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Long Term Travel Storage: 6 Tips to Store Your Belongings While on a Long-Term Vacation

22 November 2020 Embarking on a long-term journey, whether for work or leisure, brings with it the challenge of ensuring your home remains in order while you’re away. Beyond the excitement of the trip lies the concern of safeguarding the belongings you leave behind.   While there are several options available, a self-storage unit stands out as the most secure and efficient solution. But before you start packing, consider the state of your home. A clutter-free environment not only makes the packing process smoother but also ensures you return to a refreshing space. Professional House Cleaning Services can assist in decluttering and cleaning, ensuring your home remains pristine during your absence.  

1. Decide which items to store

  First thing first, you need to decide which items you would like to bring with you and which ones you would like to store. Doing so allows you to execute two things:   Keep in mind that having a storage unit comes with a price, and know that not all of your items are worth the storage cost. That said, it is advisable to go through your possession first and assess whether it fits any of the following categories:  

• – To bring
• – To keep or store
• – To donate or give away

Anything that does not fit in any of these categories, you can consider discarding them. You may even opt to sell some of them for extra pocket money that you can use for your long-term trip or vacation.   Prior to moving your items to a self-storage facility, you’ll need to sort them out in your home. If your home is cluttered, this might take a while, but it’s worth the effort. When your home is finally decluttered, you’ll feel energized and refreshed. It’s a great way to revamp your home. When moving your items to the facility, make sure to hire professional movers.  

2. Pack items properly

  Once you have determined which items you will bring and which ones to store, the next step is to pack your items properly. Here are some tips to help you do this:  

Get the right packing materials

  You will need sturdy boxes of different sizes, wrapping material such as bubble wrap, and tape. You can buy these from a self-storage facility or a hardware store. Avoid using old shoe boxes or any other type of flimsy box as they won’t protect your belongings properly.  

Wrap fragile items carefully

  Wrap each fragile item in bubble wrap or another protective material. Place these items in a box labelled “fragile” so that you know to handle them with care. It may sound simple, but it is imperative to know the different ways of packing, say, your dishes and other chinaware. If you will place your items in a box, make sure that they are stacked properly and wrapped adequately. Otherwise, your items might get broken or damaged.

Disassemble furniture

As for your furniture, it is advised to cover it with a clean 100% white cotton sheet. Dark-colored sheets can bleed color to your items eventually, more so if there is moisture in your storage unit. You will also want to, disassemble your furniture at first. This will make it easier to move and will save space.

Fill the boxes properly

Don’t overfill the boxes as this will make them difficult to move. Leave some space at the top so that you can tape the box shut securely.

Label the boxes

Label each box with the contents and the room it came from. This will make accessing everything much easier when you need it. Also make sure to indicate if each box contains fragile items to make sure nothing gets damaged during transit and in storage. Remember: Packing your items properly will give you the peace of mind knowing that your belongings are secured. And if possible, keep your boxes and pieces of furniture off the floor. That way, pests and vermin will be less likely to creep in. Although a top-notch facility will ensure that it will not happen as they employ professional pest control services, it is still best to keep your belongings as safe as possible

3. Avoid plastic bags

Speaking of packing your items properly for long-term storage, you should not keep your belongings in a plastic bag. Although it appears that plastic bags can repel water, what you do not know is that it can induce moisture build-up inside. Not to mention that moisture can easily get inside a plastic bag or container that is not well-ventilated. This can damage your things and also give it a strong musty smell caused by the combination of moisture and being kept in storage without being aired out for a long while. Plus, it can cause mold and mildew to grow on your stuff, and nobody wants that! So, use sturdy boxes instead. If you will be storing fragile items, wrap them in bubble wrap first before placing them in a box with fillers like packing peanuts or torn up pieces of newspaper. Meanwhile, you may use vacuum-sealed bags to store your clothes, linen, and other fabrics. Unlike an airtight package, vacuum-sealed bags keep the mold and mildew from growing completely. Nowadays, vacuum-sealed bags, as well as portable vacuum sealers, are easy to locate and purchase. Consider investing one, as you will not only be able to use it for the stuff you will be packing for storage, but the stuff you will be packing to take with you as well. 

4. Use new sturdy boxes

It is common for cardboard boxes to wear and tear over time, as such boxes are often exposed to different elements. Hence, you should use new, sturdy boxes when storing your items for safekeeping. Because they are new and therefore more durable, you’ll be sure that your boxes will last for months. And because it can last longer, you can be sure that these new boxes will be able to protect your stored items throughout your long-term trip, and possibly some time after you return. Another reason to use new boxes is to keep unwanted odours off your stuff. It is possible that the old boxes that you are planning on using were previously used to store food or other items that have strong odours. Cardboard boxes can absorb all kinds of odours, and can transfer it to whatever item you will store in it. Not to mention that it can attract pests and vermin that can damage your stored items. If you are not sure where to find new, sturdy boxes, you may want to check out our< span style=”font-weight: 400;”> Packing Boxes and Moving Supply Shop.

5. Make sure to label your boxes

Once you are back from your long-term trip or vacation, it is possible that you have forgotten which items are stored in which boxes. Hence, it is imperative that you label your boxes on all four sides. Doing so will make it easy for you to identify what you packed and where everything is, while also making sure that the process of unpacking them when you return will be as smooth and as easy as possible.  PRO TIP: Make a master list of all the items that you will leave for long-term storage. You should also make a list of what items you stored in each box, and then pack it in with the rest of your stuff. That way, when you unpack them in the future, you will know whether you are missing an item or not.

6. Consider the best self-storage facility for you

Storage units allow you to have anything and everything all in one place, regardless of whether you are moving to a new home, in need of some extra storage space, or on a vacation for at least two weeks. Whatever the case, self-storage allows you to keep your stuff safe and secure, no matter how long you need them to.  However, since each self-storage customer usually stores a wide array of items in their respective storage units, storage facilities have created units that are equipped with different features such as moisture lock, temperature control, 24/7 CCTV coverage, automated security, and many more. It is, then, up to you to decide which features you will want your storage unit to have in order to make sure that your things are as safe and as secured as possible.  It is also important to note that self-storage facilities will never have access to your storage unit. This means the only person who can get into your unit is you, and whoever else you authorize to do so. As your stuff will definitely be kept safe while you are away, you may leave your stuff at the back of your mind for the rest of your trip! Whether you are headed to a month-long trip, crossing European borders from one country to another, or are temporarily moving to the other side of the world for school or for work, worrying about storing your belongings for the long-term is the last thing you want to do. So, be sure to consider all your options and make sure to choose the best one for you. 

7. Have reliable movers move your stuff into storage

Finding someome who can store your belongings safely for an extended period of time is important, however finding the safest and most secure way of getting your belongings there is just as crucial. Make sure to do your research when finding a mover, and try to get recommendations from friends or family who have had recent successful transactions with one of the following service providers:

A Man and Van

A man with a van is often the most popular and convenient solution when it comes to small-scale house or apartment moves, deliveries, and even self storage move ins. As the name suggests, a man with a van involves hiring a driver and a van large enough to fit all of your belongings. The main advantage of going with a man with a van is that it tends to be significantly cheaper than other moving options, such as hiring a full-fledged moving company. Another advantage is that it gives you more control over your belongings and the move itself, as you will be working directly with the driver rather than dealing with a middleman. The main downside of a man with a van is that it can be more difficult to find a reputable and reliable service provider. There have been many instances of people being scammed by unlicensed man with a van companies, so it is important to do your research and only work with reputable providers. In addition, a man with a van is not always the best option for larger moves, as it can be difficult to find a van that is large enough to accommodate all of your belongings.

A Removals Company

Although typically used for home moves, a removal company is also helpful for storage move ins. After all, these companies are experts in moving and will be able to safely transport your belongings to your chosen storage facility. The main advantage of using a removal company is that you can rest assured knowing that your belongings are in good hands. These companies are licensed and insured, so you will be compensated if anything goes wrong. In addition, removal companies typically have the equipment and the experience to transport heavy and bulky items, such as pianos and furniture. The main downside of using a removal company is that it can be quite costly, especially if you do not have a lot of belongings to store. In addition, you will have to schedule the move well in advance, as these companies tend to be very busy.