At this stage in your self-storage process, it's worthwhile taking some time to plan exactly how to pack your items into the unit. Don’t worry about how many FlexBoxes you might need! Each FlexBox will hold about one and a half rooms worth of furniture. So if you think you may need 2, order a few more…we will only charge you for what you use!
You must take care when storing - these are your belongings and there are measures you can take, apart from careful packing, that will help protect them during their time in the facility.

• Label everything! Make sure to stack boxes and containers so that you can see the labels you put on them.
• Store your largest items first, in the back.
• If you're stacking your unit high with boxes, always make sure to put the heaviest boxes at the bottom to avoid damage.
• Stack boxes and similarly sized items together to save space.
• Try not to lean furniture against outside walls.
• If you're storing metal objects avoid resting them against items susceptible to damage.
• Try to assess what you'll need to access frequently and keep it at the front of your unit.
• Fill anything that's hollow - i.e. wardrobes, drawers, washing machines and fridges with small boxes and other items to maximize your available space.
• Wedge the doors of all kitchen appliances whilst in the facility open to avoid bad odors and mildew etc., building up.
• Don't store anything in the facility that you're not sure is sturdy vertically - if it seems wobbly store it horizontally.

Packing for self-storage is an art and you'll need to put some thought into it before you begin. After all, one of the primary advantages of using a self-storage facility is the fact that you can continue to access your items even in storage.
The first thing to remember therefore is to pack in such a way that you can find things at a later date quickly and without unloading absolutely everything you've put away. Make an inventory of what you've packed and where it is as you go along. Other packing and storage preparation tips include:

• Make an estimate of the replacement value of each item you store to help with accurate insurance policies and in case of unforeseen damage in the self-storage facility.
• Invest in good quality sturdy boxes and packing materials - box strength degrades with use. If you buy boxes of similar sizes it'll be easier to stack them securely in the self-storage facility and will save you space.  We offer a large variety of packing materials if you need them, just ask!
• Box everything that you can - everything that is left unboxed in a self-storage facility will get dusty and potentially dirty.
• Fill boxes to capacity wherever possible to avoid breakages but avoid making them too heavy - remember you'll have to be able to lift them. You can use materials such as paper or towels or can buy special packing to fill spaces if necessary. Depending on what you are storing, you might be stacking boxes on top of each other and the lower levels need to be sturdy enough to take the strain. Boxes that are only partly filled may tip over or collapse.
• Label all boxes clearly so you can identify the contents and keep an inventory. Label them on more than one side so you can see what's what quickly. Mark 'Fragile' on any boxes containing breakable items.
• Don't be tempted to fill large boxes with heavy items such as books as they'll quickly become impossible to carry and may break. You can buy small book boxes from your self-storage facility that will do the job just as well. If you do pack heavy items in a large box put in just a few and then fill the box up with lighter items.
• Don't pack items into sealed plastic bags, this could cause mildew.
• Pack books flat to avoid damaging their spines.
• Don't store wet items in a self-storage facility as they can cause water damage, mold and mildew.
• Large appliances need care before placing in a self-storage facility - make sure you defrost fridges and freezers thoroughly before storing them otherwise you'll be leaving yourself open to water damage. Tie doors up for the move, although you should leave them slightly ajar once in storage to stop condensation forming and help ward off bad odors. Drain washing machines before storing them and tie down hoses etc. Appliances should be clean and dry and it'll be worthwhile wiping the insides over with bicarbonate of soda before you store them.
• Wrap all fragile items and breakables such as dishes, glasses, ornaments etc separately. Paper will do but bubble wrap is a good investment. Pack them tightly into strong boxes, filling any gaps with paper or filler. Try to avoid putting heavy items on top of fragile ones in a self-storage facility.
• If you're going to be storing clothes think about buying wardrobe or clothes boxes - you'll then be able to simply hang the clothes in them and they'll keep their shape. It's not wise to simply put your clothes in bin liners in a self-storage facility as moisture can get trapped inside when they're sealed and your clothes could be ruined.
• For the best protection for mirrors and pictures in a self-storage facility, wrap them in a protective covering such as bubble wrap and stack them on their ends. Mirrors and pictures should never be stored flat. Mark them as 'Fragile'.
• Separate lamp bases and lampshades and wrap them for protection.
• If you're storing upholstered products such as mattresses and sofas in a self-storage facility it might be a good idea to invest in covers, bags or sheeting to give them some additional protection. Stand sofas and mattresses on end wherever possible to save space and don't stack too much on top of soft furnishings. Mattresses are best stored on the long end and should be ideally raised above floor level or laid on protective sheeting.
• If you're storing a few items of furniture on top of each other a simple dust sheet or cover placed between items will minimize scratching and damage in a self-storage facility.
• You'll save space if you can dismantle furniture such as beds and tables before you store it in a self-storage facility - make sure you keep hold of all the bits so you can get it all back together again! Wrap and cover furniture sections and keep them together, clearly marked, for quick retrieval. You can put components such as screws and bolts together in a plastic bag, mark them clearly and tape to the relevant piece of furniture. Store large pieces of furniture vertically to save space in the facility.
• Chairs can be stacked seat to seat to save space. Cover chair legs with protective wrapping for extra protection.
• Spray your wood furniture with a good quality furniture spray before storing it in the facility to give it some added protection.
• Electrical equipment such as TVs, stereos and computers should be packed in their original boxes wherever possible. If this isn't possible, pack them into boxes that are about the right size making sure that you pack gaps with paper etc. Make sure you tie down the player arm of a record player and secure your turntable.
• If you're storing items with fuel tanks such as lawn mowers and cars etc in a facility, expect to be asked to drain the tanks before you put them in storage. Fuel is one of the few things that you CANNOT store in a self-storage facility.
• Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil before storing to avoid rust formation.
• You can tie tools and long-handled items in bundles. Don't store a brush resting on the bristles.
• Don't store vacuum cleaners with the bag in - throw it away before you store them in the facility.
• Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.
• Think hard about whether you really want to store photographs in a self-storage facility. If you do store loose photographs, place them between pieces of clean cardboard and tape them together to avoid curling. Photographs will suffer temperature damage and, if the facility you have chosen is not climate controlled, you might want to keep them out of storage to avoid losing them.
• Think creatively and you'll make more space. Plan to use furniture drawers as an extra box (they are especially good for fragile items) and you can use the inside of wardrobes to store boxes. Kitchen appliances such as stoves and fridges can also be used in this way.
• Seal all your boxes with packing tape before you put them in a self-storage facility - this will help keep dust out of the contents.

Whether you're moving, downsizing your home or going on an extended trip, you may find yourself in a position where you need to put some or all of your things into a self storage unit. If you have to put your things in storage, you should know that they will be exactly as you left them when you come to pick them up again. The things that you put into a storage unit are going to be things that you love and want to keep safe; otherwise they would have gone into the garbage instead of storage. There are a few things that you should keep in mind however, when you are putting your belongings into self storage in order to keep them in good condition, especially the special items such as paintings and family heirlooms.

Before you put your possessions into storage, you will need to categorize them and organize them so that you know the best kind of storage to put them in. A box of photo albums, a sailboat and a box of clothes may not all be stored in the same type of storage facility. You will want to look at all of your things carefully and decide which things go where.

Other special items such as paintings, photo albums, special documents and antiques, may need to be stored in a heated and sealed indoor unit. Many self storage units are fairly open and although they have fans to keep the air circulating, there is still a lot of moisture that gets into your things. There is usually not enough to cause mildew or molding but definitely enough to make pages stick together and curl. If the items are important to you, you will want to inquire about a heated unit and preferably one that is sealed and the door leads into a hallway rather that to the outdoors.

When you are packing special items, it is always better to be cautious than to find that they have broken in the storage process when you open it up again. Anything breakable should be either wrapped in bubble wrap or packed in Styrofoam and kept in boxes. The more breakable things are, the higher up in the pile they should be. Always keep your china and glass figurines at the top of the pile of goodies just in case. With paintings, framed items and mirrors, you should pack them in special picture boxes that keep them safe or if you don't have any of them, wrap them in blankets and tuck them somewhere safe where they won't fall or have things fall on them.

If you are prepared and plan out your self storage strategies before you begin your move, you are sure to find your things exactly as you left them when you are able to get them back out of storage. All it takes is a little planning ahead and extra time when you're packing. If you are unsure of how something should be packed, ask the people who run the self storage unit. They are experts in their field.