunch or dinner.
9. Make a moving inventory and check it as it goes on the truck and again as it comes off.
10.Shop around
Tags: moving to etobicoke, moving to guelph, moving to richmondhill, moving to toronto, self storage movers
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Sunday, July 25th, 2010
There are many types of people that use Selfstor. Which one are you?
- Grandparents downsizing and saving special items to pass down.
- People needing space for holiday decorations, sports equipment, extra tires etc..
- The sportscar enthusiast putting away their baby for the winter.
- Lawyers, Architects, Designers, Doctors etc..making room for all of those files that need saving but not accessed very often.
- Sales reps storing their supplies.
- Students using a unit during the summer months while they aren’t in school.
- Landscapers storing snowblowing & lawn maintenance equipment in the off months.
- Military personelle being stationed outside the country or people being transferred for work.
- Retail, Antique and Art dealers storing excess merchandise until space becomes available on the showroom floor.
- New parents needing extra space for the crib, highchair, playpen and all the other
paraphernalia that comes with a baby.
- Party Planners & Caterers storing entertaining and cooking accessories.
- Rock bands and D.J’s needing a place for all the sound equipment and instruments.
- Tradespeople fill up their units with saws, tools, generators, wiring etc..
- There are many types of people and many different reasons why people choose to use a Self Storage facility. Which one best describes you?
Tags: self storage questions, Self Storage Tips, who uses self storage
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Friday, June 25th, 2010
Take a little time to visit the farmers markets and stock up on the wonderful fruits of summer. Bring the fruit home, wash it, cut off the stems, slice and freeze on a baking sheet until frozen. Then bag it in a freezer bag or container for use in the winter.
Tags: storing food, summer, winter storage
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Thursday, April 1st, 2010
To save the life of your dryer unplug it and remove the lint screen once a month. Wash it with soap and water and allow to dry. Lint screens accumulate a clear film from dryer sheets and fabric softener making it harder for it to do its job. Next, vacuum inside the lint trap with the long attachment used for tight spaces. When the screen isn’t functioning properly lint collects deep inside the trap and can clog up the external exhaust hose (check that as well) and make your dryer work harder than it has to. Wipe down your dryer inside and out and you’re done.
Tags: appliance storage, cleaning, dryer cleaning, dryer cleaning tips
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Friday, January 29th, 2010
Why not take pictures of your items as you are preparing to store them. Then, download your pics onto a disc. This allows you to see what you have put away and also makes it easier if you decide to sell an item. Simply copy one of the pictures, download it onto your email and send it to the prospective buyer.This will save you time in the long run from going back and forth to your unit.
Tags: inventory tips, storage tips
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Friday, January 29th, 2010
When putting your cloth items away for storage. Prepare a little satchel of goodies and whether you open up your box in 2 weeks or 2 years, everything will be nice and fresh.
Never use mothballs in a closed space like a box or container. The chemical that they are made of is a fumigant called naphthalene. The smell that is left on your clothes or blankets after storage is not always possible to remove. Why not try using a bag filled with lavender, cloves and cedar. Organic items like these are just as beneficial as moth balls, but are better for you and the environment.
Tags: cloth goods, clothing storage, lavender, moth balls
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Monday, October 20th, 2008
Before storing your bike for the season, take a few steps to ensure a long and healthy life.
- Find a proper place to store your bike, away from extreme temperature (inside if possible).
- Purchase some gasoline stabilizer, enough inexpensive oil for an oil change, a new oil filter, cleaning supplies for washing and waxing the bike and any tools needed for removing spark plugs.
- Take your bike out for one last ride – long enough to get the bike nice and hot. This burns off condensation that has built up in the engine and also gets the oil nice and hot so that any by-products are easier to remove when doing an oil change.
- Fill up the gas tank (full) while you are out and add the stabilizer. Make sure you have left yourself at least 5 minutes more of driving to let the stabilized fuel work its way around the entire fuel system.
- Adding the stabilizer is probably the most important part of storing your bike. The stabilizer helps to prevent the gasoline from turning to a hard gummy substance that will reduce the efficiency of the carburetors or even stop them from working altogether.
- Change the oil and filter while the bike is still warm from being run. Do an oil change according to your owners’ manual. There is no need to use expensive oil for this step since you will probably get rid of it in the spring. After changing the oil – run the bike in a well ventilated area for 1-2 minutes, and then move the bike to its winter home.
* Very important points – Only change the oil and filter if the engine is still warm from step 4 & 5. Changing the oil and filter properly is a very important step and if skipped it could cause permanent damage.
- If you can – remove any dirt from around the spark plugs and holes – remove spark plugs and spray some “fogging oil” into the cylinders to lubricate the cylinder walls. If your bike has been raised off its wheels, put it into top gear and rotate the rear wheel manually to slowly spin the engine. Make sure not to use the starter and that the engine is turned off. 15 turns of the wheel and the cylinder walls should be well coated.(Fogging is a personal choice – talk to your dealer to decide if you want to do this).
- Re-install spark plugs and manually put the bike back into neutral by spinning the rear wheel.
- Let the exhaust pipe cool, then squirt a little WD40 into each exhaust – then cover the tip of each pipe with a plastic bag to prevent moisture from getting into the engine. Make sure it’s airtight. (use rubber elastics).
- Remove and charge the battery inside somewhere above freezing. The battery contains water and during those really cold days could freeze and crack. If you are storing your bike in a heated area, there is no need to remove the battery. Clean the outside of the terminals with baking soda and water and also inside the battery box, follow with warm soapy water. Lube the battery with dielectric grease before starting in the spring.* If you’re carbureted – make sure you drain the flow bolts.
- Wash, dry and wax your bike to remove any road salt. Dry your bike really well. Wax painted sections to prevent oxidization during the winter.
- Spray all rims, chain, frame etc. with WD40 – avoid brake pads, rotors, tires.
- Cover with a breathable cloth.
Tags: bike, motorcycle, storage
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Thursday, May 1st, 2008
1.Q – Why should I rent from a registered Self Storage Association Member?
1.A – Registered SSA members must adhere to certain standards. Managers take courses to advance themselves in the storage industry. If someone is not a member, do you really want to trust your valuables there?
2.Q – Why do I have to leave a security deposit.
2.A – Security deposits are in place to insure you and the person who rented that unit before you leave it in good condition. If the unit is damaged it will need to be brought up to the standards we’ve set to make us a great provider that brought you in – in the first place. Deposits are refunded if inspection is clean.
3.Q – Why can’t I use my own lock?
3.A – For security reasons, using the same lock on every door makes every unit anonymous and doesn’t draw attention to units with more or less inside.
4.Q – Am I committed to a certain time frame?
4.A – We work on a Month to Month rental basis and we require 15 days notice to vacate. Your rental unit can be obtained on any day of the month.
5.Q – Do you accept deliveries?
5.A – Yes, we can deliver right to your unit, with your permission.
6.Q – What would I use a mailbox for?
6.A – Commercial clients wanting a separate address from home or current office, also working overseas, you can forward your mail and we in turn will hold it until we are notified by you as to what to do with it.
7.Q – Do the units have electrical power?
7.A – Sorry, we do not have outlets in the units.
8.Q – Can I put up shelves in my unit?
8.A – Yes, anything freestanding is allowed.
9.Q – Do I get my money back if I have to leave early?
9.A – Yes, provided you have given us a 15 day courtesy notice, we would pro-rate back any unused, pre-paid rent. Ask for details at your storage location.
Tags: questions on storage, Self Storage Tips, storage information
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Sunday, October 21st, 2007
- When storing any bedding, drapes, blankets or clothing clean thoroughly to prevent stains from setting in. Carefully hang items up in a wardrobe box, trying not to overfill.
- Vacuum your carpet on both sides as you roll it up to remove any crumbs or crawling pests that may infest your unit over your storage time.
- When hanging curtains – cover the hanger with a cloth to prevent the wear of your curtains at the spot where they are folded. Cover with an acid-free tissue to help avoid color changes.
- Try using some organic products to thwart pests, such as lavender, cloves and cedar. Moth balls and crystals contain pesticides and must be used in an air-tight container to be really effective. Eliminating the smell of moth balls and crystals is very difficult.
- If you know you already have an existing problem with pests contact an exterminator before storing.
Tags: cleaning, clothing storage
Posted in Self Storage Tips | 4 Comments »
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