Hiring a self storage unit in Dorset can be a great way to declutter and create a little bit of extra room when you need it. So whether you are having a clear out of your house, clearing out an office, moving house or renovating, self storage is often a useful solution.
But it can be all too easy to just chuck your belongings into the storage unit without too much thought. Right now your mind is on getting the space you need. We get that, but when it comes to finding something you need, or removing your belongings from the storage unit, you might kick yourself that you didn’t put more thought behind how it was all packed in the first place.
If you take a few minutes now to think about packing your self storage unit in an ordered manner, not only will you be able to find and move things easier, but you will also be able to fit more in, so you can make the most of your money and your time.
We have gathered a few tips and tricks to help you pack your storage unit in Dorset in an organised way.
Prepare your belongings
The first step to packing a self storage unit efficiently is to pack up your belongings in the right way. This can make a big difference when it comes to putting everything into a self storage unit. Packing up belongings can seem a bit overwhelming, especially when all you can think about is being efficient. So, here are a few tips to help you with this step.
Gather packing supplies before starting
There is nothing worse than making a really good start at packing only for your flow to get stopped halfway through because you don’t have enough boxes, or tape.
Make sure you have everything you need before you start the process so that you can just get on with it when you’re ready.
You will need the following:
- Boxes
- Tape (if you are filling lots of boxes, you might also want a tape gun)
- Bubble wrap or something to pad boxes with fragile belongings.
- Marker pen
While you are on the hunt for all of these supplies, you should also find a padlock (and the key) so that you can lock your self storage unit up. At Hogleaze, we don’t provide padlocks when you hire one of our units, but we have them for sale or you can use one you already have. So make sure you have one ready before moving belongings into your unit.
If you are looking for packing supplies, we offer handy supplies at great prices, available to be purchased at our self storage facility in Weymouth and our self storage units in Dorchester.
Choose the right boxes
Good quality boxes will make packing your belongings and your storage unit easier. If you are going to be using second-hand boxes, then take a minute to check the boxes aren’t damaged, don’t have damp patches or are missing flaps as this can make boxes weaker and can potentially cause damage to your belongings.
If you can, use the same sized boxes, as this will make it easier when it comes to stacking them.
Packing your boxes sensibly
If you are used to packing boxes, then you will know what this means. And even to those who aren’t pro box packers, this might seem obvious… but make sure you pack heavier items at the bottom of the boxes. Put smaller and lighter items at the top. This will help to avoid any damage and will allow for better stability when stacking them. Also ensure to completely fill the boxes or they will crush when stacked.
Don’t forget that you will need to lift the boxes, so it might be a good idea to spread out the heavy things, such as books, across a few different boxes.
Handy tip: if you are storing clothes, then you can use things like tops, and jumpers as extra padding in the boxes.
Categorise belongings before packing them
Don’t just start randomly chucking things into boxes. As easy as this seems, it will turn into complete chaos quickly. Organising items into categories now will save you time later.
The best way we find to do this, is to separate your items by their location and then group similar items together.
Labelling is key
As you pack your boxes, make a list of where everything is going. Then once a box is filled, label the box so that you know what is in it, and where it has come from. This will save you so much time and stress when you are looking for something or are unpacking your self storage unit. When packing your unit, you will need to make sure the labels are still visible when the boxes are stacked.
It is always a good idea to label any boxes that have anything fragile in them. As time goes on, you are likely to forget where you put your fragile belongings, so this is a good way to warn yourself, and anyone else, that something fragile is in that box that is being moved.
Organising your Dorset self storage unit
Now that all your belongings are packed away safely in an organised manner, it is time to pack your self storage unit.
Make a detailed inventory
Before you even lift a box into the storage unit, we recommend you make a detailed inventory of what is going into the storage unit.
This will help you to know what you have, and where it is.. It can also act as proof should anything happen to your storage unit.
If you want to be super organised, you can draw a layout of your unit, and a basic map to highlight where things are going in the self storage unit. This can help you visualise how to pack the unit, which can help take away stress when stacking all those boxes.
Leave a copy of the map in the storage unit with your belongings so that you don’t have to remember to bring it with you each time you visit.
Pack heavier items first
Similar to when packing boxes, you want to put the heavier things at the bottom. These can create sturdy bases to stack other boxes, and will ensure that lighter and smaller boxes aren’t squashed under the weight.
Place these boxes at the back of the unit, against the wall and then work your way into the unit.
Make use of smaller spaces and the height of the unit
Once larger items are in, stuff the smaller spaces and gaps with smaller items and boxes, where possible. To make best use of the space, make sure that items and boxes are packed in tightly.
Where possible, also make sure that you are getting the most out of the height of your storage unit. If you’re storing a sofa, wardrobe or large boxes, store them vertically to make sure the bulkier items are making the most of the space.
Keep frequently needed items at the front
If there is something that you will need to access fairly frequently, such as some sports equipment, then make sure it is at the front of the self storage unit. You don’t want to have to root around all the boxes to find it every time you need it.
If you have drawn a map, you can mark on it where these items are, so that you can put your hands on them as soon as you get to your unit.
Keep an aisle open for easy access
Make your life easier now rather than have to forge a path through your belongings in the future. Stack boxes in a way that allows you to leave little walkways between the boxes. The easier movement is around the unit, the easier it will be to find things when you need them as you won’t need to unpack the unit each time you need to find something
Interested in using our self storage in Dorset?
Congratulations… you are now an expert packer!
If you need help in deciding what size unit you require, firstly establish whether you will require access to the stored goods while in storage, then call us and speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable team.
If you are in need of a self storage unit in Dorset, we have a number of units available to hire at our self storage facilities in Weymouth and Dorchester.
For safe, flexible storage give us a call on 01305 830000 for self storage in Weymouth, or
for our self storage facility in Dorchester, call us on 01305 889777.
Alternatively, you can complete the form on our contact us page.