A gap year, whether it's between high school and college or your undergraduate and post-graduate studies, is the perfect time to travel and explore while you decide exactly what path you plan to take. One way to make the most of this time is to make sure you aren't encumbered by your belongings. Moving your stuff into a self-storage facility gives you the freedom you need while still ensuring your things are there when you return. The following tips can help you make the most of your storage unit.
Tip #1: Opt for a Climate Controlled Unit
If you're planning on storing anything that can be damaged by extreme heat or cold, or that is prone to humidity damage, a climate controlled unit is the way to go. Electronics and tech items, including televisions, computers, and printers, are just a few examples of items best stored in one of these units. Even analog items, like books and papers that you may need once you resume your studies, require a unit with humidity control to ensure they aren't damaged.
Tip #2: Lock In on a Location
You can save moving time later if you know where you plan to end up after your gap year. For example, if you are already planning to enter a specific college or graduate program, simply rent your storage unit in this location so you don't have to deal with a long distance move immediately after returning from your gap year travels.
Tip #3: Pack in Plastic
While cardboard boxes are often free and plentiful, they aren't really a good choice for long-term storage. This is because the contents are still exposed to any external hazards, such as insects or water from a leak. Invest in plastic storage tubs to pack your items if possible. An added benefit is that you can get the tubs in a uniform size for easier and more compact stacking. If you must use cardboard, line each box with a heavy-duty garbage bag to provide some protection to the contents. You can also opt to do a mix of plastic and cardboard. For example, pack items more likely to suffer damage, such as clothing and papers, in plastic. Stow less damage-prone items, like kitchen implements, in cardboard.
Tip #4: Organize For Easy Access
You may need something from your storage unit during your gap year. You can simplify the process of finding the items by stacking the boxes in aisles, with the end of each box facing into the aisle. Attach an inventory list to the front of each box. Since you may be traveling for your gap year, these inventories will enable a friend or parent to quickly find and retrieve an item to send to you, if need be.
If you're looking for a local storage facility, visit Arthur's Self Storage.
Share12 November 2015
After my boss told me that I would probably be moving a lot for work, I realized we needed to get a little more organized. Instead of gathering produce boxes and hoping for the best, we started analyzing our mistakes and successes of previous relocations. We realized that we usually got hung up on the packing, which is why we asked my employer to pay for a professional service. Our next relocation was a breeze. This blog is all about identifying storage problems so that you can avoid hassles, delays, and expensive mistakes that could destroy your overall budget.