You may think that renting a self storage facility is a simple and straightforward task, however, there are a number of things you should be avoiding for your own sake and to ensure your items don’t get damaged. As a leading provider of affordable self storage units in East Yorkshire, we’re here to give you some common mistakes to avoid when you rent a self storage container.
Renting the Wrong Unit Size
If you’re renting a unit for the first time, it can be difficult to try and gauge which unit size you’ll need. Smaller units are obviously cheaper than the larger units however, if you’re cramming your belongings into a small space, you run the risk of damaging them. We’d always recommend opting for the next biggest unit if you expect spacing to be tight.
If you need help calculating which storage unit is best for you, use our storage unit size calculator.
Incorrect Packaging
Storing your items correctly is the next essential step. People are always making mistakes when they package their belongings and it can cause damage to your items. Here’s what to avoid to ensure your items are correctly packaged.
Using Plastic Bags & Cardboard Boxes
A common misconception people tend to have is that cardboard boxes and plastic bags are good protection to use for self-storing. Whilst they may be useful for transporting items, plastic bags and cardboard boxes offer very little protection, are prone to moisture and typically aren’t very sturdy. Instead of cardboard boxes and plastic bags, we’d recommend using plastic boxes.
Using Incorrect Box Sizes
Another common mistake we see is people using random plastic box sizes. Whilst this isn’t a massive problem as plastic boxes provide good protection, by using random box sizes, it’s hard to achieve consistency when it comes to organising your unit. If you aren’t using suitable sizes, the unit space will not be utilised as best as it could.
Not Using Correct Wrapping
Wrapping provides an extra layer of protection, especially when moving your belongings. If you were planning on using newspaper as your choice of wrapping, you may want to re-think. The ink of the newspaper can sometimes smudge and bleed over your items, the damage can sometimes be minor however occasionally, can severely damage your items. To avoid this, we’d strongly recommend using bubble wrap.
Moving Heavy Boxes
When you’re moving your items to and from your storage container, you want to avoid lifting excessively heavy items. Not only is there an increased risk of you dropping and damaging the items, but there’s also an increased risk of injuring yourself. We’d recommend moving items one at a time and getting help moving items if needed.
Not Using a Trusted Self Storage Provider
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they’re renting a storage container is not using a trusted provider. Other providers may lack security, have poor facilities and poor customer service. It’s important to choose the right provider so that you can get the most for your money.
Here at Self Stor, we believe that we can offer you the best self storage solution in East Yorkshire. Not only do we offer an extremely easy online signup and move-in service, but we also provide you with an extremely secure site with alarms and CCTV coverage, High-security padlocks with each container and extremely easy access to your storage units.
If you’re looking for a trusted and affordable self storage facility in East Yorkshire, don’t hesitate to take a look at our unit opinions and get in touch!