At some point in life, you’ll need to move your belongings (in whole or in part) from one home to another. Of course, moving in itself presents a series of challenges, not the least of which are efficiently packing your belongings, maximizing space, and protecting your possessions from damage. This can be especially challenging if you need extra space during your move, or are planning to store your items either temporarily or for the long term. In these cases, storage spaces such as those offered by Mini-Entrepôts Sauvegarde can help you find a convenient solution for all your storage needs. Finally, regardless of whether your belongings are making their journey immediately or in a few years’ time, following our packing and self-storage tips will ensure your move is efficient, safe, and simple!
Declutter Before Packing
The most essential thing you should do before packing is to carefully and thoughtfully go through your belongings and perform a thorough declutter. After all, it doesn’t make much sense to move what you don’t need or won’t use, so use the opportunity to sell, donate, or discard items like unwanted clothes, kitchenware, appliances, gadgets, knickknacks, furniture, or collectibles. Not only will this make packing easier and perhaps give you some pocket money, but it’ll make the space you need for storage/moving much smaller and help out those in need!
Organize by Room
For optimal efficiency when moving, you need to be organized, and that starts by packing your belongings by room. This will not only help movers place boxes and bins in the correct space, but allow unpacking to go much more quickly and smoothly.
Pro Tip: Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs in, and color code them with stickers (i.e. kitchen = red, bedroom = blue, etc). This will make the moving process even more organized and efficient!
Use Proper Packing Materials
To safely protect your precious belongings, it’s advisable to pack all your possessions in sturdy, clear, plastic bins. This way, your items are clearly visible through the outside surface and the bins are easily stackable. Of course, sturdy boxes made of heavy cardboard will work as well. Fragile and valuable items should be wrapped in bubble wrap or packing paper and placed on a cushion of either material for a safe and incident-free move. For electronics, dishes, and glassware, the same materials can be used, or you can wrap them in old clothes and cushion them in boxes for the ride.
Pack an Essentials Box
There are some things you’ll need immediate access to when you move, so it’s not advisable to pack everything before you leave. In an overnight bag, suitcase, or extra box, prepare some essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, some basic kitchen items, and some important documents, to name a few. This way, they’ll be ready and at hand for use, and you won’t have to search through a maze of boxes to find a toothbrush, the deed to your new home, or a clean pair of underwear!
How to Maximize Self-Storage During a Move
The old adage, “work smarter, not harder,” definitely applies to packing and self-storage tips, especially as it relates to maximizing storage for a move. Here are some tips to take to heart:
Choose the Right Size Storage Unit
There’s no use paying for space you don’t need, or even worse, coming to a new home or storage facility and realizing that your possessions won’t fit. Estimating how much space you will need for your belongings is easy if you take the time to measure the area of the rooms in your new home, or use several online resources to help estimate the space you’ll need.
Based on the number of rooms and the amount of furniture or belongings you own, you can approximate what size storage space you need by visiting our storage size guide or researching some online tools!
Use Vertical Space
It may be tough to think 3-dimensionally, but that is necessary to conserve space in any potential storage unit. Stack boxes and storage bins securely by placing them vertically, one on top of the other and in secure columns, so that they maximize the space in the storage unit. As well, it may be advantageous to install shelving units in your storage space if possible, to keep smaller boxes and bins neatly stacked and organized.
Protect Furniture and Fragile Items
It is good practice to cover furniture and appliances (or at the very least, their corners) with moving blankets or plastic wrap to prevent damage from friction or dust accumulation.
Also, when you are stacking your columns of boxes or bins, it’s a good idea to place fragile or lighter boxes on the top of the columns- this way, they avoid being crushed, damaged, or broken.
Plan for Accessibility
If you are filling a walk-in closet or a storage space, it’s sound advice to create a navigable walkway so you can easily access your possessions. As well, it’s good practice to leave frequently-accessed items toward the front of your closet/storage unit, for facilitated access.
Smart Storage Solutions for Special Items
Not all items are made equally. After all, you wouldn’t (hopefully) store an antique book in the same way or environment in which you’d store a lawn mower, so it makes sense to adhere to the following packing and self-storage tips when it comes to special items:
- Electronics should be stored safely in their original packaging, if possible. If not, keep them wrapped in bubble wrap, in boxes or bins, and in a climate-controlled storage unit. This way, they are safe from the mold and mildew that can develop in units that are subject to seasonal and/or extreme temperatures.
- Valuable items such as antiques, jewelry, collectibles, and books or printed materials should be safely wrapped and packed, and stored in a climate-controlled storage unit.
Seasonal items like holiday decorations, winter clothes, recreational or sports equipment, lawn chairs, BBQs, and gardening equipment should be stored in a storage unit to conserve space in your garage or tool shed.
Moving Day Tips for a Stress-Free Experience
There’s no doubt that “Moving Day” will inevitably cause some fraught nerves and frayed temperaments for you and your family or roommates. To lessen the emotional and psychological toll moving will take, it’s best to heed this advice:
- Double-Check Your Spaces: Taking final measurements of your new living space or storage unit before you move in your furniture, appliances, and belongings is not only smart but highly advisable. This way, you can be assured of room/unit size, accessibility, and security measures.
- Hire Movers or Special Equipment: Hiring professionals or specialized equipment that can handle any situation when it comes to transporting goods is a good way to gain peace of mind through the moving process.
- Start Early: There’s no need to wait for days or weeks to start packing before you move. You can begin packing non-essentials months before your moving date, and gradually work your way down to spare socks and soap bars the night before the big day. Packing well in advance of your moving day helps avoid last-minute stress, and creating a moving checklist to stay organized keeps that happy vibe going until you’re settled in!
Planning a move soon? Contact us today for packing and self-storage tips and solutions that fit your needs and make your move a breeze!