Rocky's Rentals Storage Tips

Keeping your items off the floor is almost essential. It might sound silly, but before renting your unit, there's no way to promise that the melting snow won't come under the door, or the adjacent unit won't have a spill that soaks its way into your heirloom sofa. 

Each time we use a storage unit, we wrap what we can in industrial plastic wrap. That way, we know that things are sealed up tight and it won't collect dust or creepy crawlies while it's doing time. Check out Uline for easy ordering of large rolls. 

Even though you know exactly what you're putting in your storage unit at the time you open it, that doesn't mean in 6 months when you need back in it that you won't be digging for ages and opening random boxes until you find what you're after. Label everything. The hidden, the obvious, and you can even go as far as to make a checklist that hangs inside the door telling you where something might be (back right corner under the desk = cameras to sell on eBay). 

Most outdoor storage units are built so water drains away from doors and to one central location. .... in theory. Quite often what happens is large ice slicks can form outside the door, making it almost impossible to get to your goods without risking life and limb. Carry sand or even spare sheets of plywood to help you unload or access your items.

Although this might not be an issue in some parts of the country, there are a few things that don't like the cold or the heat and should either be double wrapped or well insulated or not stored at all. Electronics, vinyl records, old photos (if humid), things of that nature all come out a little less awesome when not stored properly. 

Even the smallest storage unit can hold a great deal, just make sure you use the space wisely which means packing things all the way to the ceiling. Bringing in plywood to lay across several boxes can help stabilize layers as your stacking it up, up and up! It will take the pressure off the tops of your boxes and help keep things safe.