When you are preparing to sell your home, most realtors advise that you keep your home clean and uncluttered. You still want furniture and artwork in the house, but much of your extra furniture and personal possessions should go to a self-storage unit in Capitola, CA . By using a storage unit, you can begin the moving process and sell your house faster.

• Declutter your home. This means that any unmatched furniture and extra decorations should go in a storage unit. Decluttering also helps to make your rooms and house seem bigger, which will help convince prospective buyers to purchase your home.
• You want to depersonalize your home as much as possible. Pack up knickknacks, pictures, and personal decorations. Place them in a storage unit rental until you move to your next home.
• Keep each room’s décor simple and matching. Your dining room should only have a dining table, chairs, and maybe a few decorations. Your living room should have matching couches and end tables. Make your house look streamlined and ready for anyone to move in.

Whether you are moving or using a self-storage unit in Santa Cruz, CA, there are certain packing materials that will make your packing experience run much smoother. During a bumpy move and even sitting in a storage unit, your possessions should be as protected as possible against damage. Here are the main packing materials you will need when putting your items into storage:

Plastic Containers or Cardboard Boxes

The container you use for your items may depend on how long you plan to use your storage unit. To fully protect your clothes, dishes, and personal possessions, consider using sealed, plastic containers. These are easily stackable and will protect your possessions against pests, flooding, or other unexpected accidents. If you anticipate taking items out of storage within a few weeks or months, you may prefer to use cardboard boxes that can be easily broken down and discarded.

Packing Paper or Bubble Wrap

You should always have packing paper to protect your fragile possessions, like dishes and glasses. If you have very fragile items, such as delicate crystal glass, then consider purchasing bubble wrap. It is smart to have packing paper available to separate less fragile items, such as lamp shades and hanging art. Some products may have vibrant dyes that can be transferred to other products unless there is a barrier between them. Plan on wrapping all of your items individually to keep them protected during their time in storage.

Plastic Wrapping

Plastic wrap is something you should use to protect your larger items. Furniture, rugs, and mattresses should have some sort of plastic wrapping. This will protect them from potential pests and dust or moisture in your storage unit. Some items, like custom wall art or decorations, may require different storage options, such as a climate-controlled unit. Depending on what the item is and how it is made, plastic wrapping may cause moisture where there should be none. When in doubt, ask your professional storage services about how certain items should be stored.

Though storage facilities are meant to store and protect your items, annoying pests can enter a storage unit and wreak havoc. These pests, usually rodents and bugs, will enter a storage unit and start looking for items to build their nests. You may think many of the items in your storage unit near Capitola, CA are protected, but you might be surprised by what a pest can use when building nests.

Paper Products

Since rodents can gnaw through almost anything, paper products are some of the easiest materials they can use to build their nests. Any paper materials you might have—files, packing paper, etc.—should be in a sealed and airtight container. This will help deter rodents from nesting in your storage unit. Instead of packing dishes or clothes in cardboard boxes, use plastic containers with tight seals on them. Mice cannot chew through these containers, and the containers make for easier stacking and storage.

Wooden Furniture

Many people are surprised to hear that rats and mice can destroy wooden furniture easily. Rats can gnaw through the legs on a wooden table or couch in no time. As rodents gnaw and strip your wooden furniture, they will take the material to the nest they are building in your storage unit or storage facility. Wrap your wooden furniture in thick plastic wrap, and seal it as well as you can. This will make it difficult for rodents to access your furniture, and it will protect the furniture from rat droppings and urine.

Upholstery and Clothes

If paper products are easy for rodents to tear apart, then fabrics are just as easy to shred. Keep your clothes and drapes in sealed, plastic containers. Make sure your upholstery, such as couches and chairs, is covered in thick, plastic wrapping. If you have any other fabric materials in your self-storage unit, then do whatever is necessary to seal them away from pests and rodents. If you suspect you have a rodent or pest problem, consider using a no-kill trap or repellant to keep unwanted pests away from your storage unit.

After you have decided which clothes will go in your storage unit, it is time to start packing them up. By planning ahead, you can save yourself a lot of stress and time before heading to your self-storage unit in Santa Cruz, CA.

Watch this video for some great tips on packing and securing your clothes for a trip to your storage unit rental. Wardrobe boxes will be your best friend when packing hanging clothes. These boxes can hold about 2 feet of closet space. As long as you seal the box against moisture, your clothes should be completely protected. Folded clothes can stay in their dresser drawers, but for an extended time in a storage unit, you may prefer to box them up. Lay packing paper between each layer of clothes, as well as in the bottom and top of the box. Do not forget to label all of your boxes.