Tag: san diego

Tips To Get You Moving Into Your Storage Space!

Post author By SuperStorage San Diego
Post date May 31, 2017

Making sure your items are organized yet protected requires a mixture of creativity and detail: stacking boxes to keep fragile items on top; keeping things you may need sooner than later in the front; figuring out how to maximize your unit space with large appliances. Packing and moving is stressful enough without having to think about how best to secure your stuff and plan your storage unit move-in!

7 Quick Tips To Keep In Mind When Packing For Your Move To SuperStorage in San Diego, California

1. Boxes are better at living in Storage Units than plastic bags.

Sturdy & stack well, taking up less space, boxes are just better at keeping those photos from curling at the edges. Plus, sealed plastic bags can trap humidity. Damaging mildew is the last thing you want to worry about when returning to your belongings.

2. Baking Soda makes Appliances feel good.

Imagine coming to your storage unit ready to move out and finding mildew in your refrigerator! Gross! A simple (and inexpensive) trick is to wipe down the insides of ovens, mini fridges, washers and dryers with baking soda. This wonder powder helps keep them dry and smelling fresh. (Extra tip: use it for rarely used tubs and pool items at your new home to keep them clean).

3. Tag ‘em, Mark ‘em, Label ‘em. Boxes Need Names!

A sharpie pen will be your favorite gizmo during your home or business move. Remember to label them with helpful content references on every side of the box. Locating that can’t-do-without fairy cap will be so much faster. Plus when it’s time for your moving crew to work those heavy boxes into your new place, they can help you out by placing them in the appropriate room.

4. Bubble Wrap saves things from cracking up.

Carefully swaddle fragile dinnerware, wine glasses, holiday ornaments, picture frames with bubble wrap individually to ensure protection. Next, pack them tightly into strong reinforced boxes such as plastic bins. Fill the gaps with scrunched paper, left over bubble wrap, air pillows or Styrofoam peanuts. You can even recycle old newspapers and old clothes as filler to add cushion support for your delicate artifacts.

5. Books are meant to be flat

Those precious pages to distant adventures have delicate spines. Once the binding is damaged, the pages unravel swiftly. Older, antique books especially need extra care during packing. Lay your favorite books flat in moving boxes to prevent page bending and wear on book spines.

6. Make it an easy walk down the Aisle

When fatigue hits, it’s quicker to stuff everything in your storage unit and lock it up. But, when the time comes when you need to access a particular box, you will regret not organizing! If you’re storing your business files, making an aisle will make it easier to locate specific documents when needed. Organize it like an office space (read how storage units can provide extra space on a budget) and you will be in and out with the right files in no time!

7. Metal & Oil can work together

To stop rusting, grease your metal items like toaster ovens by wiping the metal areas with a bit of oil. This will keep them still usable when you’re ready to shift them out of storage.

Serving San Diego, California:
SuperStorage has a range of unit sizes

Whether or not you have the time (or energy!) to use these unit organizing and packing tips, our team is here to help you find the right storage space. Visit us to tour your options and our professional staff will help you budget and advise on your move-in plans.

Tags california, organize, san diego, storage

Moving Self Storage Tips

Extra, Extra! Storage Units Offer Spacious Options When You Don’t Have Room At Home

Post author By SuperStorage San Diego
Post date March 3, 2017

Let’s face it, we all wish we had extra room. To have less clutter at home, to store extra furniture, or to be more efficient by organizing business equipment to make your living space, well, more livable! Until you renovate, get a bigger home or move into an office space, there is a more affordable option to get that extra storage room without having to relocate!

Medium-Sized Storage Unit to Store Content of a One-Bedroom Apartment

Did you know that a 10’ x 10’ can fit the entire contents of a typical one-bedroom apartment? And yes, that includes major appliances such as a washer, dryer, refrigerator and furniture like a mattress and a couch! Depending on the size of your furniture and your packing skills you may also fit in an heirloom piece like a grandfather clock or couple of antique chests and cabinets.

A generously-sized space, a 10×10 unit is ideal for storing needs in-between moves that will require renting a space for a month or longer. It is also a convenient solution for businesses that have out grown their current storage capacity or are home-based requiring a more efficient way to organize and access their business equipment.

Affordable Storage Solutions for Businesses

Considered a medium-sized option in most facilities, a 10×10 self-storage unit offers a quick and easily accessible option for businesses to store extra supplies, boxes of paperwork, or bulky equipment. From home-based event planners to contractors who service a wide service area, vendors enjoy the convenience of having a centrally located space that is manageable in terms of organizing and rental rates.

Space for Event & Party Supplies

Event vendors have to keep up with the latest fads. Which means their list of supplies is always growing. Inflatable fun like bounce houses, Chiavari Chairs, large circular banquet tables, or centerpiece vases with elaborate fillers to decorate a large venue take up a lot of space but are also the key pieces of a party planners business. A good sized storage unit can be used to categorize and better manage the collection of themed decorations. Expensive and fragile items like the versatile glass vases that are used for so many different events can be securely stored without the risk of damage that often worries the budget-conscious planner working with highly sensitive brides. Additionally, a storage facility near their most frequented venues can cut down a lot of time, energy and stress when things don’t go as planned and a quick backup is needed.

Vending Machine Equipment Storage

Local suppliers such as vending machine equipment providers deal with large, heavy equipment. Unsold machines and extra servicing parts can be stored in a 10 by 10 unit and moved easier into trucks for delivery from storage facilities that have drive-up access. There is also the added benefit of peace of mind when choosing a storage facility that is equipped with additional security options like 24/7 video surveillance or individual unit alarms and alerts so that your expensive machines are not easy vandalism targets.

Business File Storage

Every business has years of records and paperwork that needs to be stored. Even with the expanding need to go paperless, many businesses know how crucial having hard copies of important agreements can be in potential legal proceedings or if their company computers are hacked or infected with a virus. While the need to access these documents is unlikely, if the need does arise, being able to dig up a file in 7 years of storage boxes can become a costly and time consuming task. Storage units are a simple way to place these boxes sorted by year. Businesses can use the space to create a system of discarding older files as they replace them with more recent year documents.

Photographers and Videographers

Backdrops, photo booths, set furniture, studio props, lighting equipment and camera stands are all part of the creative workings of a photographer or videographer. For professionals who spend so much time on the road between events or shoots, being able to quickly provide a large selection of options to their clients means a better chance of securing a contract.

Storing Surplus Inventory

Keeping up with demands with on-hand inventory can be daunting, especially with unpredictable customer preferences. Storing additional inventory by stocking up gives owners and managers the leeway to purchase supplies in the off-season (often times at lower prices!) in preparation for their peak season demands.

Self Storage Units in San Diego

Getting that extra room at home may not be a practical option. Renting a storage unit that is sized comparable to a one bedroom apartment is possible! If looking for a facility centrally located in San Diego, a 10×10 unit at SuperStorage is currently renting at approximately $185 per month. To tour all storage unit options and to check on current space availability, rental rates, and promotions, contact an office manager at (619) 262-2828 or visit the storage facility website.

Tags san diego, self storage, self storage san diego

Self Storage Tips

Motel Self-Storage: Keeping Tenants From ‘Checking In’ Permanently

Post author By SuperStorage San Diego
Post date May 16, 2014

By Amy Campbell featured on ISS (Inside Self-Storage)

This week I came across a lengthy article in the “Sun Sentinel” about people living in self-storage units. This is not something new to those who work in the industry. Most operators have heard tales of tenants taking up residence in a unit or even experienced this site violation themselves.

Living in a self-storage unit is not just illegal, but can be seriously unsafe for the tenant camping out, other customers and the facility’s staff. Operators who look the other way—even out of kindness—are setting themselves up for serious problems and even liability.

To be fair, most operators, including some of the ones quoted in the “Sun Sentinel” article, are likely unaware of the squatters. One of the renters said if “you’re like a ghost, you can maintain for quite a while.” The guy and his “drifter” friends claim they spend their nights at a Public Storage in Lake Worth. I’m betting that storage operator has put an end to that!

Another family featured in the article relayed how they avoided detection. Mom and Dad added the unit lock each night after their adult sons ducked into the unit just before the facility closed. How scary is that? What if there had been a fire, a medical emergency or someone panicked? And they claim they weren’t the only ones hiding out in the dark, sharing how many overnighters took turns washing up in the public restroom during the early morning before the facility opened.

It just proves there are some very clever people who’ve figured out ways to be “like a ghost” and take advantage of the lower-than-a-motel rental rate. Facilities vulnerable to these types include those that have limited office hours, but extended gate hours or 24-hours access. Big facilities can be more susceptible due to their sheer size. It’s easier to be a ghost among 1,000 units versus 400.

The reality is, however, it can happen at any facility. Case in point: Self-Storage Talk member A-team recently shared a “hotel self-storage” story. While doing a routine security check, the manager discovered the lights were on in a hallway. Further investigation revealed the tenant appeared to be sleeping in the unit, had been securing it from the inside, and even brought in a carpet, a queen-sized bed and a mirror. Others have chimed in on the thread with their own squatter stories and how they handled this rental-agreement violation, which has sparked some debate among SST members.

Fortunately, finding a tenant living in a unit is not a regular occurrence. Still, there are proactive steps operators can take to ensure tenants aren’t crashing permanently. The obvious is to be aware of what’s going on at your property. Do you see the same vehicle, person or group at the facility a lot? Does it look like they’re actually moving anything in or out of the unit, or are they simply “hanging out”?

Second, make yourself known. An operator who spends time making the rounds will be seen as a threat to anyone looking to do something wrong—whether it be spending the night, having an affair in the unit, storing something illegal or planning to steal. If your face is known and your eyes are always watching, with the help of a great security system, they’re less likely to think of your facility as an easy target for their misdeeds. Read this ISS article for some great security and safety tips. Also, make it easy for other tenants to report suspicious behavior.

Speaking of video surveillance. If the facility in which all of these people who regularly used the public bathroom every morning had a camera trained on it, they would have been found out quite easily. Cameras also act as great deterrents. If your cameras are few or outdated, it maybe time to upgrade. Check out this ISS article on how to build a superb video surveillance system.

Finally, make sure you have the “no living in a unit” clause boldly stated in your rental agreement, then point it out to new tenants during the rental signing. You might even want to consider putting a line next to this clause and request them to initial it. It might seem extreme but, again, you’re looking to deter this kind of behavior. It’s always better to prevent than to be forced to react after the fact.

Tags ISS, san diego, self storage, tenants

Moving

Self Storage Helps Sell Homes

Post author By SuperStorage San Diego
Post date April 25, 2014

By Paul Reynolds on SelfStorAll

So how can a self storage facility help you sell your house? Do they have some secret well of potential buyers that you just need to know the secret handshake in order to gain access to? Not exactly, but a self storage facility can help make your house ready for sale.

Not everyone can afford to move out until after their home has sold; simple economics don’t allow for it. That can be the problem in selling your home though.

As people go through life, especially when they stay in the same place for a number of years, they tend to gather a lot of stuff. Often it is things that we don’t want to get rid due to sentimental reasons. Even though we may not use whatever it is anymore we hold on to. Those sentimental objects then take up valuable space and make your home look cluttered.

The more cluttered your home is, the smaller it appears to prospective buyers. When people are house hunting space is typically one of the main concerns. If they can’t see the space then they often assume that it must not be there. What you need to do is de-clutter your home and that is where a self storage unit can help.

For a relatively cheap fee (especially when you consider that it will help sell your house), a self storage unit allows you to hold on to all those sentimental objects that you could not part with before. Moving out as many non-essential things as possible will make it easier for you to stage your house in a way that even the smallest spaces can look big.

So if you have been trying to sell your house take a look around at all your stuff and start moving what you don’t need in to a self storage unit!

Tags homes, moving, packing, san diego, self storage, selling