SUTTERS FORT SELF STORAGE BLOG

5 TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ON SELF STORAGE

Admin • December 1, 2016

Self-storage is a good way to save space in your home and declutter your living space. Whether you're making room for a new baby or simply trying to get organized, self-storage can help. Self-storage prices are typically based on the size of the unit, with smaller units costing less than larger units.

Anyone hoping to save money on self-storage can easily get a smaller unit, but there are other smart ways to save money. The following tips will help you save on your self-storage unit.

1. SHARE WITH A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER

Find a friend or family member who can share a storage space with you. This is a good option for people who find the smallest units to be too small, but don't need all the space of a larger unit. When choosing a person with which to share your storage unit, be sure to pick someone you trust completely, as this person will have full access to everything inside the storage unit.

To avoid confusion, lay out your agreement ahead of time to ensure that everyone is clear on their storage unit responsibilities, financial and otherwise.

2. GET THE INSIDE UPSTAIRS UNIT

In the world of storage units, the easiest-to-access spaces will be more expensive than units that are harder to reach. If you’re renting an indoor storage unit, ask about units that are above the ground floor. Often these spaces offer a deal that works especially well for people seeking long-term storage for items they do not regularly access.

3. MINIMIZE YOUR STORAGE NEEDS

You can obtain a smaller storage unit by minimizing the amount of stuff that needs to be placed in storage and also by minimizing the amount of space items take up in your unit. For example:

  • Get rid of what you don't need. Sort through everything before placing it into storage. Decide what you no longer need ahead of time, and then throw away or donate those items.
  • Pack tightly. Fill each box to its maximum capacity to avoid placing more boxes into storage than is actually necessary.
  • Use smart packaging. Modular storage is designed to prevent wasted space in storage. Buy modular packaging to ensure that you can store your belongings in neat piles. This will help ensure that all your space is utilized well.
  • Avoid storing bulky items. Some items, like bicycles and sofas, simply aren't very space efficient. To ensure good use of space, avoid putting bulky items into storage.
  • Take bulky items apart. If you must store something bulky, like a bicycle, take it apart to make it easier to store in the nooks and crannies of your storage unit.

These are just some of the ways you can make the most of your storage unit.

4. USE YOUR OWN LOCK AND INSURANCE

Your self-storage facility will likely require you to have a lock and insurance for your belongings, and if you do not have a lock or insurance of your own, then your storage facility may require you to buy theirs.

You may be able to save money by providing your own lock and insurance. If you have renters or homeowners insurance, talk to your insurance agent about your coverage before signing up for insurance through your rental storage facility.

5. SHOP FOR DEALS

Many storage facilities will offer deals to new customers to appeal to potential renters. For example, at Sutters Fort Self Storage LLC, we offer clients a deal that provides one month free of rent if the client pays rent for the first twelve months. Call around to different facilities to find out what storage facilities are running deals in your area.

To find out more about renting a storage unit at Sutters Fort Self Storage LLC, contact us today at 831-475-7716. Call to ask about our storage rental deals and more.

Person handing a padlock key to another person.

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THE BENEFITS OF USING SELF STORAGE TO STAGE YOUR HOME

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SELF-STORAGE FOR SEASONAL CLOTHES

By suttersfort • October 31, 2017
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE SELF-STORAGE FOR SEASONAL CLOTHES Living on the Central Coast of California offers you the chance to enjoy a beautiful climate. The weather may be beautiful year-round. However, you still need to dress for each season to be comfortable. Whether your idea of enjoying the great outdoors is sitting in the park with a good book or taking to the slopes or waves as the seasons change, you need to have the right clothes easily available when you need them. Keep your fall and winter clothes accessible by storing your spring and summer clothes away until you need them next year. WASH AND DRY ALL CLOTHES BEFORE STORING THEM When it comes to storing clothes, it may seem natural to wash all your clothes that were recently worn. Nevertheless, if your clothes from last season have just been sitting in the closet for a while, you may be tempted to just put them in a box and store them. However, it's important to wash all your clothes just before storing them. Also, store delicate clothes separately. Delicate clothes that are just for one season should be washed separately according to instructions on their tags. Give them plenty of time to dry before storing them. If you pack away wet or even damp clothes, you may find that they end up musty and moldy when you retrieve them. Just one damp clothing item can leave all the surrounding clothes smelling awful, and you may end up choosing to dump the clothes. Save yourself the trouble and be sure to dry clothes before storing them for the season. PACK ALL YOUR CLOTHES (EVEN T-SHIRTS) WITH CARE You may carefully button your favorite dress shirt before carefully folding it and wrapping it with tissue paper. On the other hand, you may be tempted to quickly fold T-shirts and pack them into a box without much care. After all, they're sturdy, right? Not so fast. According to The New York Times, folding your T-shirts can help keep them looking good. Fold the sleeves of each T-shirt toward the back, and then fold it in half only once in a crosswise position. That way, you won't have to create extra creases that can fold over the image on your shirt. It's preferable to fold T-shirts for storage, rather than hanging them. CHOOSE THE RIGHT HANGERS FOR CLOTHES YOU PLAN TO HANG You may choose to hang up some clothes in your self-storage unit. If you do so, be sure that you choose the right clothes hangers for storage. Wire hangers should be avoided for nearly any clothes. Be sure you opt for padded hangers if you're going to store coats, jackets or other large clothing items. Dresses are best stored from hangers with loops that can support the garments. You don't want dresses to fall and stay on the ground for the long period of time you may plan to store them, so be sure that they are secure on the hanger. Otherwise, it may be best to fold and store them. GO FOR PLEASANT SCENTS WITH STORAGE Consider storing your clothes with pleasant scents. Moth balls are often used with clothes storage, but that should not be necessary with a self storage unit. Instead, try storing your clothes alongside sachets in your favorite scents or even cedar. That way, you will be met with wonderful scents when you go to retrieve your clothes. Finally, keep in mind that choosing a self-storage facility that is reliable and secure is important. Whether you need short-term storage for seasonal clothes or want to store outfits for a long time, Sutters Fort Self Storage LLC can meet and exceed all your storage needs. Your storage unit will be available 365 days per year, so you can get your clothes whenever you need them.

LOVE BUYING ANTIQUES FOR RESALE? 5 REASONS SELF-STORAGE CAN BE IDEAL

By Admin • September 22, 2017
Purchasing antique furniture to sell once the furniture pieces have been cleaned up and repaired can be a unique self-employed job opportunity. Whether you fix up antique furniture as your primary source of income or as a side hobby, you'll likely be curious about what you can do to better manage the furniture that you're buying. Filling your own home or workshop with antique furniture can quickly lead to frustration due to a lack of space. Renting a storage unit can be an excellent option, especially once you consider the following benefits that a storage unit comes with. AVAILABLE SPACE If you're often cleaning and repairing antique furniture, you likely have a workshop that you do most of your work in. When you're regularly bringing home new pieces, you could run into an issue where your workshop is cluttered and difficult to work in. When you have a storage unit available to you, you can move furniture that's waiting to be sold or not in your immediate plans to repair somewhere safe for later retrieval. You can keep inventory of everything by taking photographs before furniture is placed into storage so that you're always aware of what's in storage. SUPPLIES KEPT OUT OF THE WAY Your workshop contains a large variety of supplies for you to properly fix any antique furniture that you buy. While you'll need a lot of these supplies readily available, if you have a smaller-sized workshop or supplies that are used only on occasion, you may want to use your storage unit for some of your supplies. You can rent a storage unit that's climate controlled to store a lot of your supplies that are needed for fixing up antique furniture. INSURANCE COVERAGE One of the reasons that you may be concerned about storing your antique furniture in a storage unit is not being able to keep an eye on everything. This can especially be a concern when you're storing furniture that is worth a lot of money. Luckily, you can get insurance for the contents of your storage unit so that you can have some peace of mind over the protection of your items in the event of a disaster such as a flood or a burglary. DISCOUNTS FOR LONG-TERM STORAGE The best option when picking out a storage unit is arranging a long-term storage situation. Some storage companies even offer one free month of rent when you sign up for a full year of storage or offer a fixed rate that won’t increase for a few years. When long-term storage is the best solution to help with your business, seeking discounts and price-lock guarantees is a necessity. TAX WRITE-OFFS Since renting a storage unit will allow you to have more space for your business and even help with growth due because you will be able to carry a larger inventory at once, you can get discounts in other ways. One thing you may not have considered is being able to write off the cost of storage in your taxes. Ask for proper receipts to ensure that the costs of your storage unit are manageable. Document everything so that you will be able to get a storage unit without it being too expensive. As a small-business owner, you'll need to have all the information you need when it comes time to pay taxes. With all the benefits that come with renting a storage unit, you should become familiar with what you can expect and how renting a unit will help for your business. If you're interested in storing your antique furniture safely, feel free to contact us at Sutters Fort Self Storage LLC to arrange business storage.