That's Going Straight to the Storage Unit!

When Daryl Kerrigan defended his castle from the expansion plans of Melbourne Airport, he wasn’t just thinking about bricks and mortar. He was thinking about the storage of memories and love that had generated in the house. No doubt he was also thinking of his pool room, which housed his storage of treasured gifts, memorabilia, and relics from proud moments.

Mr Kerrigan won his house back from the evil corporate souls of Melbourne Airport – but what would have happened if he’d been forced to move? To a new house, maybe a smaller one, one with no self-storage room to keep his treasured objects?

If your pool room is just not big enough to become a storage unit for all those memories you can’t bear to throw out – your children’s first scribbles, photos of your first holiday in Portsea, a favoured football now beaten up beyond repair – then storage rental might be worth considering. Access Self-Storage could be the solution.

 It may not look nearly as attractive as Daryl Kerrigan’s pool room was, but it’s a much better plan to put those precious memories safely in a storage unit, than be forced to throw them out because you’ve run out of space. And if you live near Melbourne’s CBD, your memories can be stored close to you, at Access Self-Storage in South Melbourne. It’s the best way to keep them safe, or even just to make room for more treasures in your pool room at home.  

Location Considerations for Storage Units

Making the move into a storage unit doesn’t have to be as arduous as moving house. Why should it be, when you’re moving less stuff into a smaller, and frankly less decorative, space. Rather than having to fuss with the positions of the furniture, and unpacking the boxes, you simply have to load your stuff, potentially hire a removalist, and pack it efficiently in your storage unit. What could be simpler?

Storage rental is most successful when you use a storage facility located conveniently. Which is why Access Self Storage is the best storage solution for Melbourne suburbs such as South Yarra, St Kilda, Middle Park, the Docklands, and other suburbs near to South Melbourne.

Having a conveniently located storage unit has a number of benefits. Firstly, it will make the moving process much easier. You’ll either save money on the removalist, or you could forgo hiring one altogether and just transport it to the storage facility yourself.

A closely located storage unit will also make it much more convenient to retrieve your stored items whenever needed. A ten-minute drive to South Melbourne is much more achievable than a half hour trip to a storage facility at Chadstone, just to retrieve a photo album your aunt mentioned she wanted to borrow.

Considering a closely located storage facility should be a top priority when assessing storage rental, not only because it will save you money, but also because it will make for a far more satisfying storage experience.

Keeping Electronics Safe in Storage

If you’re looking to store some excess furniture – for instance, if you’re temporarily moving to a smaller apartment in Melbourne’s CBD - chances are you’ll want to use a storage unit for a few electronics.

Access Self Storage offers great security in a convenient South Melbourne location, but security isn’t the only concern when you’re locking up your electronics. When electronics are staying in a storage unit for a long period of time, there are a few extra things you can do to ensure their safety.

Storing computers, TV’s and HiFi systems in their original boxes is one of the best ways to keep them safe. Although this may mean oddly shaped boxes in your storage unit, it does mean they will be better protected. If you have to use your own boxes, or if you haven’t kept the originals, make sure you pack out any gaps with bubble wrap to minimise any damage.

If you’re planning on keeping computers in the storage facility for longer than six months, it’s best to consult your retailer about it. Be sure to tell them about the conditions of the storage unit as well.

Remove the batteries from all other electrical equipment as well, so no leakages occur during your storage rental. Electrical cords should be taped to the sides of appliances, as dangling cords in a packed storage unit can quickly become dangerous.

These are just a few ways to ensure your electrical equipment comes through storage rental in the best condition possible.

Access Self Storage's Top Storage Tips

Keeping Your Storage Items Safe

The whole point of using a storage facility is to keep possessions that you don’t have space to keep at home. With this in mind, it’s ideal to keep these in good condition inside the storage unit. There are a couple of ways to ensure your things stay well looked after during your storage rental.

Packing Materials

Recommended packing materials are the way to go. Making sure your items (especially breakables) are wrapped carefully with packing paper will help to prevent breakages. Packing boxes should have a layer of packing paper on the top and bottom, to give it that extra protection. Silver should be wrapped in non-acid tissue, or in plastic bags, which should prevent any tarnishing.

Preparing Furniture Before Storage

It’s also best if fridges, washing machines or dishwashers are completely drained of water or frost before being packed in the storage unit. Leakages in the unit can cause some pretty major problems. Make sure any items placed in these larger items won’t rock around inside and cause any damage. Taping the doors of things like wardrobes is a good idea, but leave the doors to fridges and freezers open, or you’ll be left with a seriously bad smell. Crumbs and food stains should be vacuumed and cleaned thoroughly from furniture, so vermin aren’t attracted to the storage unit.

Pretty easy steps, but they might just help keep your things safe during your storage rental, and while they aren’t being kept under your watchful eye.

Inspecting Your Storage Facility

You might think rental storage is a fairly simple thing. You hire a unit, pack up your stuff, pay the bill, and then come collect it all when you need it again. But careful thought and planning should be undertaken before you choose your storage facility – because all self-storage is not created equal.

It’s important to consider what you really want out of your storage unit. For storage of valuable items, you’ll want to see what kind of security the storage facility offers. Are there security cameras and alarms? Who can access the storage unit? How often does the company check the locks to the storage containers? You should also consider insurance – Access Self Storage provides free insurance cover up to $5000, but are you going to need more cover than this? Your insurance company might already cover items you’ve put in storage, so it’s best to check this out.

Looking at the unit itself before choosing a storage facility is also important. You will need to see how clean the storage units are, what the space looks like, and whether the company provides good quarantine services. Also consider the packing materials you will need. Access Self Storage has a variety of packing materials available onsite – will you need anything else to store your things?

Spending a bit of time considering the storage facility itself is important, and is sure to help you find the right storage facility that suits all your needs.