How to get the most out of your storage unit during a move

Storage units are the perfect way to make your move a breeze. They have become a huge trend in the moving world because families need a way to store their belongings when they are in the middle of waiting for their new home to close or they are trying to sell their home and have it staged to sell. If you need a storage unit for your move, make sure you check out the information below to make sure you get the most of your unit and storage needs.

Where can I get a storage unit for my move?

While most moving families would have to seek out their own private storage unit during a move, you can get them right with your moving company when choosing to work with Professional Moving Specialists.

Not only can they help you get your move done in a professional and efficient manner, but they can help you by providing a storage unit during this transition period. It’s great for storing things while you selling your home or move, and even for some extra storage space once you get settled in your new home.

What goes into my storage decision?

Deciding on getting a storage unit is just the first step. Next, you’ll need to discuss your needs with your storage unit provider because there will be a few decisions to consider. Climate control is a popular option for storage facilities because it allows you to protect your belongings from hot and cold temperatures.

Consider if you’ll need climate control to avoid damaging furniture, photos, and antiques. Then you’ll need to determine the size of the unit needed, such as a 5x5 for small boxes or a 10x20 if you have a 3-4 bedroom home’s worth of goods.

Loading up the storage unit

Lastly, you’ll need to strategize loading your belongings into the storage unit to make sure you get the most of your unit. Being organized is important to make sure you can easily get into the unit to move your things around and clearly see everything labeled for accessing later. Make sure you have plenty of packing materials to protect your items in bubble wrap and cardboard boxes.

It’s best to try to keep your items off of the ground. Occasionally, a storage unit could end up getting flooded from weather or a spill in another unit, and it would be a shame to have your items on the ground getting ruined. Getting a wooden shipping pallet or blocks to keep your belongings off the ground is a great way to protect yourself. Then be sure to disassemble your furniture so that you can stack them high, such as the legs off of your tables.

Don’t forget to get the appropriate lock for your storage unit and check your homeowners’ insurance policy to make sure it will cover items in your unit in the event of damage.

The easiest way to get the most out of your storage unit during a move is to get the storage unit from the same company handling the move. Talk to The Professionals Moving Specialists today about your upcoming moving and storing needs!

What are the best days of the week to move?

Have you been thinking about scheduling your upcoming move for the best day of the week to move rather than going with the standard weekend choice? Some people are wising up to the fact that sometimes things just go smoother when you do them on the right day rather than the day that works best for them.

While Saturday and Sunday might work best for your schedule, your best moving days are actually going to fall on the work week and that’s not always the news moving families want to hear. If you can rearrange your schedule for your upcoming move, you’ll find that moving between Monday and Thursday is going to be a heck of a lot easier than moving over the weekend. Find out why, below.

Why moving on the weekend isn’t best

While the most popular day to move is on a Friday, this doesn’t mean it’s the best day to be moving. This was the most chosen moving day in the recent past and that’s because most people can easily take off a Friday from work and they hope to have the weekend to relax after the process.

While it’s tempting to move on a Friday and enjoy your new home over the weekend, you’re going to be up against the challenge of finding movers with availability on that day and traffic tends to be more chaotic. After Fridays, Saturdays tend to be the most popular day to move, but it’s another hard to book and you’ll be dealing with everybody off work and driving at the same time as you.

It turns out that the best days to move are between Monday and Thursday, despite Tuesdays being the least popular moving day. There is far less demand for movers making it a cinch to schedule your moving day, and taking the day the off work to get it done will pay off in big ways. You’ll likely save money hiring movers during this strange part of the week when no one else is moving, and you’ll have the weekend to look forward to unpack and get organized before the work week.

What time of year should I choose?

If you’re looking at your options for the best time of year to plan your relocation, be sure to avoid May and June, the most popular moving months in the country, and the timeframe from Memorial Day to Labor Day in general. Depending on the weather in your area, scheduling a move for the months between September to April will likely save you money and make it easy to schedule being the slower season for moving.

Is there a best time of day or best week out of the month?

Since you’re taking the day off work, you may be tempted to sleep in before the move, but you should actually keep things early since the early bird gets the worm. The early morning is the best time to move with an arrival between 8-10am, and you’ll love the better temperatures before the hot sun later in the day.

Consider scheduling your move in the middle of the month too, because mid-month moves tend to allow for the best availability since they are the lowest in demand. The first of the month and the end of the month are busiest as leases start and end.

If you’re getting ready to move, be sure to schedule it between Monday and Thursday mornings, in the middle of the month, avoiding a May through August move. You’ll find that following these tips makes it easier and more affordable to get your move done fast and efficiently from professional movers!

The Difficulties of Packing Your Shed

One of the last things you’re probably thinking about with your upcoming moving is packing up the outdoors, specifically the things in your shed. It’s one of those areas that can be easy to forget between packing up your attic, getting everything from your children’s rooms, and even grabbing the dog’s toys.

Once you remember that your shed is going to need to be handled as well, you’re going to have to take extra precautions, since the items in your shed tend to have dangerous elements that have to be addressed before a move. Take a look at why your shed can be difficult to pack and why a professional moving company should handle it for you.

Moving your tools

One of the items likely living in your shed is your toolset which means you have items with blades, sharp edges, and heavyweight. You’ll want to prep for the move by putting all of your small tools in the toolbox and then gathering all of the tools of the same length to secure them together with a cord or plastic tab. Your movers will then secure all of the large or dangerous items with bubble wrap and properly label the box to make sure you are cautious when unpacking.

Furniture

Do you keep your lawn furniture in the shed during the offseason? You’ll need to think about how these items will be moved as well. They are usually bulky and lightweight, making it more likely that you’ll be able to dismantle some of it before the move. Look at the table legs, glass tops, and umbrellas in the table to see if things can come apart. Be sure to wash everything down and let it dry all the way before the movers secure it with plastic.

Gas-powered items or motorized vehicles

Next up is the items in your shed that contain gas, oil, or a motor. You’re going to have to drain these items of any harmful liquids like oil and gas from your lawn mower, grill, chainsaw, or snow blower. Your movers will have protective covers for your chainsaws and lawnmower blades, but they may want to remove all attachments and pack them in a separate box. They will either have you empty propane tanks or not bring them on the truck.

Be sure to discuss any motorized vehicles that you need to have moved that you don’t plan on driving. There are steps involved in preparing your car for shipping that your mover will need to discuss with you. Most people drive the vehicle or use a trailer behind the moving truck. If you own a motorized boat like a Jet Ski or ski-doo, or need your motorcycle moved, talk to your movers about what you need to do to get them ready before moving day.

Outdoor equipment and planters

Lastly, your shed likely holds your outdoor equipment, children’s stuff, and pots for your plants. Your mover will have to disassemble your swing sets and climbing toys unless you do them in advance, and then they will likely box your bikes to avoid bending them during the move. Before moving to another state, you’ll have to check if plants can be moved with you. Clean your planter boxes or pots thoroughly before the move and make sure to mark the box to show its heavy.

Being such a big job, it’s important to hire a professional moving company to handle your household move and everything in your shed. This is a look at how the move will go with the most common items in a shed.