Placing your item in storage seems really hard, isn’t it? Yes, many of us struggle to organise, inventory, and keep our items in check. It is much more of a hassle if you still need to rent a truck and arrange a driver.
However, if you make optimal use of mobile storage service, you can at least be assured that the delivery and storage are taken care of. How does this work? We’ll tell you in a minute.
To make the process easier for you, we compiled a list of things you need to keep in mind before putting your things into storage.
Before The List, Let’s Choose Your Storage Service
Storage services have evolved for the past decade, and now, Melburnians can choose from a variety of services. However, all the services can be categorised into two services, which are mobile serviced storage and self-storage.
So, what are the differences between mobile serviced storage and self-storage? Let’s see the table below;
| Criteria | Mobile Serviced Storage | Self-Storage |
| Rented Truck Needed | – | ✔ |
| Fixed Term Contract | – | ✔ |
| Storage Unit Delivered to House | ✔ | – |
| Professional Removalists Service | ✔ | – |
| Complementary Protections* | ✔ | – |
| End-to-end Service* | ✔ | – |
| Unlimited Access* | ✔ | – |
| Size Range for Different Needs | ✔ | ✔ |
| 24/7 Security | ✔ | ✔ |
| Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Unload Times | 1 | 2-3 |
*Complementary protections like boxes, furniture blankets, and bubble wrap.
*End-to-end service means the company delivers, packs, and stores for you.
*Unlimited access on specific services, such as onsite storage.
From this comparison table, you can see the clear difference between mobile storage services and self-storage facilities. In terms of security, insurance, and sizes, both offer pretty much the same options.
However, in terms of mobility, mobile storage service is clearly superior. Instead of you renting a truck to deliver your things, the unit will be delivered to you. So, you save yourself the hassle of transit.
Plus, mobile service storage offers no fixed contract, so you can rent it for as long as you like. Then, mobile serviced storage offers onsite storage, where you can put the unit on your premises and access it as you like.
So, choose wisely which service you prefer before diving into the checklist.
Essential Storage Checklist Before You Store
Plus, mobile service storage offers no fixed contract, so you can rent it for as long as you like. Then, mobile
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Make an Arrangement With a Storage Company
The first step before storing will be to make an arrangement with a company. However, before you agree to anything, check this list and ask;
- The space sizes
- Insurance cover
- Security measures
- Access
- Delivery and storing options
- Fix/not fixed term contract
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Create an Inventory
It is important to note and create an inventory of your things. The more thorough you list them, the more sure you will be about how much space you need. The size of the space affects the prices you have to pay.
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Make Note of Your Fragile Items
Note every glassware you have. Mirrors, glasses, plates, bowls, lamps, and other fragile things. By noting how much you have, you can determine how much bubble wrap and packing paper you need.
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Count How Many Boxes and Packing Appliances You Have
Do this to prevent you from having to buy more packing appliances. This is especially useful if you hire a mobile service storage. As they will give you all the complementary items, you won’t need too many boxes, bubble wraps, or furniture blankets.
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Sort Out All Prohibited Items
Storage companies have rules on what you can and cannot store. If you tick on any of these items, make sure that they are not loaded inside the storage containers.
- Gas/aerosol cans
- Fuel/oils
- Organic matters, e.g soil, plants, compost
- Firearms, explosives, and ammunitions
- Paint and paint thinners
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Clean All Items
After you make note of every item you have, clean them as much as you can. Put special attention to dust and dampness, because accumulating dust and moisture will lead to mould in the long run.
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Organise Them Into a Logical System
The next step after cleaning will be boxing and labelling. Label all your boxes with a memorable description. For example, put all of your bedding in a box labelled ‘bedroom’ and so on.
Key Takeaways
With this list and guide to help you, we hope you have the best storing experience!
The most important thing to note is to choose the service that suits you the best. If you want to choose a self-storage facility, make sure you know for how long you want to store there, as they have limited space.
If you want unlimited access and rent, mobile service storage will suit your needs better. Furthermore, mobile storage also delivers and stores for you, so it saves you stress.
Lastly, remember that making an inventory, organising, cleaning, and sorting are important. Refer to this guide to remember what things you should do before storing your things long-term. That way, you are preserving all your things for future use.
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