Main Street Storage: Self Storage Tips

Researching & Choosing Your Storage Unit 

You have many self storage options in the Berlin area. So how do you choose a storage facility—and more specifically storage units—to house your belongings? Start by searching for self storage close to your home, work, business, or regular commutes. You are looking for convenience as much as you are looking for product and service.

Consider Your Specific Storage Requirements

Each type of storage has advantages and drawbacks that must be weighed against your unique needs. For exampled, when you store in drive-up storage units, it’s considerably easier to load and unload goods from a vehicle. Visit Main Street Storage in Berlin, MD to start getting your items organized today.

Evaluate Your Storage Needs

Browse our available storage units and use our storage calculator to figure out what size storage unit will best fit your needs.

Packing Tips for Your Boxes

1. Prep Before Packing

When storing your things, take good care of them while packing them away. Items that are fragile will require more padding to ensure their safety throughout transportation. You can also look at our Self Storage FAQ to make sure you have a clear understanding of the regulations of the facility before renting.

2. General Packing Rule: Heavy on the Bottom, Light on Top

A base of hefty, big items can create a sturdy start to your packing—but don’t pack too heavy. Once you have a few items for a base, stack in smaller, lighter ones. This will prevent your boxes from breaking when subjected to pressure within and around them. It will also keep your boxes at a manageable weight when you have to move them.

3. Clean & Cover

To ensure that your products are in great shape when you return them, clean and preserve them ahead of time. Cover things like appliances, tools, and electronics before storing them for a long time to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating. Clean away germs and water droplets beforehand to minimize damage or bad smells over time.

4. Pack Air-Tight to Keep Out Moisture & Pests

Another way to ward off damage is to pack with air-tight containers. Deter bugs and moisture-related damage from step one. Some items that would especially benefit from being packed in airtight containers include antiques, clothing, electronics, and documents.

Packing Tips for Your Storage Unit

1. Create an Organized Layout

Storage is designed to make your life simpler by assisting you in organizing. Taking a step-by-step approach when packing your storage container is the best method to do it. Leave space down the center of your storage container so that you can access things in all corners more quickly. Then, as part of a strategy to locate comparable items faster later, store goods with similar features together, such as winter clothing or kitchen equipment. Bring important items close to the entrance for easy retrieval.

2. Utilize Your Entire Storage Space

You are paying for your storage rental, so make the most of the space. If you are storing a lot of items, you may want to consider using shelving for organization and to stack higher in the space.

3. Don’t Store Perishables

What can’t you keep? Food items will deteriorate quickly, and when they do, pests will appear. It is easiest to avoid this problem by keeping perishables in your regular home or workplace storage area. You also won’t be able to store hazardous, inflammable goods or money. Check out a more complete list from Move.org.