84964031

Protect Your Goods

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 14:49:37 GMT

Storage Tips

Many of our customers use self storage while they are moving house to keep their personal items safe. To make sure your items are kept in pristine condition, there are a few tricks to protect your things while they are in storage.

Clean your furniture

While this will make life easier when you unload your storage unit, thoroughly cleaning your furniture is vital to make sure it stays in good condition.

Make sure each piece of furniture is completely free from dirt, crumbs, and daily life debris. If you are storing chairs or a sofa, make sure to take off the cushions and hoover in every crevice.

To clean wooden furniture, use warm soapy water, and when it is dry use furniture wax to keep it moisturised. To clean fabrics, use an upholstery cleaner (but make sure the item is completely dry before storing).

Arrange transport

When using self storage you will need to arrange how to transport your items to your storage unit.

Things to consider will be the size of the vehicle you have available, if you will need to do multiple trips, whether you can actually fit the item inside the vehicle etc.

Many customers will hire a van so they only need to make one journey and they can fit everything inside. Most removal companies can let you know what sized van will be suitable for the number and type of items you will need to transport.

Make your furniture easier to store

The easiest way to fill your storage unit is with boxes, however you may have gotten rid of the boxes your items came in, or simply have items that don’t fit in a box.

Any items that can be taken apart, such as wardrobes, beds, bookcases, chairs etc, should be dismantled and kept together (it’s often good to have a small bag of any screws etc. and tape it firmly to the inside of the item, to make sure they don’t get lost. You can even include instructions for how to rebuild the item, so you don’t forget during the moving process).

Not only will the dismantled items make it easier to transport, but it will mean you can use the space inside the storage unit more effectively.

You can also use empty space, for example putting smaller items inside drawers to provide them with extra protection. While we have trolleys onsite to help make moving your items easier, it’s best to move your smaller items into the empty space of bigger items (like drawers) when you are inside your storage unit, so the larger items remain as light as possible while moving them.

Wrap or cover your furniture

Use bubble wrap to protect delicate items, such as glass table tops and mirrors. You should also invest in some dust sheets which are available at our reception, to cover larger items, as this will prevent dust settling on them.

Make sure to avoid using very tight plastic coverings as these will trap any lingering moisture (although if you have followed these tips there shouldn’t be any to trap)! We have sofa covers, armchair covers, and mattress covers available to purchase at each of our locations which are designed to protect your furniture whilst still allowing air to circulate.

Aim for efficient furniture storage

If you won’t be needing your items during your stay at self storage, make sure all your items are organised in the best layout possible. Read our other articles about how to pack your storage unit to help you decide which layout is best for you.

If your follow the above suggestions, it will ensure your belongings are securely and properly looked after during your stay with us. If you have any questions or require additional assistance on storing specific items, speak to one of our friendly team on 01246 204677 who are happy to help with any self storage needs

How you pack your storage unit is completely up to your personal preference, but if you are looking for some extra help, here are some tips

Decide Your Access Needs

You will need to think about how you want to use your storage unit. Do you want access to all your items? Will you want access to some of your items? Or maybe you just want to close your self storage door, and not come back until you are ready to leave?

Each option will require you to layout your storage unit in a different way.

Access to all items: With this option you will need to leave a “corridor or pathway” inside your storage unit, to allow you to reach any item. If you have a large unit, you may need to create multiple “corridors”.
Access to a few items: The items that you need to have accessible should be stored last. This will mean they are closest to the door, and you will be able to reach them whenever you require.
No access to items: Of course, you will be able to come and visit your storage unit as often as you would like, however this option will mean that you plan to store your items in the most efficient way to save space rather than being concerned with needing access to certain items. It also means that you can likely opt for a smaller unit size to save you some money as you will not need to allow for the “pathways” we mentioned earlier.

After you have decided which of the above ways of storing your items is best for your needs, there are also some universal tips for storing your items in a self storage unit…

Universal Storage Tips

Start as you mean to go on: Start packing your storage unit from the furthest point from the door and work your way back towards the door.
Store strategically: Your heaviest items should remain on the ground so that they can’t be knocked over and broken or break other things in the process of moving. It also is best practice, and the safest method to avoid heavy lifting, which means you shouldn’t strain your back while moving your items.
Air circulation: If you are using plastic furniture covers or wraps, make sure that these are not completely sealed or too tight to allow air to circulate.
Quality packing materials: Invest in sturdy, good quality boxes (plastic or cardboard), to make sure your items are protected and easy to transport. Also make sure to use good quality packing tape, bubble wrap and other protective materials, to ensure your items are kept safe while you store them. The Store Room has a vast range of packaging materials available to purchase on-site at each of our storage locations.
Label boxes: Make sure all boxes are labelled, with a list of the contents inside. Also, it can be useful to make a map of where the boxes are in your storage unit. This will mean if you need to find something, you will be able to easily locate where the correct box is, rather than rifling through lots of other boxes before finding the right one.
Disassemble furniture: Where possible, take apart furniture to make it easier to store. Keep screws, bolts etc. in a labelled bag, and tape them to the piece of furniture. With large and bulky items such as sofas, consider whether these can be stored on their end upright to save floor space.
Consider using shelving: If you have lots of smaller items, you could use free-standing shelving inside to stack items easily, and make them easily accessible.

If you have any questions about self storage, or need any more tips, speak to one of our self storage specialists on 01246 204677 and they will be delighted to help you!

Need to De Clutter?

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:00:35 GMT

Declutter Advice

We can all benefit from a little encouragement to declutter our homes, so O ut Team has come up with some tips to help you declutter.

Decluttering is about removing unnecessary items from your home, and this can have several benefits to you:

More calming environment and reduced stress
Increased productivity
Rediscover items you thought you had lost and were gone forever!
Easier to clean !

But how do we get started? Below is a list of tips to help you declutter your home.

Allocate Time To Declutter

If you try to declutter whenever you can fit it in, then the process will feel like it’s taking forever, and you will become demotivated. Try to set aside a specific time to declutter a room because you will see how much progress you have made which will encourage you to keep going.

What To Do Before You Start

Decide what are your priority areas and use this as your guide as to which room to start first. Don’t put pressure to complete a whole room in one go, sometimes it’s easier to break a room down into different sections and give yourself smaller targets, for example “I will declutter the cupboard in the sitting room by the end of the day”.

Ask For Help

Decluttering your home can sometimes feel like a mammoth task, but if you can ask for help from family or friends, it can make life easier (even if it is to just keep you entertained while you are sorting through your belongings).

Get Some Motivational Music On

If you can’t get a friend to help you, put yourself in the right frame of mind by listening to something. Put on your favourite playlist to keep you happy and motivated, or that podcast you haven’t had the chance to listen to yet. This will make time go by much quicker and you will be clutter free before you know it!

Does It Spark Joy?

Marie Kondo’s message of sorting by checking if items spark joy is very useful to help you decided whether you need to keep something or not. We are all guilty of wanting to keep things that we haven’t even looked at for 3 or more years, so really think about whether you need it.

Keep, Sell, Donate Or Bin

As you are going through your home, split the items into different piles – we recommend you have four piles for keeping, selling, donating, and binning. This means you will be decluttering in an environmentally conscious way to make sure things don’t just get put into landfill.

If you do plan to sell things give yourself a finite time to do so. This means you won’t have items that are “definitely going to sell” hanging around for months (or even years) after you have decluttered your home. Be realistic about the time it will take to sell items and see if you want to invest the time and energy to do so.

Storage

Invest in storage for your home to make sure everything has its place. This could be a new cupboard or even just storage organisers like drawer separators – all of these will help keep your space clear of clutter!

You could also use self storage for your seasonal items, like garden furniture and Christmas decorations, or for those precious items that you may not need right now, but still want to keep, for example, heirloom pieces, favourite toys, furniture, or children’s art and other school work. We have stored all sorts at J&R Self Storage Chesterfield, so whatever you need to store, we can help!

Moving Tips

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 10:55:09 GMT

Moving Home? a Few Tips

Contact your utility suppliers

You’re probably daydreaming about settling into your new home, and all the things you’re going to do to make it your own. But amidst all that excitement – don’t forget to get in touch with your current utility suppliers to let them know you’re moving out. You need to do this at least 48 hours before you move out. Examples of the utilities you may include:

Water
Electricity
Gas
Broadband
Phone

Once you’ve let your utility suppliers know that you’re moving, check your energy account to see if you’re in credit/owe money so you know what to expect and can budget for it. With all the associated costs that come with buying a home, it can be easy to miss a bill that may be heading your way! And more importantly – don’t forget to take meter readings on the day you’re planning to move out – even if you have a smart meter. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

If you want to know more about all things utilities when moving house , we can swot you up in no time.

Have a big clear out before you move

Moving into a new property is the perfect time to start fresh and sift through all your old things. This is even more so if you’re planning to book a removals service as they’ll ask you to give an estimate of how many items you’ll be moving. Sorting through all of your things ahead of the big day will mean that you’re not wasting time packing and moving things that you don’t need and won’t have space for in your new pad. Plus, a big decluttering mission also helps you start packing those non-essential items or putting larger belongings away into storage in the meantime if necessary.

Give the Team at J&R a call and we can show you a range of options for decluttering

For the things you don’t need, or if you’re deciding to part with some belongings, why not donate them to charity? Not only are you actively decluttering your new home but you’re also doing a good deed in the process.

Get packing and label boxes

Now that you’ve had a big clear-out, packing up ready for the big day should be over and done with in no time.

Lots of people put off packing duties as the thought of boxes everywhere isn’t a pretty sight, and nor do they want to be tripping over them. However, packing early means less things to worry about come the big day – early bird catches the worm! Once your moving date has been confirmed, start packing up smaller room that aren’t used as much – spare bedrooms, garden sheds or those neglected corners of the loft where you stash the Christmas decorations.

Whilst it may sound like common sense, as the excitement of moving really kicks in, things like labelling boxes properly can easily slip your mind. Use a permanent marker to write which room the box is destined for and what’s inside it – especially if they’re fragile. Though, there are other approaches if time is of the essence, like labelling rooms by colours and using bright stickers to distinguish between them – not only timely but fun too!

Check our box shop for your essential packing supplies https://www.selfstoragechesterfield.co.uk/store/Boxes

Grab the essentials for moving day

Don’t forget the essentials you’ll need for that first special day in your new home. Consider this your survival kit – a box of essential bits and bobs that stay with you, rather than taking off with the removal team. We know once you’re in your new home, there’s nothing more you’re going to want to do than unwind with a glass of bubbly to celebrate. So, make sure to include things in your survival kit that’ll speed up unpacking or will manage the mess like box cutters, paper towels and bin bags. Then think about the things that you’ll want or need straight away – we’re talking cleaning products, kettle, mugs, teabags and toilet roll.

For the low down on the moving home essentials you need to get you settled into your pad for the first few days – they’re only a checklist away!

Get quotes on your removal costs

If you're moving without any furniture (for example if you've been renting a furnished property) – a car and a couple of good friends should do the trick. Even if you think you have a lot of stuff, hiring a van for a few hours may work out cheaper than booking a removal service – We can help with this

https://www.selfstoragechesterfield.co.uk/van-hire-chesterfield

If you’re taking all of your furniture with you, you'll probably need to recruit the help of a removal firm. But before giving any company the official seal of approval – always check their reviews

Make sure you’re in the know with all the other associated costs that come with buying a house so that you can always be on the ball if you need to make room or budget.

Change your address

Aside from utility suppliers, as soon as your move date is confirmed, you should also let any people or places you have regular correspondence with know that you’re moving. For example, this could include:

Your bank
GP surgery
Dentist
Place of work
Insurance (including pets, car and travel)
The DVLA
Inland Revenue
Electoral roll (update your registration)
TV licensing

Top tip – it’s also a smart move to get any post redirected to your new address through the Post Office . There may be a small fee for this, but it does mean the guarantee that no important letters go AWOL, or end up in the wrong hands, once you’ve moved.

We’ve made a change of address checklist so that you can check if there are any other important people that you may need to notify of your move – we’ve got your back!

Check your home insurance

From buying to moving your things to a new and unfamiliar property, there are at times things that can go wrong – which is why it’s a smart idea to have the right home insurance in place. And that’s not just from when you get the keys and take the first steps through the door, but from when you take ownership of the property.

As a buyer, once you’ve exchanged contracts, it’s your responsibility to get buildings insurance so that you’re financially protected if something was to happen to the structure of your home. You should have buildings insurance ready to go for your new pad on the day you exchange contracts with the seller, rather than the day you get the keys. This means you’ll be protected as soon as you’re legally responsible for the house. As well as this, you’ll need contents insurance to make sure your belongings are covered during your move. Generally, for contents insurance cover to be valid, the move needs to be done by a professional remover. If you’re DIY’ing the big move, you may need to look for a specialist policy.

Can I transfer my existing home insurance policy?

Absolutely – but preparation is key! If you’re planning on transferring your existing home insurance policy, you need to let your insurer know well in advance of the expected exchange date. Though, you might also have to pay a fee to alter your existing home insurance policy.

Home insurance premiums take a number of factors into account, like the house itself and the local area, so keep in mind that the cost of cover can change once the policy is transferred. So, in some cases, it could be worth just cancelling all together and shopping around for a cheaper deal – but it depends entirely on your personal situation.

Remember – if you’re kitting out your home with any new furniture or electrical goods, let your insurer know as this will influence the amount of cover needed on your contents insurance.

Self Storage Packing Tips

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 12:32:43 GMT

New Title

Self Storage Packing Tips

J&R Self Storage Chesterfield's team have created some tips for packing your storage unit. To make it simpler, we have split our tips into two sections; things to do at home, and things to do when you’re at the storage unit.

At Home

Organise Your Items Before You Arrive

Make sure the items that you will be taking out of your vehicle first, are the bulky and heavy items. These will be the items that you want to put into the storage unit first, and therefore they should be the first things you take out of your vehicle.

Make A List Or Take Photos Of All The Items You’re Putting Into Storage

Helpful to remind you what is in your storage unit and if you need to find something its also helpful to have a note of where inside the storage unit it is (i.e. family photos are in the purple box by the door).

Use Good Quality Storage Boxes

Even better if they are similar size, so they can be easily stacked to save space. Also label everything that is in the box (that way if you need to get something, you can read the list on the outside of the box, rather than having to go through it).

Safely Pack All Items

It’s really important to store sharp and fragile items carefully. Outdoor, sharp equipment like gardening tools should be cleaned before storing, and cutting tools should be lightly oiled. Make sure you wrap all fragile items in suitable amounts of bubble wrap or fabric to protect them, and clearly show where fragile items are on the box (for example using fragile tape, or writing fragile on the box).

At The Storage Unit

Plan The Layout Of Your Storage Unit

Think about what you will need access to, and the weight of your boxes. Heavy or bulky items that you don’t need access should go at the back of your unit, and lower to the ground. Lighter items or boxes should be placed on top of other boxes. Anything that you will need regular access to should be placed at the front of your storage unit, so it is easy to get to. If there are lots of items you need regular access to it might be worth considering leaving an aisle, so you can easily access everything in your storage unit.

Playing Tetris

Store big items like sofas and mattresses on end to make use of the height in the storage unit. You should also stack chairs pad-to-pad as this will minimise the amount of space you will need and reduce the wasted space in the storage unit.

Make The Most Of Every Space

Don’t leave items like wardrobes, baskets, suitcases or desks empty. Fill drawers, wardrobes, and all available space with other items (it’s often a good idea to wait until you are at the storage unit before filling bulky items of furniture with smaller items, so they’re not too heavy to move to your unit). To make moving into your storage unit easier, The J&R have trolleys available that you can use free of charge on site.

Protect Your Furniture

We recommend using furniture covers to protect your items whilst they are in storage. At each of our receptions we have mattress covers, sofa covers, tissue paper, corner protectors, mirror/picture boxes to name but a few, as well as a full range of other boxes, tape, and bubble wrap. Just pop in and our friendly staff will be happy to help!

You can also see our full selection of packaging materials online .

Making the most of your Self Storage room

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 14:39:38 GMT

Self Storage made easy

1. Only store what you really need

When you use a storage room, it’s all too easy to use it as a dumping ground for things that ‘We might need’ in the future. There is no point storing something away that you’ll never use again, You might as well sell it or donate it to charity, freeing up space in storage for more items that have real value.’ Be ruthless as you assess what you will keep unless it’s an heirloom you want to hand down, you are definitely going to use it again someday or it has true sentimental value, then do not store it

2. Plan how you will pack your room

A self-storage unit needn’t just be used to store items you might need in a few years. Anything from Christmas decorations to garden furniture can go in there – just think carefully about the order you store them in.

Things you might need to get at every few months – such as your cordless drill or holiday suitcases – should be stored towards the front, and things you’ll need once a year or less, like Christmas decorations, further back, things you will not need regular access to at the back

If you’re not constantly packing and unpacking the space, or having to leave paths to get to things, you’re most likely to be able to store more.

3. Dig out your label maker

Label your boxes either with a number that tallies with a separate checklist that you stick on the wall of your unit, itemising exactly what’s inside each one. Or just pop the name of the room it came from and a brief summary of what’s inside onto the box itself.

4. Store furniture upright

When storing items like headboards or bed frames, stand them so they take up the height of your unit, and ideally at the back. If you have a chest of drawers or wardrobe you can’t take apart, make sure you pack items inside. Tables can be used like shelving, with items stored above and below the tabletop.

5. Fill it to the ceiling

When organising your unit, remember to use the entire space, not just the floor. Boxes should be packed sky high and take advantage of shelving and bookcases as extra storage space. You might even want to consider placing a ladder in your unit to make sure nothings hard to reach However, there is one golden rule you must always keep in mind. Heavy things should always go on the bottom and fragile china, glass and other items should sit at the top. To make sure your heavier boxes don’t get crushed over time, make sure they are packed up tightly to capacity.

84964031

Protect Your Goods

Storage Tips

Make your furniture easier to store

Wrap or cover your furniture

Aim for efficient furniture storage

Need to De Clutter?

Declutter Advice

Allocate Time To Declutter

What To Do Before You Start

Ask For Help

Get Some Motivational Music On

Does It Spark Joy?

Keep, Sell, Donate Or Bin

Storage

Moving Tips

Moving Home? a Few Tips

Contact your utility suppliers

Have a big clear out before you move

Get packing and label boxes

Grab the essentials for moving day

Get quotes on your removal costs

Change your address

Check your home insurance

Can I transfer my existing home insurance policy?

﻿

Self Storage Packing Tips

New Title

Self Storage Packing Tips

At Home

Organise Your Items Before You Arrive

Make A List Or Take Photos Of All The Items You’re Putting Into Storage

Use Good Quality Storage Boxes

Safely Pack All Items

At The Storage Unit

Plan The Layout Of Your Storage Unit

Playing Tetris

Make The Most Of Every Space

Protect Your Furniture

Making the most of your Self Storage room

Self Storage made easy

2. Plan how you will pack your room

3. Dig out your label maker

4. Store furniture upright

5. Fill it to the ceiling