HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR STORAGE UNIT

Storage units provide a great place to keep your belongings while you move, renovate or if you’re looking to de-clutter your home and your mind. Here are some tips to get the most out of your storage unit and how to pack it effectively.

Choose the Right Size 

Pick a unit that meets your needs. In this case, bigger can be better. If you’re unsure of exactly how much you’re going to store, choosing a larger size storage unit offers extra wiggle-room should you need it. Smaller sizes work as well, but you’ll need to pack them effectively to maximize the space. One unique way to organize your unit is to take painters tape and create a blueprint of the storage unit on the floor of your home. How many boxes do you have? What about loose items like chairs, sofas or side tables? Arrange your boxes and furniture within the tapelines. This will help to determine where items will fit. Use a tape measure to stand in for the unit’s height as you stack boxes and totes. If you don’t have the space in your home to mark out the storage unit’s size, draw a scale version of the unit and your items on paper to find the best arrangement.

Packing and Stacking

If you’re good at Tetris, those skills will come in handy. Boxes and totes are sturdy and great for stacking. They also take up space in a unit and you want to use all the space you can, but do so efficiently. Stacking too many boxes on top of one another can also be dangerous, so make sure you’re stacking boxes and totes so they’re secure. The biggest and heaviest boxes should go on the bottom and smaller, lighter boxes should make their way to the top. Plastic totes and bins also offer a variety of sizes and added sturdiness. Filling extra space in boxes with paper and/or bubble wrap can help prevent items from shifting in the box and getting damaged in transition. Large items like furniture and appliances should be stored at the back of the unit, or hug the walls. Boxes should be stored in the center with aisles left open for you to move safely between items. Don’t forget to lift with your legs and not your back to avoid injury. 

Don’t Randomize. Plan and Organize

This might sound obvious, but organizing your belongings beforehand can alleviate the stress of trying to find something you need access to later. Packing your items into any box may seem like a timesaving method, but trust us; it’s going to cause more problems down the line. Try to group items together so you know where to look for them. In other words, don’t put your kitchenware in the box with your electronics. Things will get lost. Organize the items from each room into groups before placing them in the appropriate boxes. Bedding should be stored with bedding, kitchenware with kitchenware, etc. Part of your plan should include which of these boxes you’ll need access to on a regular basis. Those boxes should be stored up front and shouldn’t require you to have to move too many other items to get to them.

Also, one of the most over-looked organizational techniques is labeling. If you have three boxes marked kitchenware, make a short bulleted list under the label indicating what types of kitchenware items are in the box. Clean refrigerators or other appliances can be used like nesting dolls, with smaller bins and items you stored inside to save space. For example: jewelry can be kept in small totes or dresser drawers but make sure those drawers are marked with an adhesive label that doesn’t leave residue when removed.

Clean It Up

Pretend like your in-laws are coming for an extended stay and clean your belongings before storing them. If you’re storing freezers, refrigerators or other storage containers that are exposed to water, you’ll want to make sure to scrub, disinfect and dry them to prevent mold or bacteria growth. Electronics, such as computers, DVD/Blu Ray players and stereo equipment should be cleaned and wrapped in plastic to prevent dust from settling. Wrapping items is always a good idea before packing them in boxes to prevent scratches and dents, but you won’t have to worry about preventing weather damage in our 270,000 square-foot climate-controlled facility. Noyes Moving offers both vault and self storage options, so give us a call and we can help you decide which option is right for you.

Sources: Apartment, Sparefoot Blog, Moove In, SecureCare, Fitness 19

Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall: When is The Best Time to Sell Your Home?

If you’re a homeowner ready to sell, you might wonder when is the best time to list your home. Realty phrases like ‘it’s a buyers’ market and not a sellers’ market,’ is confusing and can even scare some homeowners away from listing their property effectively. And for a homeowner living in an area that experiences each of the four seasons, it’s hard to know how weather affects a home’s price. So, when is the perfect time to sell your home?

Right now.

Spring marks the beginning of the busiest sale and buying season, which lasts throughout the summer, and has the potential for a bigger sale price. Warmer weather and school vacations help ease the moving process for families, and homes show better curb appeal when lawns and gardens are in bloom. For those of us in the northeast, colder weather tends to keep us indoors while warmer weather draws out more buyers. Winter weather also produces quick turnarounds between a buyer and seller, which lead to homes being sold for less than market value.

How Much Should You List Your Home For?

You, or your home appraiser, can determine the cost of selling your home by looking at the comparable data of other houses sold during warmer months for an accurate and fair price. It’s also recommended that you watch what your neighbor’s homes sell for before listing your property. Here are some questions to ask: When did homes sell in your area? Was it during the spring, or was there a spike in the summer? Did the sale price exceed market value.

Why Spring Provides a Magic Window

With such a short amount of time to list, stage and sell a home, you’re probably wondering if there is a certain timeframe which you have to get your home on the market. Some refer to this as The Magic Window. In large metro areas, like Boston, homes listed from mid-March to mid-April sold the fastest and at a higher price. On a national level, homeowners anticipating a quick turnaround, at the maximum sale price, listed their homes in early May and sold their homes nearly a month faster than those listed later in the season.

Moving is So Much Easier

Moving your furniture and valuables seems like a daunting task. Add winter weather into the mix and you might choose not to sell at all. If you hire a moving company like Earle W. Noyes & Sons, we will always take the necessary precautions to help keep your valuables from getting damaged during any kind of weather. Ready to sell your house and move into your dream home? Request a moving quote today.

When Should I Contact Noyes?

As soon as possible! The summer months are the busiest time in the moving industry. We’re often booked to full capacity during the summer. Even if you haven’t sold your house yet, contact us for a free estimate. This will save time and make scheduling easier once your home does sell.

Sources: Zillow, Realtor