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Whether you are moving or just need to clear out space, a storage unit can be a very helpful space to rent. It provides as much room as you need for everything from your extra furniture to all of those items you’ve collected over the years. To make the most out of your storage space, though, you’ll want to be sure you’re packing and stacking boxes properly. There are a few tips that can make this easier for you to manage.

What Should Be at the Front of the Storage Unit?

At the front of your storage unit should be items that you are most likely to need to get to first. Try to organize your storage unit in a way that is going to allow you to navigate it based on what you expect to need. Just shoving everything into the unit isn’t going to provide you with enough overall protection for your belongings – the more you have to dig through and climb over items to get to what you need, the bigger the risk of things falling to the ground.

What Should Be at the Back of the Storage Unit?

At the back of your storage unit, place items you are less likely to need to move any time soon. For example, if you have a heavy dress that you don’t plan to need until you move in a few years, place it in the back corner. That way, it is out of the way and less likely to be damaged. Place the heavier boxes you have at the back as well, as long as you’re not likely to need to access them as often.

Consider Easy Access to Useful Items

If you are using your storage unit to help you manage your belongings over a long period of time, chances are good you’ll need to find items in it from time to time. As you start to pack it and fill it up, determine the likelihood that you’ll need to access items. Here are some tips.

• You’re less likely to need items related to your childhood or belongings you inherited long ago.
• Make it possible to access furniture pieces that you may need in the future. For example, before you unpack all of your clothing and belongings into the bedroom of your new home, it’s helpful to have the dresser placed. Make it possible to get these items out.
• Don’t stack boxes row after row without any space to walk around if there’s any chance you’ll need access to items. It’s also a good idea to have ample room so you can view and check on your items – even in the back of the unit, from time to time.

Start Sorting Boxes Before Packing Boxes

Sort out your boxes before you pack them up. The first rule of thumb is to ensure your boxes are organized based on what they are or where they go in the new space. Choose items for each box that relate to each other to keep them together.

Sort out your boxes based on the number of items you have for each of those things, then. For example, if you have dozens of baseball cards, try to keep all of them together in the same box. If you have clothing, store that together. This allows you to make the best use of that space.

Pack and Label Boxes by Room

As you work to pack up boxes, be sure to label them. This is easy enough to do with a piece of paper and masking table on the exterior of the box. Label each box by the room it belongs in, such as your child’s bedroom, the basement laundry area, or the living room. Then, when possible, make a quick list of what’s in the box, jotting down a description of important items. That way, when you need to find something specific, you can narrow down your search a bit.

Place Heavy Items in Small Moving Boxes

Heavier items need to be in their own box or at least in small moving boxes. The larger the box is, the more tempted you’ll be to fill it up with numerous items. Never put more in the box than the weight recommended by the box manufacturer. Fewer things that are heavier are far easier to manage and less likely to be dropped.

Put Light Items in Large Moving Boxes

When it comes to lighter items, like the endless collection of stuffed animals your child has, you can pack them into larger boxes. They weigh less and will not be limiting to the person that has to carry the box around.

Don’t Overpack Boxes

It’s easy to overpack boxes. However, if the box does not close properly and allow you to seal it, it is going to break open and expose your items. More so, if the box is heavier than the recommended weight for that box, chances are good that’s going to cause the items to tumble right out the bottom. Keep a bit of room in the box so items can move just a bit and so you can add packing paper around items.

Put the Heaviest Boxes on the Bottom

Once you are ready to start packing items into your storage unit, always put the heaviest boxes on the bottom of the pile. That way, they create a strong foundation for anything you stack on top. Keeping your storage unit organized and packing boxes properly helps to minimize the risk of damage over the long term. No matter if you need it for a few weeks or a few years, you’ll appreciate this effort later.

We're Your Storage Solution!

Storage Rentals of America is your convenient self-storage solution. So come into our office or give our storage experts a call at 1-800-457-5678. Our call center is available 7 days a week and can help determine which storage unit size best fits your storage needs.