How to Properly Pack for a Move

 

StorPlace packing supplies

Pick up your packing supplies at any StorPlace facility

 

Moving can be a very time consuming process.  Whether you choose to hire professional movers or pack and move yourself, there is always a lot to do. It is important to have a plan set for your moving day. Start planning at least 6-8 weeks before you move by hiring moving companies or renting your own moving truck, start sorting and packing items and shutting off and turning on utilities. Packing your own items and moving yourself is my preferred way of moving.  Packing your own boxes does have its own benefits.  For me, the most beneficial part of packing myself is that I could go through my things and separate what I really wanted to keep and what could be donated or thrown away.  This was also a good way for me to save money with my moving expense since most movers charge by the quantity of items and the weight.

Be sure to purchase a few different size boxes to help make the move easier and save you money.  I was able to get all of my moving supplies from StorPlace Self Storage.  StorPlace Self Storage has boxes that are small which are great for those heavy items such as dishes, glasses, and books.  Their boxes also have handles which make it a lot easier to move them around.  They have medium boxes that can hold a variety of belongings such as toys, collectibles, or small appliances.  The large box is great for pots and pans and mixing bowls, and larger appliances.  They also have an extra large box which is perfect for packing blankets, pillows, and all of the other lighter weight items you have to pack.  They have a sturdy wardrobe box which I used for packing all of my hanging clothes.  The mirror boxes worked fabulously for my flat screen television and my wall art.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you are packing boxes for your move:

1. Make sure that you have plenty of filler material such as plain newsprint, bubble wrap or clothes to put in boxes to fill them up.

2. When you are packing breakables, make sure to tightly wrap the item in newsprint or bubble wrap. Place these items in layers in the box. (A small box is prefered for breakable items such as glassware, plates and collectibles). Put the heaviest item at the bottom, add a layer of filler, then another item layer, then more filler and the lightest item on top with filler to the top of the box.

3. Make sure to label the contents of the box on the outside of each box. Also, put the room where the items belongs on the outside of the box, so it can be placed in the correct place in your new home.

4. Keep an inventory list of the boxes that are being moved and keep track of them as they go into the moving truck and are being removed from the moving truck.

5. When you are moving keep a few boxes aside that can be the last on the truck and the first into the new home. Label these boxes as “last in truck” and let your movers know that you need these boxes unloaded first.

WIth a little bit of planning, a collection of good moving and packing supplies and the proper packing of boxes, the moving process can be made a bit easier. Stop by any one of the 16 Middle Tennessee and Bowling Green, KY StorPlace locations to pick up your moving and packing supplies.

Tips and Tricks for Student Storage

Photo courtesy of www.studenmovers2go.co.uk

Congratulations!

You have officially survived the semester! The only thing standing in your way of summer fun is trying to figure out how to load your entire dorm room in your car for the trip home. When you started the semester it all fit nicely; however, after four long months you have acquired a few extra things. One of the easiest solutions of this challenge for college students is to obtain a storage unit. This school year has been full of new and exciting things and self-storage can be added to the list of new experiences that you have had! We all know that sometimes trying something new can be a little scary; such as not knowing how to pick right size storage unit to fit your stuff. The good thing about StorPlace Self Storage is that we have a very knowledgeable staff that will help you determine what size storage unit you might need.

The first step you need to take is determining what “stuff” you have. Split your things into two separate lists: Those things you will take back home and those that will be put in the storage unit. This is the most important step in determining what size storage unit you will need. If you know exactly what you will be placing in the storage unit, we can get you in the right sized unit for the best value. There is no need to pay for extra space that you will not need. Bring the list of the items that you want to store with you when you are taking a tour of one of the three StorPlace Self Storage facilities that are conveniently located near Middle Tennessee State University!

The next step to take will be packing your belongings. One thing that many people do not consider when packing boxes is being able to pick them up afterwards. It is not a good idea to get the largest box or tote that you can find and pack it completely full. This will cause it to be very heavy and can also cause injury! The best idea is to pack like items together and to keep a list of what is in each box, which will  help you locate items later. Heavier items such as books should be packed in smaller boxes so that they are easy to carry; whereas lighter items such as bedding and pillows can be placed in a larger box. If this is your first year in college, it may be a good idea to invest in a few plastic totes in different sizes that you can use the entire four years you are in college.

Thirdly, it is time to obtain your storage unit! It is a good idea to start the rental process in advance so that you have one less thing to worry about during finals week. Also, renting early will  guarantee that you will be able to get the storage unit size that you need. When you come by the office, just make sure to let the staff know what kind of items you have (how many boxes, how much furniture, if you have a mini fridge or microwave, etc.). The more specific you can be the easier it makes finding you the right sized storage unit.We realize that many times parents will want to call and set the units up for their children and make the payments themselves. We make it very convenient to get the paperwork for your unit completed.

Lastly, it is time to move in! Moving day means that you are one step closer to the trip home! Just remember when packing the things into the storage unit, to always put heavy boxes and items on the bottom of the stack of boxes. If you place heavy boxes on top of lighter ones, they can collapse and have the potential to fall when you reopen the door. Always make sure that when you put in mini fridges or microwaves that they are completely clean and dry! Leave the fridge door slightly open and even use the inside of the refrigerator to store smaller items! Make sure to utilize the height of the storage space so you can fit more things inside.

We want to wish you a safe trip home from the staff here at StorPlace Self Storage of Rutherford Blvd., Stones River and Veteran’s Parkway!  We look forward to having you store with us.

Store at StorPlace Self Storage

logo from Facebook

The weather shifts and so do our moods! Spring is here and what better time than to empty out those attics, garages, and cluttered closets?  StorPlace Self Storage offers a variety of packing essentials, from industrial-quality boxes to peanuts and bubble wrap, geared to meet your every moving need.  Current and new tenants can receive a 10% discount of all packing and moving supplies that are in the store.

Once you have done your spring cleaning projects, sorted the items in the rooms, where, you might ask, will you put all the items that don’t fit back into the room and that you can’t throw out? Renting a self storage unit for these leftover items would be a great option. It helps relieve the clutter in your home after you have done your spring cleaning projects.  Visit your nearest StorPlace Self-Storage facility and take a tour of the property!  We have units in every shape and size, from 5×5’s to store those bulky Christmas totes, up to 10×30’s ready to house a car!  You can be reassured that a StorPlace Self Storage employee will take personal interest in matching you with the most appropriate unit, putting the safety and security of your items at the top of their agenda.

Need a closer look?  StorPlace Self Storage is an entirely fenced-in property.  Tenants enter/exit through our main gate, using their own personalized and unique gate codes.  24/hr-video surveillance and a well-lit grounds make moving-in after dark a worry-free exercise.  You can access your storage units 7 days a week from 6am to 10pm via our gated entrance. Our friendly staff are available 6 days a week to serve any of your storage or moving needs, even opening early at 8am on Saturday to help you get an early start on your move!  Reserve a unit online today to receive a discount on your unit rate, as well as check out any other special internet offers we’re running!

It’s one thing to store your personal items in a storage facility, but it’s another to store with a facility that prides itself on customer service, customer appreciation, and customer happiness.  Our goals are simple: to provide you with a safe and secure atmosphere, as well as friendly service, so that your stay with us can be one free of hassle and worry. Don’t hesitate to call, don’t hesitate to move, get a jump on your spring cleaning and store with StorPlace Self Storage.

 

Storage Tips and Questions from StorPlace

There are many things to consider when renting a storage unit. The questions and answers and tips below will help you decide which storage facility to rent from and what type of storage you might need:

Why heated or cooled storage?

Heated and cooled storage maintains a steady temperature of 55–80° using
central air conditioning or heat, as well as dehumidifiers to control the
temperature. This insulates your belongings from the damage that severe hot or cold
weather can cause damage to items.

What should or should not be stored in a self storage unit?

Self-storage is an excellent option for storing overflow of many
different types of materials from your home or business. StorPlace Self Storage  frequently gets questions about what is acceptable to store in a storage unit. The most important thing to remember is not to put combustible items such as paint in a self storage unit. Also, do not place living items such as animals or plants in self storage.

Security options for storage

When selecting a self storage facility you’ll want to understand the different aspects to self storage security including alarmed storage units, computerized gate access, video surveillance and more. Security measures vary according to facility policy, cost, and even geographic location. Security is very important in your choice of a self storage facility.

Self storage tips for business owners

At StorPlace Self Storage, we find that most of our business owners make use of self
storage not just for long-term, but also for short-term solutions. If your business is running out of storage space for unused equipment or files, then self storage is a great option.

Choose the right size self storage unit

Estimating how much space you will need for your storage items can be
easy if you know what you want to store.
Check out our unit size guide to give you examples of the sizes of the storage units that we have and how much of your belongings can fit into which size storage unit.

Insuring your stored items 

Whether you are planning to store business or personal belongings, it is
important to insure the items in storage, since items in self storage are not generally covered by homeowners or rental insurance policies. StorPlace Self Storage offers Property Protection to help cover stored items
.

Vehicle self storage

Any type of vehicle can be stored in self storage to free up space in
your garage.
There are specific details that have to be done to prep a boat, car or RV for storage in order to keep the vehicle in running order. StorPlace Self Storage has RV/boat/car parking spaces at our facilities.

Packing efficiently for self storage

StorPlace Self Storage has created videos with description on the proper way to pack your belongings or business inventory for self storage. If you properly pack for self storage you will be able to optimize the space in your storage unit.

Choosing boxes and packing materials

Once the decision to move things into storage is made, the next step is to decide how to pack them correctly. StorPlace Self Storage offers a variety of box sizes, filler material and other packing necessities for all your packing needs. To make things easier, StorPlace also offers box kits which include different box sizes and packing material.

When you need storage just remember StorPlace Self Storage for your storage needs. We can also help you with  packing supplies that you may need to get everything ready for storage. We have 16 convenient locations in the Middle Tennessee Area and one location in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We look forward to giving you a great customer service experience at StorPlace of Cool Springs in Brentwood. Please feel free to contact us at 615-373-3006.

 

Spring Cleaning at StorPlace Self Storage

 

Spring Time at StorPlace Self Storage

Spring has sprung!

The job of keeping a storage facility in tip-top shape is never ending.  At StorPlace Self Storage,  we take cleanliness VERY seriously.  First impressions can make a difference when you are choosing a self storage facility. Cleanliness can often be the facility’s best-selling point.  Customers want to be assured that their prized possessions are in a safe and clean environment.

StorPlace Self Storage performs audits at each of our facilities once a quarter to insure that all of our properties measure up and exceed standards.  There are over 100 items on each audit and a majority of these include aspects of cleanliness and security.  We keep our standards VERY high at StorPlace Self Storage to ensure that you, our customer, come back to us time and again.  Upholding these cleanliness standards does bring us a lot of repeat business.

So what exactly do we do to earn your business? On a daily basis you can find the manager, assistant manager or both cleaning the property.  What does cleaning the property entail? First and foremost, we make sure there is no trash or debris on the property. We do a thorough check of each and every hallway.  We sweep leaves and any trash out to ensure each hallway is clean.  We also look at each door to be sure it looks its best.  Even during the slower winter months, StorPlace Self Storage employees are working hard to keep our facilities clean so that during our busy season (generally Spring/Summer) you see us at our best.

The grounds crew at StorPlace Self Storage is first rate. They are here a couple of times each month to make sure EVERY blade of grass is cut to just the right height.  Along with that, they sweep and blowout the breezeways and trim the bushes and trees. Inside, the fully stocked retail store at StorPlace Self Storage has the cleanest and shiniest floor around.  We take pride in the fact you can see your reflection in the office windows.

In conclusion, we know that price is of the utmost of importance during these difficult economic times.  Let me caution you to not always take the lowest price when it comes to storage.  You may quickly discover that you get what you pay for.  Rather than settle for a lower standard self storage facility, give StorPlace Self Storage a look.  You may rediscover what value truly means.  At StorPlace Self Storage, we take pride in having the safest and cleanest facility in the area.

A Rainy Measure

Rainy Puddles

The Month of March this year ended on a very rainy note. It was the kind of day that you would not expect anyone would be interested in getting a storage unit: unless of course, they were a duck. However, on opening the store, a mother and adult son came in to StorPlace of Bowling Green asking about unit sizes and prices. She had been a tenant many years ago and came back because of the great customer service. This time, the family was moving and needed to store a small house of belongings.I did have a 10×20 standard space available nearby for them to tour, provided they wanted to brave the heavy downpour. They said “Yes, we had better see it.” So, we proceeded out into the rain. They had not really dressed for the weather so we cut through a temperature-controlled building to try to prevent from getting drenched.

After raising the door on the outside unit, both mother and son walked off the space, imagining the storage floor plan. The main issue for them was where the son’s things would be packed. He is a truck driver and would need to remove items first. For convenience, the family had been recently living together. After a discussion with other family members, the decision was made to secure the outside storage unit. Before heading back into the rain and  the puddles, the mother looked up at the unit ceiling and said,”A rainy day is a good day to test if the roof leaks.”  I said that is true, but at Storplace Self Storage, we have never had that problem. To finish the rental process, we headed back to the office to complete the move-in paperwork.

Most people would probably not choose a rainy and cold day to rent a storage unit. They would look out the window and say, “Let’s tour the storage facility tomorrow”.  However, this mother and son duo had a true measure of need. They were going to get a storage unit no matter if it was rain or shine. For the Storplace Self Storage staff member, it is in turn a measure of a different kind: to meet the needs of the tenant with extra customer service. It would be easy to shy away from showing a unit on such a rainy day. But you do so,  with enthusiasm, if you put yourself in the customer’s shoes. No matter how soggy those shoes may be.

At Storplace in Bowling Green, although not perfect, we try to go the extra mile for customers. And would you know it, as I write this, it is yet another rainy day!

Welcome to StorPlace Self Storage!

StorPlace has self storage for all the seasons

All season self storage

StorPlace Self Storage of Lebanon Pike is here to help you with all of your storage needs. Whether you are moving into a new home or just need storage for any reason, we are dedicated to provide you with the best self storage experience that you can  have. StorPlace Self Storage offers temperature controlled units and we have state-of-the-art security, so you can feel safe and secure about storing any belongings that you treasure. We treat your possessions as if they were our own, keeping them safe and secure at all times. We also treat every customer with respect and friendliness to make your storage rental experience stress free. Our facilities feature a number of security and safety measures including: an electronic gate for 24-hour security, fenced-in property, multi-camera comprehensive video recording, individual lighted units for safer visits, wider drive aisles for easy and safe vehicle access, and high security (cylinder) locks that are included in our set-up. Do not worry about having to park your cars, R.V’s, boats, or your campers in a place where you always have to question if it’s safe. StorPlace Self Storage offers parking spaces up to forty-five feet long, along with covered parking to protect your vehicles from weather.

We want to make you feel right at home at StorPlace Self Storage, so we are pleased to give the following amenities at our facilities: clean units for immediate move-in, convenient office and gate hours, seven days a week access to your unit, dollies and carts that are helpful while moving in, and 10% off any boxes and packing supplies that you might need.  Our friendly managers will be happy to discuss what storage unit is right for your storage needs. We invite you to stop by the any of sixteen locations in the Nashville, Murfreesboro and Bowling Green, Kentucky areas. Our managers would love to show you around.

Spring Cleaning Ideas

Time for spring cleaning

Time for Spring Cleaning

Why do people always assume that spring is the best time for cleaning? The reason is simple – storage rotation. In many parts of the world, the seasons are about to change dramatically.  That means everything from seasonal wardrobes to seasonal tools such as lawnmowers and gardening tools, will be pulled out of storage. At the same time, you may have a lot of things that you’d like to put back into storage: snow blowers, sleds, winter sports gear, or holiday decorations that never got put away. There’s no denying that it’s an ideal time to clean; if you can find the energy.

There are two ways to handle spring cleaning: the gradual method and the all-at-once method. If you can spare a weekend to do nothing but clean, the all-at-once method has a distinct advantage. You can get the whole job done at once, especially if you’re entire family can be persuaded to help. But if you can’t free up an entire day or weekend, you are stuck with the gradual route. Don’t worry, it can be done! Here is a week-by-week planner to help you accomplish your spring cleaning well before Memorial Day:

Week 1: Tackle one room of your home each day this week. Focus first on the stuff that you need to get rid of: the things that you plan to give away, throw out, or recycle. Go through one room at a time, sorting clutter into these three categories. Each day, when you are done, end the day by taking trash bags to your dumpster or bins, and packing the trunk of your car with bags and boxes of things to be given away or recycled. At the end of the week when you are running other errands, stop to unload your already packed trunk of donatible items.

Week 2: Next, go back to your closets at your home. Empty and clean each closet. Put back into the closet only what you will need there for the season. Anything else you can pack up and put into the trunk of your car, just as you did with the “to donate” items during week 1. When you have finished going through your closets (and possibly your basement, attic, or garage), drive your thoroughly packed car over to your storage unit and do a rotation: putting out-of-season items back into storage and taking newly in-season items out of storage. Or if you do not use a storage unit, modify this process for your basement, attic, or other preferred storage space.

Week 3: It’s time to declutter your home’s living space. But this should not be such a hard process, now that you’ve already pulled out everything you wanted to get rid of and  have cleaned out the closets. Here are some tips to help you deal with the most challenging pieces of clutter you may find:

  • Make a special box for home office clutter. At the end of the week, gather all of the home office clutter that you’ve collected and go through it. Make sure that you have a designated location to save tax information and receipts, as well as a place to save reference materials such as account numbers, school directories, and the like (a three-ring binder is a good choice for this).
  • Take digital photos of children’s art work. Use the photos to make a screen saver for your computer, or load the photos into a digital photo frame to put in your living room. Then, ruthlessly throw out the originals. Alternatively, if your children have produced original art work that is too precious to throw out, even if you have a digital picture of it, frame it and put it on your wall. That way, you can still enjoy the art, and it won’t be floating around where you can trip on it, spill things on it, or lose it.
  • Make liberal use of book shelves. Book shelves are an organizer’s best friend. Shelves don’t have to be used to hold books. They can be used to hold files, children’s art supplies, baskets of craft items, etc. The same stuff that looks like clutter when it is sitting on your living room coffee table will look artfully organized if you throw it in a wicker basket and put it on a shelf.

Week 4: Finally, you’ve reached cleaning week. Even if you don’t like to clean, this week shouldn’t be that bad. You have already decluttered and cleaned your closets. This is the week when you can go through the house doing all those once-a-year jobs that tend to get put off: washing the drapes, cleaning the windows, steam-cleaning the carpets, testing smoke detectors, and if you are very thorough, dusting on top of and behind appliances such as your refrigerator and stove. If you again divide the week up, doing one chore per day, you should be rewarded with a sparkling clean house by the end of the week.

If you have to, there is an even faster spring cleaning method. It’s not organized, it’s not ideal, but it works in an emergency. Collect boxes and go through each room in your house. Throw anything that won’t be missed for a while into a box. Empty rooms of clutter as ruthlessly as possible. Take your clutter-filled boxes and put them immediately into storage. Do the same thing for your closets. You’ll find that your rooms and closets look much more organized right away, as soon as they are clutter-free. Then, go through and do your personal version of a superfast emergency housecleaning. This method will leave you with a storage space full of clutter-filled boxes that you’ll need to  sort out at a later time. But, if you need to have your home clean and organized in a hurry, this is what you’ll want to do. If you’re lucky, you’ll find that nobody misses the clutter that you stored in your whirlwind house cleaning.

StorPlaceSelf Storage makes it easy to store your things.  We also sell packing supplies and boxes that can help you during your spring cleaning and decluttering projects. Stop in to any of our Middle Tennessee and Bowling Green, KY locations to find out how we can help you with all of your storage needs.

Spring Time Storage

Cherry Blossoms

Happy Spring!

It is that time of year; Springtime. It is also the time of the year for all the “honey do” projects that have piled up from the winter season. Whether you have been assigned the task of de-cluttering closets and spring cleaning the house, cleaning out the garage and sheds, or an even larger remodeling project; there is a solution to your woes of all of the extra things impeding your progress:  storage.

One of the main projects that will show up on a “honey-do: list is cleaning out closets and spring cleaning the house. It can be a very tedious project, but only because there is so much extra stuff to find a new home for. Christmas decorations just get thrown back into closets anywhere they can fit and old, still working, items that have been replaced with new throughout the holiday season get shoved somewhere out of the way. Many people will go into the spring season with the intent to have a garage sale to get rid of some of the extra clutter and make room for all the new. Why not go about it in an organized way?  Stop by Hickory Hollow StorPlace Self Storage and pick up boxes to get those extra items packed up neatly. While you are at StorPlace Self Storage, reserve your storage unit.There are several smaller sized units that would be perfect to store extra decorations out of the way and also to keep everything organized for that upcoming sale.

The next thing on a lot of people’s lists is to tackle the messy garage. Everyone knows that garages and sheds become the “catch all” during the winter time. All of the things that do not need to be kept inside the house but do not need to be thrown away either, get placed in the garage or shed. Storing these items in self storage may be a perfect option for you. There are several medium-sized storage units that would be perfect for all the boxes, extra lawn equipment, and even tools. You can conveniently access the storage units by just pulling straight up to them and unloading all of your extra stuff until a later date when you might need them.

Another spring time project that you would benefit with having a little extra space would be remodeling.  No matter if you are just storing the furniture from different rooms that need painting, all the items in your kitchen that is being remodeled, or storing building materials for that new addition to your home; we have the perfect sized storage unit for you! Another benefit to storing at StorPlace Self Storage is there is no long-term commitment, so if your project is supposed to only take a month you can still benefit from storage. You can also stay as long as you would like for those projects that take a little longer than expected.

There is no spring cleaning or organizing job too big or too small. StorPlace Self Storage of Hickory Hollow has storage unit sizes to accommodate a wide range of requests. Stop by StorPlace Self Storage of Hickory Hollow at 5251 Mt. View Rd in Antioch Tennessee and someone will be more than happy to help you assess your storage needs.

 

 

Choosing the Right Box

StorPlace offers packing supplies

When it comes to moving there is one thing that we all have to do, and that’s pack our belongings safely and soundly to prevent  damage during the move.  Whether you are moving your belongings yourself or trusting your favorite local moving company, everything has to be boxed up nice and tight.  At StorPlace Self Storage, “Your Neighborhood Storage Center”, you can choose from a variety of affordable boxes at any of our 14 locations.

When packing, we want to get as much of our stuff as we can into the biggest box we can find. After filing the box, you find out that it is too heavy to move or that the box is not strong enough to hold the weight of the contents. Then you wind up with a box with the broken bottom and you have wasted time and possibly a box.

When picking your moving or storage boxes there are several things to keep in mind. First, buy your boxes from a respectable moving box retailer. The boxes you get from the local food store or liquor store may be free but they could lead to trouble down the road.  These boxes contained bottles, bags, canned goods and produce and could have come from anywhere around the world.  Bugs can get in these boxes and lay eggs. These eggs may or may not hatch till the retailer has discarded them. So, if you have used one or more of these boxes, you could have bugs in your personal belongings.  And, if you are storing your belongings at a storage facility, you could also infest your neighbors belongings as well.

Another thing to think about is rodents.  Mice and rats love to eat and are constantly searching for that next meal. If they smell food on your boxes, they might pay you a visit.  While taking up residence in your storage space, they may decide to poop and pee or even worse, nest.  So, when you move your belongings into your new home, you may have to share it with your new friends that have come along for the ride in your boxes. Then, you will have to add the added cost of getting an exterminator at your home. So buy your boxes, you will be happy you did in the long run. Don’t take any chances, run on down to your local StorPlace Self Storage facility today.

Remember that bigger is not always better when it comes to packing boxes. Pack heavier items such as dishes, books, or compact discs in the small 16×12.5×12.5 box. You can also use the medium 18x18x16 box for the same items as well. Just don’t over pack this sized box. Save the large 24x18x18 box and the extra large 24x18x24 box for lighter things such as lamp shades, pillows, comforters, blankets and towels. You can also get the 24x21x48 wardrobe box. This box, or “mobile closet” is great for suits and shirts or slacks that you do not want to get wrinkled.  It is even designed to open so you can take something out and put it back in without opening the whole box. StorPlace Self Storage also offers specific boxes for lamps and mirrors and pictures and other unusual sized items. StorPlace Self Storage also offers moving kits which consists of 10-small 16×12.5×12.5 boxes, 7-medium 18x18x16 boxes and 1-36x8x29 mirror or picture box. The kit also includes 55 yards of packing tape and also 25 feet of bubble wrap. This kit is a great start to help you in your packing supplies.

Lastly, allow yourself plenty of time to pack. When we take our time, we make better decisions.  When we make better decisions, we save time. And let’s face it; time is money, especially these days.  So, get your moving and packing supplies today and let’s get started! StorPlace Self Storage is here to help!