Introduction

Storage is a term usually used for putting your belongings in safekeeping in order to use later on when needed. In order to minimize disorder in homes and work spaces, easy access public storage can serve as a good solution. Various sized spaces can be hired for different periods of time. Many have regulated temperature control and pest control programs in force, as well as around-the-clock security, offering a safe solution for your belongings. In order to avoid paying for empty space, choose a suitable sized unit according to the quantity and dimensions of your belongings.

Long or short term storage solutions are used by private people and businesses, and the reasons for putting belongings and goods into storage vary. Timing can be a factor – household or office goods and furniture may need to be stored while searching for a permanent home or office, or during ongoing renovations. Perhaps your household or office have limited space and cannot hold all your possessions. In this case, storage is a very good solution. When moving home or office, check with your moving company if they can provide a suitable storage option and how much it will cost, as this can save you having to find a self storage alternative.

Using a storing space with your moving company can be to your advantage. As soon as you are ready to receive your other possessions, they will be able to deliver them to you. Ask your moving company if you need to give notice in order to come and collect any items you may need unexpectedly or urgently - businesses may find this useful, especially if important business records are stored. If you only need a very short term storage period of a few days, you may consider using the truck or trailer that transported your business or household goods as a storage option. However, make sure you park the trailer in a safe place and in a way that it cannot be broken into.

Businesses want to avoid having to fork out big sums of money to pay for office space they do not need on a daily basis. Storage space in an office building costs the same per square foot as the rental of the office itself. One way to reduce storage costs is using public storage. The self storage option provides you with a self-access key or card into the storage unit, in which items, records and furniture that are not used frequently can be stored out of the way, allowing you access at any given time. When approaching a storage company for a cost estimate, and in order to ensure its accuracy, be sure to give them a detailed list of the items you wish to store, including the storage environment conditions that are required for each item.

Many businesses have a record storage retention policy which determines for how long each record must be kept. It is advisable to check for such a policy or any other such regulations before storing items from the workplace. Many of the records may not be valid any longer and can be destroyed.

While deciding whether or not to store your items, consider what you really need to keep, what can go and what may be needed someday. Remember that keeping only what you really need will reduce storage costs and you won't have to move yourself at a later stage. Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself during the process of deciding what to keep and what not to keep:


After you have made your final decisions regarding all the items, you need to think about how to dispose of everything you have decided you don't need and will not store. There are a number of possibilities to choose from: you can throw the items out, donate them to various charities according to the type of item, for instance – books to a library or school, household goods to the Red Cross or St Vincent de Paul, etc. Remember to get a receipt for tax purposes. Another option is to hold a garage sale. Since your primary goal is to dispose of your unwanted items, price them reasonably so that they sell. A few other important tips for a successful garage sale are to check if your town requires you have a permit to hold a sale of this kind, hold the sale on a day people do not work such as the weekend, advertise the sale by putting up signs around the neighborhood a few days before and telling your friends and relatives about it, negotiate a higher price if you are offered less than advertised.