Before you head to your storage unit in Santa Cruz, CA , you will need to first pack up your belongings. This tends to be a stressful experience for many, but the right insight can make it a much simpler process. Watch this video if you would like to pick up some top tips for packing before using a storage unit.

Whether you are going on a vacation, moving to a new home, or stowing some of your belongings away in a storage unit, you need to make sure you do it right. This will ensure that your belongings are in the same shape when you retrieve them as they were in when you left them in the storage unit. Use a wardrobe box when you transport clothing, and take advantage of the extra space at the bottom. Remember to label and color-code your boxes for easy unpacking, and keep your larger items in smaller boxes and your smaller items in large boxes.

Many people think their storage unit is completely protected from invading pests, but that may not be the case. Though your storage rental company in Santa Cruz, CA does what it can to protect storage units from pests, the first line of defense comes from the customers. There are a few different ways customers can safeguard their possessions from potential pests.

Choose Plastic over Cardboard

Certain pests, like rats and mice, love paper, wood, and fabric products as a means to make their nests. Their sharp teeth and claws can easily tear through cardboard, documents, and wooden furniture in a matter of minutes. To discourage rodents from getting into your stored possessions, pack as much as you can in hard plastic containers, and refrain from using cardboard boxes. It is very difficult for rodents to penetrate the hard plastic to reach your items inside. Store your clothes, blankets, documents, and anything else that is easily shredded in these hard containers.

Do Not Store Food or Plants

Many self-storage facilities have rules against storing live plants and food, even if they are kept in a sealed container. You should not store these items in your storage unit anyway, because they will attract pests. Rodents are constantly looking for food and items to make their nests. By storing food, even if it is temporary storage, rodents will smell it and come to your unit ready to set up their home. Ants will also be attracted to food products. Plants can attract cockroaches and other intrusive insects, so keep your plants out of your unit.

Check Your Possessions Before Going into Storage

You may have safeguarded your possessions against future pests, but do not forget to check for any current pests. Rodents, cockroaches, spiders, and other pests may stow away in your containers or nestle into your clothes or furniture, and you may not know until you find an infestation weeks later. Check your boxes, furniture, and everything going into your storage unit before placing it in the unit. You may be able to stop an infestation before it begins.

By working with JD Mini Storage, you will have the benefit of 35 years of experience as a storage rental company serving Santa Cruz, CA. Whether you need your storage unit short-term or long-term, you will find an experienced and knowledgeable staff dedicated to you and the safety of your possessions.

When you choose to rent a storage unit with JD Mini Storage, you will find easily accessed units that are all located on the ground. Each of these units is accessible 365 days a year and easily reached by a moving truck, if needed. Our storage rental company is dedicated to only storage, so our staff can give tenants and their possessions the attention they deserve. Storage managers live onsite to offer direct security for storage units, and the units are only accessible through individual electronic keypads. JD Mini Storage also offers customizable billing arrangements for the benefit of customers, whether they need a storage unit for the short-term or long-term.

When choosing your next storage unit near Capitola, CA, there are a few factors to consider so you can get the right space to hold your possessions. Determining the storage unit size you will need and how long you will need it are key decisions that will influence what will be the right storage space for you.

Choose the Correct Size

One of the most important factors when choosing the right storage unit is determining what you wish to store. Once you know what you want to store and how much space it will take, you can figure out the correct size storage unit you will need. Most units will have a uniform height, usually 10ft or higher, but the width and length may change. Many storage rental companies have a formula that can help customers determine the size unit they will need in relation to how much space their possessions normally take up. To be on the safe side, you should rent a unit that is larger than you think you will need. This will save you time, money, and frustration.

Decide on the Length of Time

Deciding on how long you will need your storage unit can influence a couple different aspects of your storage unit experience. Your billing arrangement with the storage rental company may change depending on your contract length. You may also wish to store your items differently depending on how long they will be in storage. For example, if you are storing long-term, you will want to create a defined pathway so you can easily reach all of your items.

Determine the Level of Security You Need

Not all storage rental companies are created equal, especially when it comes to security measures for their tenants’ possessions. Choosing a storage space should be influenced by the amount and type of security the facility has to offer. Look for a facility with a dedicated staff that has an immediate concern for their tenants’ safety and security of possessions.

A storage unit can provide you with the space that you need to keep your belongings safe, protected, and secure. With services from a storage rental company in Santa Cruz, CA , you can rest assured that your new storage unit provides you with fantastic accessibility and security. In order to prepare for your upcoming storage unit rental, you will need to take the time to make sure that your personal items are properly organized, packed, and prepared for placement in the storage unit. To help you gear up for your storage rental, here is a look at how to get your stuff ready for self storage.

Get Organized

One of the most important steps to take when you are preparing your belongings for storage is to get organized. Before you begin the packing process, you will want to take the time to sort through your items and determine what will be packed and stored, and what will be discarded. Any belongings that are no longer useful to you can be donated or tossed out.

Gather Materials

After you have organized all of your belongings in preparation for storage, you will be ready to start gathering your packing materials. For example, it is a good idea to collect an assortment of boxes in a variety of sizes. Along with locating boxes, you will also want to pick out other types of packing materials, including tape, bubble wrap, and newspaper. These materials will be essential for your packing process.

Begin Packing

With all of your materials in place, you will be ready to begin packing. As you pack, you will want to make sure that you carefully label each box. With the proper labeling, you can make sure that you will be able to easily find all of your items after they are placed in your storage unit. After all of your boxes have been packed, labeled, and taped, they will be ready to be transported to the storage unit facility.

If you are preparing to pack up documents so that you can place them into a self-storage facility , you need to use the right kind of storage boxes to do it. Watch this video to see how to build a file box prior to using professional storage services near Capitola.

File boxes are designed specifically to hold important documents that are going to be stored inside of a self-storage facility. Whether you have letter or legal sized documents, you will be able to keep them safe and secure when you use the correct file boxes. Any company that specializes in providing professional storage services should be able to provide you with them, and you won’t have to worry about finding files later when you decide to utilize them for storage.

Just because your extra stuff is out of sight doesn’t mean it should be out of mind. To protect yourself against total property loss in the event of a fire, flooding, or theft, check with your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance provider about self-storage insurance. You can also check with different storage facilities in Capitola about tenant insurance, which is usually offered for a minimal monthly fee that is combined with your rental fee for one easy payment each month. This small investment can pay huge dividends if your belongings are damaged, destroyed, or stolen.

If you have any questions at all about self-storage insurance, talk to an experienced storage facility manager in Capitola. Even with an insurance policy, you can never be too careful with your belongings. That’s why it’s important that you choose a secure storage facility and always make sure to close and lock your unit’s roll-up door.