A garage is much more than just a parking place for your automobiles. Depending upon the family and the layout, the garage has become equal parts storage space, workshop, and meeting place, and the proper use of space in any of these pursuits is essential. At Garage Outfitters, we’re making the most of the space available at ground level and overhead with the finest in garage cabinets, garage flooring, overhead storage, garage accessories including storage containers, Handiwall, and more. Our garage storage solutions promote the peace of mind associated with knowing everything in your garage is in its proper place.

We’re happy to say our cabinets set the industry standard in garage cabinet design and construction. Whereas others make their storage cabinets from particle board and cheap plastics, we use durable, environmentally thermo-fused plywood as our main building component. The result of our unique modular platform is functional and plentiful storage space that is great looking, durable, and affordable. Furthermore, our overhead storage units make additional space available that you might not have even known you had. Imagine items such as luggage, coolers, holiday decorations and more out of sight and out of mind until they are necessary instead of cluttering up your garage. And for avid cyclists, our mountable bicycle racks promote convenience and order in your garage.

On the surface of things, we’ll make sure your garage floor is protected against the elements for years to come. Our garage floor coatings are available in a variety of looks and colors, and go the extra mile in coating and protecting your garage floor due to the fact that they are polyaspartic. Whereas normal epoxy coatings tend to chip, peel, and fade over time, our technologically advanced chemical coatings permanently bond with concrete, providing protection against cracks, stain, etc. and a pristine surface that will stand the test of time.

Simplifying your home life is simply a matter of making use of the tools available to you. Perhaps the most valuable, not to mentioned underused, tool in any home is space; often times because homeowners aren’t looking for it in the right place. Let Garage Outfitters show you how to make the most of the garage space at your disposal. Tools, balls, luggage, you name it… by the time we’re through it’ll all have a home, and you’ll have the extra space you need to make your garage functional and orderly. Give your garage the makeover it deserves and the space you need, and set about simplifying your life.

Just when you think you have run out of storage area, because all of your wall and floor space is taken up, somebody comes up with an innovative storage option. Now, I have to admit that I have heard jokes about putting stuff on the ceiling, but I did not really consider it as a serious option. But somebody did. Yes, that is what makes a really good entrepreneur, they take the ideas we joke about and make it a reality, then years later we can say, “I thought of that!” and regret our missed opportunity.

It seems that lack of storage space is a modern problem, you see storage units popping up all over the place, people have sheds and basements full of stuff, and garages packed to the limit. Lets face it, our modern society is filled with pack rats. Some of the stuff we honestly need, some we don’t. But some of the stuff we need, we only have to access occasionally. That is when garage overhead storage options come into play. So what are these items? Here is the list from my garage:

Christmas decorations (or any holiday, if that is your thing)

Seven years of filed paperwork that we are told to keep “just in case” (of what, I don’t know, I think it’s a joke that IRS agents chuckle over occasionally. Of course, if you don’t have the paperwork, then the jokes on you!)

Bikes stored out of the way for the winter, and skis for the summer

Camping supplies

Seasonal clothing

Folding chairs

Food supply

Keepsake items from your childhood

Of course, once someone figured out a way to store things on the ceiling, many other creative people followed, so there is a variety of garage overhead storage options.

The most obvious solution was to attach a hanging shelf to the ceiling. These shelves are most often made of metal, with the shelf portion like a metal grate so that you can see from below what is stored on it. These shelves are available in various sizes and depth so that you can find just right one for your storage needs. Access to this type of shelf is with a ladder or step stool (if you are already tall).

Another overhead garage storage system available uses tracks that hang from the ceiling. The tracks have an “L” shape and two sets of tracks are positioned the desired distance apart so that plastic totes can hang between them. This works great, and is economical, if you already have files or Christmas decorations already stored in plastic totes. Many of these systems have optional utility hooks for bikes and ladders. These are also accessible with a ladder, and though they can hold quite a bit of weight, they usually do not hold as much as the hanging metal shelves.

Now, if you do not like the idea of having to use a ladder to access your items, somebody was clever enough to solve that problem too. There are garage overhead storage solutions that are on a pulley system. Most often composed of a 4’x4’ platform that can be loaded and lifted up to 12’. You just have to make sure that it is located over a clear space so that you can lower the shelf when you need to get something down, such as over where you normally park your car. Also available on pulley systems are ceiling bike and ladder lifts.

So, take a walk out to your garage and look up. Do you see any available storage space up there?

Owning an RV is extremely fun since it will help you and your family affordably travel around the country. The only problem with owning an RV is that eventually you will need to store it for a long period of time. This is especially true if you are a working individual who can only travel for a couple of weeks during the year. In order to keep you RV in top condition it is important that you take all of the appropriate steps needed for storing an RV for a long period of time.

The first thing that must be done for long term storage of an RV is finding a good storage location. Tempting as it might be an RV should never be left out of doors for several months at a time. This is just asking for trouble in the form of rodents and weather damage. Instead invest in an RV storage facility that will provide at the least a roof and a sturdy door for your RV. There are some RV storage facilities that are similar to traditional storage units with the main difference being their size and overall function.

Once you have found a good storage site for your RV clean the storage space out. There is no need to risk your RV to the vermin that another renter might have left behind. Plus in some cases the RV storage area might have gone a long time without being used. This usually means that the area has been taken over by any wildlife or insects that are interested in having a warm, safe, location to rest in during the winter and cool comfortable place to relax in all summer. Taking the time to clean your RVs storage area will cut down on the problems you will have in the future.

The next thing that you should do is clean your RV. Do not just drive your dirty, dusty, RV into its storage area and leave it. Instead give the outside a good, thorough washing and waxing if you can. Cover the tires in grease that will help them avoid cracking and other damage. Then clean out the inside of the RV. Remove all food whether it is canned or not and vacuum the interior. Check the RV several times for forgotten food since this will attract vermin and insects who will try as long as they can to get into your RV and make it there new home.

Once you are done with the basic inner and outer cleaning of your RV it is time to get dirty. You must always remember to flush out your RV holding tank and give it a good cleaning. Most people hate this task but it must be done. If you do not flush out and clean your RV holding tank then you might notice extremely bad smells the next time you climb into your RV. Clean your RV using dish liquid that is designed to fight grease and grime. This will give you the best cleaning possible and leave your holding tank smelling fresh and clean.

If it is the winter time or winter is fast approaching there are a few more things that you will need to do to make sure your RV stays in tip top shape. The first thing you must do is completely drain your water heater. There is equipment available that will help flush the water out of your system and dry the lines. Once the water has been drained use a bypass system to add antifreeze to the lines to avoid freezing and damage during the winter. These bypass systems come with instructions that are usually easy to follow.

Last, but not least, you must remove the battery from your RV. Many RV owners are tempted to leave their batter in the RV all year long but this can lead to draining, corrosion, and even leakage of dangerous battery acid. Instead of leaving the battery in your RV when you are not using it remove it and bring it into your house. Do not store the battery in a bedroom; instead store it in a garage or outside work room that remains warm or comfortable throughout the year. To keep your battery from losing charge try to charge the batter for a few days or hours each month to keep it fully charged. When you are ready to use your RV again simply reinstall your battery and get ready to drive.

Preparing your RV for long term storage is pretty easy to do once you get used to it. Overtime you will notice that you are able to prepare your RV faster than before and learning how to prepare your RV for storage quickly and efficiently will help keep your RV running well for years to come.

Climate controlled storage has become very popular with families and individuals in just the past few years. As people begin to collect new items, add new members to their family, or start to make more money they often outgrow the storage space available in their own homes. For these individuals storage becomes the answer to many storage problems with climate controlled storage becoming the ultimate storage solution. With climate controlled storage families do not need to fear storing their valuables outside of their homes ever again. Now they can safely store their valuable clothing, furniture, and more without risk of damage.

Up until very recently families and individuals interested in storage were only provided access to units that were little more than garages without the house attached. They were offered bare concrete floors and basic walls that would release heat during the winter and evaporate cool air in the summer. This meant that the temperature and climate of the storage unit was at the complete mercy of the elements. Many people stored their items only to find that they were ruined by leaks, damp air, and too much heat. This lack of stability made it impossible for individuals to feel safe storing the valuable items in storage units with many people placing their things in storage expecting to get them back in bad shape.

As an added nightmare the poor construction that was letting in the heat and cold was also letting other things in with it. Many storage units were easily infested by rodents and insects. The basic construction designed solely to keep out the elements did not thing to prevent pests from entering the facility. Without climate control and sound construction people would go to retrieve their items from storage and find that the entire area had been overrun by mice or insects.

Protect your personal items when they are in storage by choosing to use only climate control storage units and avoiding everything else. These days most new or remodeled storage facilities offer climate controlled units to their clients. The storage units that are equipped with climate control features will never drop below freezing temperatures during the winter months and they will not get overheated during the summer months. Most storage companies offering climate control will even allow clients to set a constant temperature for their unit.

Renting a climate controlled storage unit is often more expensive than renting a traditional storage unit because of the fees associated with maintaining a stable temperature. Storage companies will usually be able to tell you the exact temperature of the climate controlled units throughout the year. This is extremely useful if you are storing items that should not fall below, or rise above, a certain temperature. If you are afraid that the storage company will not keep the climate controlled units at a constant temperature throughout the year do not sign any contracts with them until you are guaranteed some control over your temperature and have that requirement added into any contract. Most storage companies that offer climate control will specify a maximum and minimum temperature that has usually been chosen with cost effectiveness in mind.

Climate control is an important feature when storing items of any value. Many people who have stored their items in standard storage facilities have been shocked to find their belongings completely ruined because of humid weather and other natural problems. Wood furniture often cracks after being exposed to extreme cold followed immediately by extreme heat. Regulating the temperature of a room is the only way to guarantee the safety of your valuable items. This protection will help avoid problems such as rusting, mold, mildew, and other deterioration. This protection is especially useful when storing antiques and other delicate valuables that are not able to handle constant changes in temperature and climate especially dampness in the air.

In addition to protecting from the weather the sturdy construction of climate control units will help protect your belongings from rodents and insects. In standard storage facilities it is not uncommon for renters to find that their belongings have been ruined by nesting rodents and infested by insects. Using a climate controlled unit will help avoid all of this while protecting your belongings from serious damage. This will help keep you from going to your storage facility one day and leaving in anger when you discover nearly all of your valuables have been ruined by pests or mildew. Investing a bit of additional time and money into finding the right climate control storage facility can help save your valuables from damage and harm when in a storage facility.

As the name suggests, Storage Unit is a unit that can work effectively in storing of items. It is a unit that is semi-permanent in nature and one can use it to store his or her belongings. Storage unit does not refer to any particular type, but it refers to a vast range of storage options that can be used in order to store as well as save space.

As stated above, there are various types of storage option which varies according to the circumstances. The chosen storage unit depends on the requirements of the renter and what they intend to store. For instance, some people may make use of tanks for storing water but the same tank may be used for storage of petroleum in a gas station. It all depends on the purpose and requirement of a person or the organization. A particular storage item may be used for various persons for different purposes.

It is not always the case of storing items; we may also term our very own Computer as a storage unit as it also stores data, various programs and a huge amount of information.

One of the most popular storage units is the refrigerator. It acts as an excellent storing unit and not only does it simply store, it also keeps food items fresh as before and cool. Refrigerators have proved its worth so much that it is nowadays found in each and every household.

The importance of a storage unit is such that wherever you look, you see storage units like outside every house you find a garage space and that too acts effectively in storing your car. Like archival storage is used for preserving the value and quality of books and various printed materials.

If you observe everything in a proper manner you would find the amount of storage units you have in your surrounding. It is valuable for everybody in order to store thing in a proper way and in an organized way. Today’s world is such where everything has a solution and companies are making storage options tailor made according to customer’s requirement.

There are many examples of storage units that are readily available in the market like cabinets, wardrobes, toy boxes, storage cubes, cupboards and so on. Everything serves the purpose of storing and that too in an effective way. They are excellent at serving their own purposes and they can even bring about drastic changes by making things a lot more organized. Like warehouses can be used to storing items of manufactures, wholesalers it simply makes their business much more organized.

These days large storage units found in facilities specializing in storage have become popular. The companies that own these units have recognized the need we all have to store items and have realized that most homes do not have the amount of space needed to meet the needs of the average working person. There are people who need additional storage because with the change of the economy individuals are purchasing more but throwing away less.

Storage units have also become popular with small business owners. As more people become self employed or start their own business they soon realize that a business needs space. Most people rent their own office spaces but some cannot afford to do anything more than work out of an at home office. When this happens the needs of the business and the needs of the household quickly overlap each other. Renting a storage unit will give you a place to store all of your excess business documents and equipment.

There are various companies that offer you variety of storage unit options that are catered to your requirements. Many have started specializing in storage designed to meet specific personal or business items. These storage units come in a variety of sizes. Some are meant to store an entire household worth of items while others meant to be used only for storing documents and small valuables.

The best way to find out what you need is to visit a few local storage unit facilities and identify he reason why you need to rent a storage unit. Most experienced sales staff members will be able to help you plan accordingly and decide on what to choose. Due to serious competition, companies are always trying to give all they can in their various storage units, they look better they offer you more storage space and that too at excellent rates, you are sure to be impressed.

Some of the time, when a person is moving or when they are simply rearranging or cleaning their house they may look and feel as though it is very cluttered. This can make a person feel trapped or even make them feel as though they where very mentally cluttered also.  There are many other reasons that a person would realize that their place of residence was cluttered just as there are many reasons that they would not want where they lived to be cluttered.

When a person is thinking about trying to have less clutter or get the items that cause clutter elsewhere they may have a hard time letting go of the items because they will feel like to get rid of them they would have to give them away or throw them out. There are other options for all types of items, which can help you to free up space where you live or even in other areas. You are able to store items in self-storage. This way you have access to them if you ever need them and you are able to arrange them in any way you like while being able to add items or take items away.

There are also other ways that a house can be cluttered. For instance, many people will have a boat that they use for only half of the year and the other half it will reside in their garage, from yard or another area where it can not only be very unattractive but can take up space that might have better uses. There are also people who have RVs for when they go on vacations, but do not go on these vacations very often so the RV has to be kept in the garage or in the driveway which can get in the way if you are trying to pull in or out to go to other places. The people who need storage units for their boats or RVs can use boat storage, RV storage or self-storage if they prefer.

Many people prefer to use self storage because you are not only able to arrange your items in any way that you would like but you do not have to trust others with items that are valuable to you or other people who you may decide to share a space with. Another great thing about self-storage is that you do not need to let movers or other people know what it is that you are storing making it much safer for your items and yourself when you are on the premises where your storage rental is.

One of the things that ever person should do before signing a contract for a storage rental, whether it is for short term storage or long term storage, is make sure that the place they are trying to store their items is actually the best place for them and the safest.

Here are some questions you may want to ask the person who is in charge at the time when you visit:

Do you have security cameras that have a view of the storage unit I will be renting? Have you ever had any break-ins to storage units in the past? Will I be the only person with access to my storage unit? Has anyone in the past gotten hurt on premises? (if so was is a security guard or a renter?) Is there a staff member on site at all times?

When you make sure the place where your items will be is safe you will be able to be assured that your items will be there for you when you need them or any time you want to check on them or retrieve an item. Any individual who has a storage unit wants to feel like it is safe to check-up on their items and like they can go any time they like without having to be afraid.

When a person is making sure that their house has less clutter it can be because of many different reasons or factors, but as long as you take the correct precautions and realize what a great opportunity it is you are sure to be able to get the job done when using self-storage. In addition, keep in mind if you are trying to find a place to store items that need specific temperatures that you may be in need of a climate control storage, this Is great for wine or other items that can change after periods of time under incorrect conditions.

Some of the time, when a person is moving or when they are simply rearranging or cleaning their house they may look and feel as though it is very cluttered. This can make a person feel trapped or even make them feel as though they where very mentally cluttered also.  There are many other reasons that a person would realize that their place of residence was cluttered just as there are many reasons that they would not want where they lived to be cluttered.

When a person is thinking about trying to have less clutter or get the items that cause clutter elsewhere they may have a hard time letting go of the items because they will feel like to get rid of them they would have to give them away or throw them out. There are other options for all types of items, which can help you to free up space where you live or even in other areas. You are able to store items in self-storage. This way you have access to them if you ever need them and you are able to arrange them in any way you like while being able to add items or take items away.

There are also other ways that a house can be cluttered. For instance, many people will have a boat that they use for only half of the year and the other half it will reside in their garage, from yard or another area where it can not only be very unattractive but can take up space that might have better uses. There are also people who have RVs for when they go on vacations, but do not go on these vacations very often so the RV has to be kept in the garage or in the driveway which can get in the way if you are trying to pull in or out to go to other places. The people who need storage units for their boats or RVs can use boat storage, RV storage or self-storage if they prefer.

Many people prefer to use self storage because you are not only able to arrange your items in any way that you would like but you do not have to trust others with items that are valuable to you or other people who you may decide to share a space with. Another great thing about self-storage is that you do not need to let movers or other people know what it is that you are storing making it much safer for your items and yourself when you are on the premises where your storage rental is.

One of the things that ever person should do before signing a contract for a storage rental, whether it is for short term storage or long term storage, is make sure that the place they are trying to store their items is actually the best place for them and the safest.

Here are some questions you may want to ask the person who is in charge at the time when you visit:

Do you have security cameras that have a view of the storage unit I will be renting? Have you ever had any break-ins to storage units in the past? Will I be the only person with access to my storage unit? Has anyone in the past gotten hurt on premises? (if so was is a security guard or a renter?) Is there a staff member on site at all times?

When you make sure the place where your items will be is safe you will be able to be assured that your items will be there for you when you need them or any time you want to check on them or retrieve an item. Any individual who has a storage unit wants to feel like it is safe to check-up on their items and like they can go any time they like without having to be afraid.

When a person is making sure that their house has less clutter it can be because of many different reasons or factors, but as long as you take the correct precautions and realize what a great opportunity it is you are sure to be able to get the job done when using self-storage. In addition, keep in mind if you are trying to find a place to store items that need specific temperatures that you may be in need of a climate control storage, this Is great for wine or other items that can change after periods of time under incorrect conditions.

According to a survey conducted in the past two years, one in 12 American households has used, or is planning to use, a self storage facility. The survey further concluded that 44 percent of the people are using self storage because they have plans to move into a new home or apartment in the near future. This fact doesn’t surprise many; the fact that nearly 34 percent of storage unit owners are using self storage because they do not have enough space in their house is what shocks quite a few people. Many people in the United States do not realize that a large percentage of homeowners quickly outgrow their homes. While these people might want to move into a bigger home that is not always an option.

Self storage has become an affordable option to moving for families and even business. Nearly 15 percent of the clients using self storage facilities are business owners. These business owners have outgrown their office space and rather than switch locations they have chosen to rent storage facilities to house all of their excess equipment and documents. Whatever the reason might be, self storage facility industry has become important affecting the lives of thousands of Americans nationwide.

However, before you decide to run off and rent your own self storage unit there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

Requirement of space:

A very vital question that should come to your mind is how much space will you and your family require? Self storage facilities have different sized storage units to meet your needs and requirement like five by ten feet space and ten by ten feet. Garage sized storage units are also available for storing cars and other bigger items. Hence, a proper evaluation of your requirement should be done before ever setting foot in a storage facility rental office. If you are someone that wants to keep the entire contents of your one bedroom apartment in storage then five by ten feet of storage space should suffice. There is no reason for you to pay more for a larger storage unit that will cost you more while gaining you little.

Time period

The duration of time you are planning to store your amenities also has a very important part to play in your final decision. If you are intending to store your stuffs for few months, then you should look closely to the contract terms and the rates offered by short term storage facilities. On the other hand, if you intend to go for a long-term storage then the facilities offered by any storage house should be given number one priority.

Features

When you seek the services of a self storage facility, it is very logical to know what special features you can do without and what you must have. Knowing these things help you a lot in choosing facilities that best suits your needs and your budget. For instance, someone who works late at night definitely looks for a storage which does not shut down very early in the evening. Those individuals that can only visit their storage facility on the weekend will be looking for facilities with extended weekend hours. If you are able to visit your storage facility during working hours then you should not worry about paying more for extended access that you will never need to use.

Deposit and terms

Almost every self storage facility requires a deposit. When comparing prices of different units make sure you enquire about the deposit and the terms of getting it after you move out from the facility. Do not just give your hard earned money away without asking a few questions.

Hidden clauses

While the contract papers, do ask them if they have any other hidden clauses or anything they might ask of you in future. Be fully prepared from your side and do not let them trick you. If possible even try to take the contract home so that you can spend an evening going over it. Any facility that will not let you take the contract home and will try to intimidate you into signing is not a facility that you want to do business with.

Final tip

The perfect way to choose any self storage facility is to think about each and every option very carefully and then go ahead with one that best defines your requirements. Do not fall into the trap laid by efficient sales teams. Many of the self storage facilities currently available offer enticing move in specials and discounts with extended lease options. No matter how tempting these deals might seem always remember that the sales staff is not working in your best interest. They are not there to help you; they are there to help the company profit. Keep your own needs in mind and do not let them be overshadowed by a clever sales pitch.

The above said points should be kept in mind very seriously; otherwise you could end up in loosing your hard earned money, which logically and practically is not at all worth loosing.

Renting a self storage unit gives you far more opportunity than simply having an extra space where you can store away items, in addition to your closets, your garage and your attic. In order to maximize the value of your self storage unit, keep in mind these tips to learn how to get more out of your storage rental.

Tip #1: Stay Organized!
Do not treat your storage unit like you might treat your closets, garage or attic. In other words, maximize the value of your self storage unit by keeping it organized at all times so that you can easily access and use the items that you need at any time that you need them. Store similar items with or by one another and maintain neat rows and piles for all of the items that are contained within your self storage unit. When you have more containers to add to your self storage unit, make sure that they are added in an orderly fashion, instead of simply being shoved inside.

Tip #2: Not Only Clutter!
Your storage unit doesn’t have to become another closet. Instead of using it to store away only random pieces of unrelated clutter, use your storage unit for a purpose. Storage units are great to store a collection of items in one safe and secure place. For instance, if you are involved in a club or organization that uses certain items that may be hard to store away, you can dedicate an entire self storage unit to keeping all items stored together and easily accessible at any time

You don’t just have to keep an organized collection for a club, however. You can also use your self storage unit to organize one of your own collections. If you are an antiques nut but don’t have enough room in your own home to display your pieces, keep the all together in a climate controlled self storage unit. If you have a million baseball cards or perhaps collect other items like movie memorabilia, keep it all together in the secure environment of your self storage unit.

Tip #3: Save for the Future
When you are remodeling your home, buying new items for your kitchen or new furniture for your living room, it may be tempting to throw all of your old items away. Stop! Do you have children who will be going out on their own in the next few years? If your used items are in relatively good repair, you can save them to give your kids a head start on all of the things that they will need while living on their own. Furniture and household items can be very expensive to buy, and chances are that the money you spend on a storage unit will be far less than the cost of buying all of those items in the future. You can get more out of your storage rental by keeping those items to use when your children need them than by helping them to buy new items in the future.

Tip #4: Welcome to Your Office
Well, not literally. But welcome to your warehouse! Many people run home businesses, selling a variety of items to people around the world through the power of the internet. But keeping the kind of inventory necessary to your business within your own home can be quite difficult. Rather than cluttering your home with your inventory, organize it neatly in your self storage unit. As soon as you sell an item, you will know exactly where to find it in your mini warehouse. No longer will you have to wonder where it is stored – instead, you’ll always have perfect order to your items. In addition, you will get a lot out of your storage rental because the cost of the rental can be written off as a business expense!

Tip #5: Split the Space
For some people, even the smallest storage unit is a little too large. If you only have specific items that you want to store in your storage unit, considering finding a friend or family member to split the cost of the unit with you. Ensure that it is someone who can be trusted to keep their half neatly organized, just as you will keep your own half. In addition, make sure you agree under whose name the unit will go and how payments will be managed. But once the logistics are worked out, but you and your storage unit partner will begin to reap the great rewards of a self storage unit.

Taking advantage of the many storage rental facilities all across the United States has helped millions of families save space in their homes while safely storing important items. Even though renting a storage unit might seem like an easy task to many it can be difficult especially if a person has never rented a storage facility before. Choosing a safe area to store items in is hard enough and the work doesn’t stop there. Once a person or family has found a likely storage facility it is sometimes hard to decide what size storage unit should be rented.

The size of a storage rental unit does not seem like an important concern to most people but anyone that has rented a storage unit before will tell you that choosing the wrong sized storage unit can be a disaster. Whether a storage unit is ultimately too large or to small having the wrong size can spell disaster for a person on a tight budget or a person that is in desperate need of more space. Before renting a storage unit it is important that all individuals spend time deciding how much space they will need for the belongings they plan to put into storage.

Most storage rental facilities provide prospective customers with the sizes of their available storage units. The most common storage unit sizes are 10 feet wide by 5 feet deep, 10 feet wide by 10 feet deep, 10 feet wide by 20 feet deep, 15 feed wide by 20 feet deep, and 20 feet wide by 20 feet deep. Many companies will provide you these numbers and even small pictures to give you an idea of what the size looks like but the average person might have a hard time visualizing these sizes. To make things easier keep this in mind, 10×5 is about the size of a walk in closet, 10×10 is usually the size of a very small bedroom, 10×20 is the size of the average one car garage with 15×20 being only slightly larger, and 20×20 is the size of a spacious two car garage.

The monthly rental fee of most storage facilities is determined by the size of the unit being rented. The larger the storage unit the more you will pay. Even though most storage rental facilities are relatively affordable the monthly fee can add up over time. Renting too much space can lead to money being wasted in storage rental fees that are unnecessary. On the other hand, renting too little space can lead to the need to upgrade storage units which often causes additional fees to be charged to your account not to mention added labor and time spent making a second move that could have been easily avoided.

To avoid spending extra time and money take some time to determine how much space your items will need before you sign any contracts. First, isolate all of the items you plan to place in storage. This might be harder for some people than others but it will be worth it in the end. Even if you have to pile boxes onto beds or couches get all of the items you want to store in one location and stack them in approximately the same way you will store them in your storage unit. Get a measuring tape and figure out how much space your items occupy and give a bit of allowance for extra space to remain around and above all of the items you plan to store.

If you feel that your items could be stored more efficiently in different boxes or containers then repack them! Do not wait until after you have rented a storage unit and started moving things into the storage unit to start thinking about more efficient ways to pack. Experiment with plastic containers, larger, and smaller boxes until you get everything packed and arranged in a way that you think will be easy to fit in a smaller storage facility without crowding the unit.

After you have gotten everything you want ready for storage and are prepared to rent your storage unit take a moment and think to yourself will I ever put anything else in storage? If the answer is I don’t know, always try to rent a slightly larger storage unit if the space you plan to rent will just barely fit in all of your current belongings. This will save you the inconvenience and expense of renting an additional storage unit or having to move all of your belongings to another storage unit.

On the other hand, if you do not plan to store any additional items to your storage unit and actually plan to be removing items shortly because of a move or any other reason do not be afraid to rent a storage unit that just squeezes everything in. This can be done safely for extremely short term storage because there is a less of a chance that your storage unit will attract vermin in the form of insects and rodents. When your items are in storage for short periods of time there is little need to make all of the preparations necessary for safe, long term, storage.

Lastly, if you are renting on a short term basis and need to store furniture and many belongings before a move into a home do not be afraid to rent the largest unit available. Renting a large space for a short period of time can be convenient and financially sound since you are not planning to keep the storage space for several months or years.