Whether you are moving to a smaller home, or simply organizing your current home, downsizing your belongings is a necessary step. Downsizing, by utilizing scanning technology and temporary storage in Santa Cruz, CA, can help free up much-needed space around your home. You can also take advantage of this process to better organize your home and place important paperwork in a storage rental . Let’s take a closer look at the steps to take when downsizing.

Begin Planning Immediately

The key to moving or downsizing is to have a clear plan of action. This plan should include a breakdown of every room’s belongings and their level of importance. This breakdown will help you to determine which items can stay, which should be donated, and which should be stored in a storage unit rental.

Consider Digitizing

If there are certain papers, photographs, and other files that you do not want to permanently part with, then consider placing them in self-storage and digitizing them. By scanning your important files—tax records, mortgage information, and business records—you can clear up multiple file cabinets, cluttered stacks of paper, and other random pieces of paper you want to keep. If you have records or photographs you need to keep physical copies of, then place them in a storage unit rental in secure plastic containers.

Give Items Away

When you go through your belongings room by room, make a separate pile for items you wish to donate or give away to family. To truly downsize, consider donating or selling old and unused furniture and appliances. By removing furniture, you will free up a lot of square footage. This will help you to organize better when you choose to move to a smaller home.

Utilize Storage Nearby

There are going to be items that have sentimental meaning, or furniture that has not sold yet, during your downsizing process. No matter the reason, it is crucial that you take advantage of nearby storage rentals. There are different unit sizes to choose from, and you will have easy access to your items whenever you need.

When you think of self-storage near Capitola, CA, you may have certain questions. What can be stored? How secure is a storage unit rental? How many sizes are available to rent? These are just a couple questions that might pop up when considering a storage unit rental. Continue reading to learn more about what you should know about self-storage .

You Can Store Most Things

Almost anything can go into your self-storage unit. Your heirlooms, seasonal clothes, holiday decorations, and rarely-used appliances can easily fit in one or more storage units. If you have a college-aged child, then you may wish to rent a student storage unit. This is the same type of unit, but it can hold your child’s furniture and items while he or she is away at school. Speak with your storage rental company about specific items that are not allowed in a self-storage unit, though most only prohibit living animals, perishable food, and hazardous chemicals.

You Can Feel Secure

If you have worried about placing your valuables in a storage rental, then you can rest assured that self-storage is completely secure. Storage rental companies have different types of security, but many utilize the services of an onsite manager who keeps the facility secure at all times. Your storage unit rental will be locked and accessed only through an electronic keypad and your individual code. Storage rental facilities are also fenced and only accessible through the same code.

You Have Choices in Unit Size

There are multiple storage unit sizes to accommodate all your needs. Storage units are typically 10 feet high and come in a few different sizes. You can choose a unit size depending on the square footage amount of the items you are storing. You can also rent multiple storage units, if you have many items that need to be stored. Speak with your storage rental company about the recommended size to accommodate your storage needs.

The holidays are already stressful enough, especially when it comes to decorating, visiting family, and other details. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chanukah are often celebrated with various decorations and visiting with out-of-town families. Decorations and out-of-town families usually take up a lot of space, making it necessary to find temporary storage around the house or elsewhere. Instead of stuffing closets with decorations, rent a storage unit rental in Santa Cruz, CA for the holidays.

By renting a storage unit, holiday decorations can stay protected and out of the way the entire year, until they are needed. As one holiday ends, those decorations can be stored, and the next holiday’s decorations can be brought out of the storage unit. This makes cleanup and organization a simple process year-round.

When the out-of-town family arrives, cots, air mattresses, or other items not used regularly can be taken out of storage. Other items around the house—such as rarely-used furniture or bulky filing cabinets—can be put into temporary storage until the family leaves. A storage unit rental can be very helpful during the holidays, so consider renting one today.

Whether you have a small apartment or a large home, it is always smart to maximize space wherever you can. As you can see in the video, there are many storage options you can utilize, such as cabinet- and- door-hanging baskets. Here are some tips and storage options for you near Capitola, CA:

• When storing your clothes in closets, use sub-hangers to hold multiple shirts and pants. Use a storage unit for your seasonal clothing to free up even more space.
• Use hanging storage for the inside of cabinets and backs of doors. These storage options can typically hold cleaning supplies, spices, shoes, and much more.
• Regularly downsize and donate your unused clothes and items.

Storage & Organization Secrets

When you are deciding between storage unit types or sizes, there are a few factors to take under consideration before finalizing your decision. Storage unit rentals near Santa Cruz, CA can house almost any item you may want to store, such as gardening equipment, seasonal clothes, and furniture. When selecting the right storage unit to suit your needs, here are a few factors to think about:

• Consider what you are storing. The size of your storage unit may change depending on what you want to store. For example, you may only need a small unit if you plan to store seasonal clothes and decorations. If you are storing heirlooms, furniture, and artwork, though, then you may want a larger storage unit.
• Think about the storage facility’s proximity to you and how often you will access your storage unit. If you anticipate accessing your unit regularly, then look for a facility and storage unit close by.
• Look at the security of your intended storage unit. Your items deserve to be protected at all costs, so look for a secure facility where you feel safe leaving your items.

There are many common questions about self-storage in Capitola, CA you may find yourself asking them. These questions are often concerning the safety of self-storage and how large each storage unit may come. Continue reading for some answers to these common questions, and do not hesitate to find out more information from your storage rental company.

Are self-storage units safe?

It is always smart to interview and research different storage rental companies to find out about their security features. Not all storage companies are created equal, especially when it comes to safety and security. Many storage rental companies have managers who live onsite to ensure storage units are constantly monitored. Your storage unit rental should also only be accessible to you. You will have an individual code that allows only you access into the facility as well as to your storage unit.

Do I really need self-storage?

You may ask yourself this question every time you go into your cluttered spare bedroom or your over-packed and cramped garage. If you have to ask yourself this question, then you probably do need a self-storage unit. Instead of filling your guestroom with seasonal decorations or filling your garage with unused gardening supplies, create more room by storing these items in a self-storage unit. You can finally use your extra rooms and space for what they were intended.

Are self-storage units customizable?

When you have multiple items to store, especially those that vary in size, you may wonder if there is a storage unit big enough to house it all. Thankfully, storage rental companies have a variety of storage unit sizes to accommodate almost anything you may want to store. They should also be easily accessed from a moving truck and located at ground level. If you find yourself with many large items, you can rent a second unit to house all of your storage items. Storage rental companies also have customizable billing options and contracts to better help you decide if self-storage is the right choice for you.

Having a storage unit to use year-round is a great way to change with the seasons without your house becoming cluttered. As winter approaches, your storage unit rental in Santa Cruz, CA can house your gardening tools, beach and pool gear, and various other items that you will not need for the winter. Let’s take a closer look at some items that should be in your storage unit this coming season.

Gardening Items

With the weather becoming colder, your garden is likely to become dormant for the next several months. Instead of letting your shovels, hedge trimmers, and lawnmower clutter up your home or garage, store your gardening tools in your storage unit. They will be better protected against winter weather, and your home will not be as cluttered.

Seasonal Items

As summer wanes and winter begins, your swimsuits and shorts are soon going to be replaced by scarves and jeans. Just as you have used your storage unit for winter clothes, you can use it to store your summer clothes. You can also store other seasonal items, such as pool toys, barbecue grills, and lawn chairs. Any items you only use during the summer should be in your storage rental soon.

Rarely Used Items

No matter the season, you should take stock of the various items in your house and yard that you rarely use. These might be water-skis that you only use once or twice a year. You may have various decorations that you put out for a month before they go back into storage. It is items like these that should go into your storage unit this season.

Expensive Items

You may also wish to use your storage unit for any recent expensive or fragile items you have acquired. These items might be heirlooms, artwork, or other important possessions that should be kept in a safe and secure area. Instead of keeping these items around your home, where they can easily be broken, take your expensive and fragile possessions to your storage unit rental.

As the summer season winds to a close, many students are gearing up to head back to college for the year. When you are getting ready for the start of the school year, you will want to make sure that you are settled in to your dorm or student housing. One great way to prepare for your back to school packing and unpacking is to rent a storage unit . Temporary storage near Capitola will provide you with a secure spot to store your boxes and belongings while you get ready for the start of the upcoming school year.

A storage unit facility near your college will be sure to offer student storage unit rentals at affordable prices. Whether you are seeking a facility to house your items for the duration of the school year, or you simply need temporary storage, your student storage experts will be there to assist you with all of your storage needs.

When you are preparing to move your belongings into a storage unit, it is of the utmost importance that you make sure that your items are easy to find. A great way to organize your storage unit in Santa Cruz is to take the time to color code your boxes. Creating a color coding system to label each box in your storage unit will save you energy and time when you are trying to find a specific item later on. To emphasize the advantages of creating a personalized labeling system for your storage unit , here is a look at the benefits of color coding your boxes.

Remain Organized

A top benefit of color coding your storage boxes is that creating a color-coded system will help you remain organized throughout the packing and moving process. In order to enhance the organization of your labeling, you may want to pick a certain color that you will use for each room in your house. By labeling kitchen items in blue and family room items in pink, you can make sure that these belongings do not get mixed up in your move.

Save Time

Creating a color-coded labeling system will save you time throughout the packing and unpacking process. With an organized color labeling system, you will know exactly where to place each item as you pack. When you are ready to unpack, your color-coded labels will help you immediately identify the contents of each box that has been placed in your storage unit.

Enlist Help

Color coding can also help you enlist help from your family and friends when you are packing and unpacking. With a color labeling system, you will be able to easily direct a friend or loved one to a box that contains specific contents. During a move, having color-coded labels can also help your movers identify which boxes should be placed in each area of your home. To create easily identifiable color-coded labels, you may want to invest in an assortment of brightly colored rolls of tape.

A storage unit rental in Santa Cruz can provide you with space and security while you prepare to downsize your home. This short video will provide you with tips and tricks to keep in mind when you are downsizing. As you downsize your living space, you will want to make sure that you have quality packing materials on hand. Additionally, you can get organized to pack by making decisions about the items that you will keep, donate, or toss.

To ease your stress as you downsize, you may want to rent a storage unit. A storage unit facility can provide you with the storage options that you need to organize and protect your belongings during a move. Your storage rental company can provide you with more packing and moving ideas.

Whether you are downsizing your home, or are planning on moving to a new property, renting a storage unit will provide you with peace of mind. A storage rental company in Capitola will offer temporary storage units that are designed to keep your boxes and belongings safe and secure. To ensure that your items are fully protected when they are placed in your storage unit, you may want to take additional precautions when you are packing up and planning for your move. Here is an overview of some helpful tips for protecting your items when they are in storage.

Use quality packing materials.

As you are packing up your boxes, it is a terrific idea to use quality packing materials that are designed to protect your items from damage. Fragile items should be wrapped in newspaper or bubble wrap and gently placed in their boxes. Other objects, such as books or clothing, may need to be wrapped in plastic to avoid wear during long-term storage. Packing materials, such as foam peanuts, can also be used as you are preparing each box.

Wrap important possessions.

If an item is too large to be placed in a box, it will still need to be wrapped in some way. Large pieces of furniture and other items can become damaged if they are not carefully wrapped in shipping blankets or plastic. Any objects that have sharp corners should also be protected with shipping tape, bubble wrap, or news print.

Consider taking out insurance.

Many insurance companies offer policies for items that are placed into storage. When you decide to store valuable possessions, you may want to talk to your insurance agent about the possibility of taking out a storage insurance plan. By covering your stored items with an insurance policy, you can rest assured that you will be reimbursed in the event that your possessions become accidentally damaged during the move. Your insurance company may need to appraise your belongings before the insurance policy is finalized.

Putting some of your belongings into a storage unit can provide you with many benefits. However, to get the most out of your storage rental near Capitola, CA, it’s essential that you select the right unit size for your needs. Choosing one that’s too small can leave you with too little space or an overstuffed unit, and a space that’s too big will be wasted space for which you have to pay. Use these tips to determine the best storage unit size for your needs:

Make a List

The first step in determining the best storage rental size for your belongings is to make a list of everything that you plan to store. Next, take the time to evaluate any areas of your property where you have anything stored. There may be more items that you could benefit from packing away, and it’s best to identify these possessions before you start moving anything into storage. Finally, stop and think ahead. You may have belongings currently in use that you won’t need in a few months, such as sporting gear, seasonal clothing, or holiday décor. Add anything that you may wish to put in storage to your list.

Make a Map

With your list in hand, you can begin to estimate how much space you’ll need to store everything. If you’re planning to store anything large or bulky, such as furniture, athletic equipment, or appliances, take the time to measure these items and create a diagram of their position in your storage unit. Not only will this process help you determine what size rental you need, but it will also allow you to create a plan for storing your belongings in a way that is simple and efficient.

Make a Decision

At this point, you should be able to narrow down your choices for the best unit size for your needs. The following is a list of commonly found storage rental sizes:

• 5×5
• 5×10
• 10×5
• 5×15
• 10×10
• 10×15
• 10×20

Whether you’re moving across town or the country, the process requires planning if you want it to go smoothly. In addition to finding mobile storage near Santa Cruz, CA for your upcoming move, it’s also a good idea to learn what items should not go into your moving boxes. Watch this video for tips on preparing for a moving day that’s both safe and smart.

As you begin your packing, keep in mind that some of your belongings cannot or should not be packed. Such items fall into 4 categories:

• Dangerous: nail polish remover, paint, paint thinners, gasoline
• Perishable: animals, live plants, fresh food
• Special: exercise equipment, some appliances, heavy electronics
• Valuable: passports, jewelry, financial statements, medical records

These are just a few examples of items that you shouldn’t pack. To find out more, ask your moving company for a list of what shouldn’t go into your moving boxes.

Are you looking into storage unit rentals in Capitola, CA? If so, then finding a high-quality storage rental company is essential. When you choose to put your belongings into storage, you want to feel confident that they will remain safe and secure. To help ensure this, there are a few qualities to look for when searching for the best storage unit location.

First, seek out companies that feature a fenced in property. This quality helps ensure that thieves and trespassers are less likely to enter the lot and have access to your rental unit. Second, look for storage rental locations that have someone on duty around the clock. When a facility has staff on the premises 24-hours per day, you can feel more at ease about the safety of your stored property.

Finally, find out how people access their unit. If each renter has an individual code to access both the property and their unit, this can add an extra line of protection for your possessions. By taking the time to find a storage location that offers plenty of security, you can feel more confident about the safety of your stored belongings.

When it comes to moving your stuff into a storage rental, the way you fill the unit, stack the boxes, and arrange your belongings can significantly affect how much you benefit from the space. The following tips will help you get the most out of your storage rental in Santa Cruz, CA:

Stack Your Boxes

While packing your belongings that you’ll move into storage, it’s vital that you think about storing your items vertically as well as horizontally. Many storage units are at least 8 feet tall, meaning that you can stack your boxes high to maximize what you get out of the space. To do this safely, stack boxes that are of similar size with the heaviest ones toward the floor and the lightweight ones at the top.

Leave a Path

As you move your belongings into the storage unit, keep in mind that you may want to access some of the boxes over time. To make the process of getting to particular items as hassle-free as possible, leave at least one walkway through the middle of your unit. When you fill the space completely, not only will it be more difficult to see where everything is, but you’ll also have to move more boxes to reach what it is that you need.

Label Your Boxes

Among the most important steps that you can take to get the most out of your storage unit is to label your boxes and face them toward the aisle. The path that you make will be of little help if you can’t determine what items are where.

Break Items Down

Do you have some bulky belongings that you need to store? If so, then take a closer look at these items and determine if they can be taken apart. Many types of furniture, exercise equipment, and athletic gear can be at least partially disassembled to make them easier to store. When doing this, be sure to keep all of the related pieces together and bag up bolts and screws as necessary.

A storage unit in Capitola, CA can be a great commodity all year long, but the way you use it might change throughout that duration. Your self storage rental can house your holiday decorations during the off season and keep your pool materials in top shape throughout the winter. You can even use your storage space to clear up some space at home by keeping certain types of clothing out of the house until they are needed. Feel free to read on for a closer look at some of the many seasonal uses for your storage space .

Holiday Decorations

A massive blow-up pumpkin decoration might make you the most popular homeowner on the block during the Halloween season, but what do you do when it’s time to take it down? Holiday decorations are inherently only relevant for short windows of time; when they are used out of season, they can be awkward and even annoying. When it comes time to deflate your balloons, pack up your Christmas lights, or take the Menorah down, consider using a storage space. You won’t need your decorations for about a year, so you might as well clear up some space in your home and bring your holiday materials to your storage unit.

Pool Materials

No matter where you live, you might not feel like going in the pool all year long. If this is the case, you should have a safe spot to store your pool materials. By renting out a storage space, you can rest assured that you have a place to store your pool materials without any worry of them becoming damaged. This goes for pool noodles, floats, skimmers, and even pool maintenance chemicals.

Seasonal Clothing

Most people change the way they dress along with the seasons, and this can lead to a great deal of lost closet space. Rather than filling up your walk-in with clothes you won’t need for another six months, try keeping your out-of-season clothing in your storage unit. This can also save you time when you want to quickly find something to wear before heading out.

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.