Putting some of your belongings into a long-term storage facility is a great way to free up some space within your yard and home without having to actually part with them for good. However, when putting things into storage for an extended period of time, there are a few steps that you should take to ensure that your belongings are properly protected and not at the risk of becoming damaged while sitting idly in a storage unit.

Labeling and Organization

The first and most important part of long-term storage is the preparation stage. You need to make sure that you stay organized and properly pack all of your items to ensure that you can easily access the things that you need at a later date without having to dig through all of your boxes. Be sure to place heavier items and boxes on the ground, and have smaller and lighter items and boxes stacked on top of them to maximize the amount of space you have. Leave hallways and passages to allow you to get to the back of the unit if necessary. Further, you should use color-coded tape and markers to group together boxes based on what's inside of them, allowing you to easily and quickly identify where specific items are located.

Climate Control

Another important aspect of long-term storage is to consider investing in a climate-controlled storage unit. While these types of storage units do represent a higher monthly cost compared to their non-climate-controlled counterparts, they are well worth the cost. Since temperature and moisture levels are regulated to moderate levels, your belongings are much less likely to experience any sort of environmental damage while in storage. Furthermore, since climate-controlled units are located inside a building, these storage units have several additional layers of security around them, making theft much less likely as well.

Regular Check-Ins

While placing your items in storage may get them out of your house, you shouldn't let their condition leave the front of your mind. It's a good idea to check on your storage unit at least once a month or so to ensure that there are no problems within the storage unit, especially if you are storing particularly fragile antiques or electronics. Doing so allows you to spot potential issues — like a box that has begun to lean over — before they have the chance to grow worse and actually damage your possessions.

For more information, contact a company such as MaxSecure Storage.

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