How do you select a storage company? There are a few main features that you should ensure are in place to keep you and your belongings safe. Use this checklist to make sure you find the best solution for you!

• Location. You want your storage unit to be easily accessible, especially if you are storing any items you might need on a moments notice. Find a unit located either near your home, or convenient to where you frequently drive.
• Safety. The unit should be housed in a well lit lot, with a coded security gate to discourage loitering. It’s best if the units are arranged in open blocks, without narrow inner alleys.
• Customer Service. Your unit should always be available to you during the hours you are promised access, and during business hours someone should be in the company office to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Try to find a locally owned and operated company for best results in this area.
• Affordability. You can expect to pay slightly more for extra features such as excellent security and premium customer service, but this can often be offset by taking advantage of discounts offered, such as prepaying for several months in advance, or accepting online billing options.
• Extra Features. Many storage unit facilities also offer moving trucks for rent and sell moving supplies such as boxes, tape and packing materials. This can make a move even more convenient, since you get everything you need at one location.

  Broadview Mini-Storage fits the bill for all of the above. Family owned and operated, Broadview Mini-Storage is conveniently located in the heart of Broadview Heights, right near I-77 and Route 82, with easy access from surrounding communities. Customer service is a top priority, as is the safety and security of every customer, and a variety of billing options and discounts exist to make renting a storage unit hassle free!

Using a self storage unit on an ongoing basis may require a little customization for efficiency and organization. The level of work you put into your storage space will reflect its intended use.

Seasonal storage. Many people rent a small storage space simply to have a spot to keep seasonal items. In the winter, a storage unit can hold patio furniture, a lawnmower and other yard equipment, and gardening tools. In the summer, store Christmas decorations and other items unused during that season. A few shelves wide enough to hold Rubbermaid tubs full of decorations, wrapping paper and ornaments will suffice.
Vehicles. Larger storage units can be pressed into service for storing classic or sporting cars, ATVs and the like. An overhead shelf at the beck of the unit allows you to keep car cleaning supplies, an air compressor and other essentials handy.
Tool / equipment storage. Small businesses with bulky equipment or tools can save money by using a storage unit to secure their valuable items instead of building a warehouse and worrying about security.
Small businesses. Home based businesses have a way of taking over the home. Packing supplies, files and even boxed inventory can be safely and securely stored, letting you keep your house as a home.
If you plan to store items for an extended period of time, consider putting down plastic as a vapor barrier and adding shelving or setting boxes on pallets to keep them off of the floor. Make sure any gasoline powered equipment is properly winterized, and never store anything explosive in a storage unit.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.broadviewministorage.com

Start with the floor. A large plastic tarp will do for small units, or you can invest in a large roll of heavy plastic sheeting to cover the floor of a larger space. This forms a moisture/vapor barrier to keep your items dry.

Pack your stuff correctly. Cardboard boxes are fine for some items, but heavy duty Rubbermaid is better. Put clothes in bags first, then in boxes. Don’t store perfume, potpourri, soap, or any other scented items as this will attract bugs.

Keeps boxes off of the floor. The plastic sheeting or tarp should protect from moisture, but it doesn’t hurt to add wooden pallets before stacking your boxes. Throw some mothballs in to keep bugs away.

Use your space wisely. If you like, you can add shelving to increase your storage space and keep the stacks of boxes from getting too high and crushing the ones beneath. If you do stack, stack sensibly, with heavier, more rigid, tighter packed boxes on the bottom and any lighter, smaller boxes or bags on top.

Leave a pathway. So many people start lugging stuff into their space and work from the back wall to the front. Instead, stack methodically around the three walls and put an “island” in the center. This will leave a “U” shaped path you can walk through to access all your stuff easily.

Back your vehicle in. If you are storing a car, you might have to jump it to get it out – so make sure the battery is accessible for a quick and easy start. Use heavy plastic sheeting on the floor and cover your vehicle with a car cover to keep dust off and prevent corrosion.
Following these packing tips will ensure that your belongings stay safe from moisture, dirt and insects during the storage period.

Packing supplies should be stored off the ground on wooden pallets, preferably in moisture proof plastic containers. Flattened cardboard boxes can be wrapped in plastic sheeting and sealed against moisture. Filler can be stored in boxes, tubs, or even large plastic bags until needed.

Excess inventory can be kept on installed shelves. Boxes should be clearly marked to make finding the right items a quick and easy job. Ensure that inventory will not be damaged by moisture in the air by investing in tight sealing plastic containers.

Self storage units are the perfect solution for home based businesses that require a certain amount of inventory be kept on hand to meet customer demand. When you carry multiple products, you can quickly run out of space in your home or garage. A storage unit gives you dedicated space which can be organized neatly.

Tools can be stored until required; one wall can even be devoted to storage, with larger items stored under shelving or boards from which specialty hand tools can be hung. Items like power tools should be kept off the ground and protected from moisture. Gasoline powered items should be clean and drained before storing.

A storage unit is ideal for storing janitorial equipment; carpentry, painter or tile cutting tools; carpet cleaning machines or floor buffers; lawn care equipment; and many other types of equipment used in small service based businesses.

Finally, a self storage unit can be the perfect solutions for small businesses that generate large amounts of documents that need to be kept for extended periods of time. The government requires many businesses to keep certain important documents and records for a number of years, and storing that many files in your home or office can take up enormous amounts of space. Fortunately, a storage unit can solve this problem as well!

The best way to store items is to make a list of the things you plan to store, and then organize them by what you will probably need to access the most frequently. Note any seasonal items, and lastly identify items intended for long term storage. Your goal is to place seldom needed items near the back and bottom of the unit, with more commonly used items near the front.

Block out your storage space on a piece of paper and create sectors. The items you will rarely need can be stored at the back of the unit in boxes or Rubbermaid containers set up on wooden pallets. Clearly label each box, or tape a list of contents to the front facing side. If you like, you can install shelves – this will eliminate having to unstack and restack boxes to reach items on the lower level.

One side wall of your unit can be devoted to seasonal items – Christmas decorations, lawn equipment, etc. The other side wall can also be lined with items you will need on a regular basis. Make sure all motorized equipment is properly winterized before storage. If possible, you can color code boxes for the different seasons.

If your unit is large enough, you can create a small ‘island’ in the center by stacking boxes or setting furniture there. Just leave a large enough walkway around your island so you can easily extricate any items from the back or side walls. Again, label your boxes or containers on the outward facing side.

If you are so inclined, you can create a map showing exactly where everything is located in your storage unit. As you add items, you can update your master list so you will be able to quickly and easily lay your hands on whatever you need at any time. The map could also come in handy if you needed to have someone else get an item from your unit.

Using these tips to organize your storage unit can mean reduced hassle whenever you need to retrieve something, and will help you keep your belongings safe.

For more information, check out our website – BroadviewMiniStorage.com

Things you shouldn’t do with your self storage unit are often reinforced by common sense, and include:

• Don’t store anything that is a flammable or hazardous material. If you are storing anything with a fuel tank, try to store it with a full tank rather than a partial to reduce the amount of combustible fumes present.
• Don’t store food products of any kind or anything that is scented like candles or potpourri. The scent of any of these items will eventually attract pests and/or rodents, regardless of how well you think they are sealed.
• Don’t store fireworks, ammunition, guns, fertilizer or anything that can be deemed a firearm of any nature or used to manufacture weapons. Doing so will have Homeland Security on you in a heartbeat.
• Don’t store paint cans, old car batteries, old tires, or anything that requires special disposal in your unit.
• Don’t try to live in your unit. Storage units are not designed to be a home, so just don’t do it!
• Don’t modify the unit in any way that does not allow you turn it over at the end of your agreement in the condition you rented it.

The things that should be on your to-do list for a storage facility include:

• Do use a vapor barrier on the floor to help protect your belongings.
• Do keep any stacking you do to no higher than 6′ tall so that the boxes do not topple easily.
• Do label all of your boxes so you can easily identify the contents of each.
• Do keep your unit secured with a hardened steel lock.
• Do stop by your unit periodically to make sure everything looks cool and nothing has tipped over or is otherwise out of place.
• Do report anything that needs to be fixed. Storage facility managers understand that things like door springs or lights are going to break at times and need to be fixed. If you do not report them, they will have no idea that a repair is needed.

Regulations may vary from one storage facility to another, but if you abide by these storage facility do’s and don’ts you will usually be well within any rental agreement guidelines.

The first step is to start with the right materials. Some people will swear that you need bubble wrap, but for the purposes of storage, wrapping paper is just as good and more cost efficient. You will need plastic for electronics, and of course you will need boxes. When buying boxes you do not need to spend extra money on specialty boxes designed for dishes, glasses or anything like that. What you want instead are well constructed sturdy small boxes that have handles on the sides.

When you begin wrapping fragile items, start with your electronics. You want to wrap electronics in plastic before boxing them up so that they are protected from any exterior sources of moisture. When you pack your kitchenware, you should be wrapping each piece in paper individually. Once you begin placing them in a box, a sheet of newsprint should be placed between each piece. The one thing you absolutely want to avoid is just stacking each piece on top of the other and hoping for the best. Also, be careful not to let dish filled boxes get too heavy.

Ideally, you want to store fragile items on shelves. If that is not possible then you need a storage strategy that will prevent any accidental damage. If you have to stack boxes with fragile items, make sure a plastic barrier is in place on the floor before you do anything else. Try to avoid stacking anything on top of boxes filled with fragile items, and do not stack any box with fragile items on top of an already high stack.

As long as you take care to pack each fragile item separately and store them properly, your fragile items will be safe and secure in self storage for a long time into the future.

For more information and storage tips. Please visit Broadview Mini Storage.

Size matters, and if you are storing a boat then you need to know what size your boat is including head clearance. A 10′ x 15′ sized unit is as small as you can expect to be able to use for any boat, but a 10′ x 20″ is a better choice as you will find there are always some items associated to the boat you will want to store along with. A little extra room and the ability to maneuver inside the unit is worth the extra money. Most vehicles can be stored in a 10′ x 20′ unit.

Once you have determined the size of the storage unit you need, you can begin preparing it for storage. You should not proceed with storing anything until you have placed a plastic barrier on the floor to protect from drips winding up on the floor as well moisture rising from the ground that could cause corrosion to brake lines. Vehicles should be backed in so that if the battery dies while stored they can be easily jump started. It is your choice whether or not to disconnect the battery, but usually with newer cars that operate on a computer chip, this presents more cons than pros.

If you use a dust cover, it is essential that you choose one with a breathable fabric that is not going to trap moisture under the cover. In the case of vehicles, you should plan on stopping by every two weeks or so to start the vehicle for a couple of minutes. It is also a good idea to move the vehicle forward or backward a few inches to keep the tires from settling. When it comes to storing anything with fuel in it, if you cannot store it with an empty tank it is better to store it with a full tank so that an excess of fumes do not build up.

If your boat is too large to store in a unit, many self storage facilities offer outdoor storage for wrapped and unwrapped boats alike. If you go this route, make sure that your boat is being stored on a paved surface rather than unprepared ground or gravel. The headaches you will save when pulling out once boating season arrives are well worth any extra cost.

For more information and storage tips. Please visit Broadview Mini Storage.

If you know that you are going to need to use shelves in your storage unit for paper documents, electronics or anything you want elevated, there is a way to anchor your shelf units to the wall for added security. What you need to find is a self storage facility that has vertical support beams on at least one wall. If those beams are present, they can be used to anchor shelves so they do not tip. You will need to consult with the manager or facility attendant for what anchoring methods are allowable, but most will be more than happy to lend their advice.

You will not be hanging planks as shelves, but rather placing a stand alone shelving unit next to the beams. This requires no alteration of the unit itself and is a quick and easy task to carry out. It is best advised that you find out what methods of anchoring are allowed prior to when you begin moving your items in. This gives you time to pick up any materials you may need without the hassle of having to stop what you’re doing to go pick them up.

Before placing your shelving unit, you may want to place a paper or plastic barrier underneath it. Once you begin anchoring your shelves, you will want to secure it in at least two places – one being the top shelf and the other the middle. There is no need to secure the bottom.

Now that you know you how to add shelves to a storage unit and keep them free from tipping over, you can confidently store your items without fear of any damage from concrete sweating.

For more information and storage tips. Please visit Broadview Mini Storage.

Before renting a storage unit, ask to look around first. You should see a fence that surrounds the entire compound which is well maintained. Lights should be present at reasonable intervals and functional; these can be on a motion sensor or left on all night. Next take a look at the unit doors. You want to make sure they are in good repair and show no warping that indicate a prior forced entry.

Security at self storage facilities often hinges on access. A company employee should be on site during the day overseeing operations. Often, the mere presence of people on the lot is enough to keep away anyone who is up to no good. There should be only one point of entry/exit so that all comings and goings can be easily monitored. The gate should have an electronic keypad that requires each person/vehicle entering to input a gate code, unique to each customer. As these codes can be invalidated easily, this also helps the management keep out former tenants that have no business on the grounds.

The storage facility should have cameras on the grounds as a part of their security system. At least one camera should be monitoring the gate so that the license plate of each vehicle entering the grounds can be recorded. Cameras should also be monitoring the perimeter of the facility as well. It is also helpful if management has a good relationship with the local police, who can help monitor activities if there should be any need for assistance such as during severe weather situations.

Another part of self storage facility security rests in the hands of the renter, with respect to how they secure their unit. Combination locks and traditional keyed locks work equally well, but what really matters is the lock shackle. Cheap locks often employ a brass shackle or similarly soft alloy. What you want to look for is a 2″ shackle that is made of hardened steel. Smaller shackles are easier to break and larger shackles often fit improperly. While better facilities often offer space for two locks, one is usually all that is necessary.

By looking for these features, you can feel confident that you have located a self storage facility that will be secure and keep your items safe until you return to retrieve them.

For more information and storage tips. Please visit Broadview Mini Storage.