Moving & Storage Tips Blog

Many businesses are finding that renting a self-storage space is an economical and convenient alternative to using a warehouse or the basement of one’s house.  Businesses as diverse as disc-jockey’s/karaoke jockeys, building contractors, fabric companies- and many others- use their self-storage space as an extension of/base for their business; easy access to their belongings whenever they need it adds to the allure.  In addition, pharmaceutical reps, attorneys, accountants and physicians use self-storage to reduce clutter in their office and meet record retention requirements for their business.  Self-storage isn’t just for those moving or in transition; it’s become an essential part of many businesses!

While most pet owners view their “job” as protection of their animals, all too often animals are lost while on the road. Keeping a few things in mind can reduce the chances of it happening to you.

The situation is far too common - someone moving cross country stops at a rest stop, the family dog bolts out the door when a truck passes and in a panic runs through the open area and disappears. A frantic family searches in vain and desperately calls area veterinarians and friends with internet access trying to locate someone in the area who might see their dog.

The biggest thing you can do for protection of your pet on the road is getting a properly sized crate for him to travel in. A soft bed or towel, a few toys and some training to where this is his safety point will go a long ways towards safety on the road. If there is an accident you don’t have to worry about him surviving the accident only to dart into traffic - he’s safe in his crate, shaken perhaps but safely confined.

Have a collar with tags and current working phone numbers - the number to your old home (which is disconnected!) won’t help. If you don’t have a cellular phone use a friend or family member’s number or even your veterinarian’s number - anything as long as it’s a good number for contact.

Consider micro chipping your pet. This is an inexpensive means of protection and while it isn’t visible it can be picked up if a veterinarian or shelter scans for it - and drastically improves the chances of your dog being returned home.

When you stop at rest stops use the “two door” approach to take your pet out. That is, open the crate and attach a leash securely to your pet. With the car door closed, he cannot slip out of the crate and bolt…and when you open the door to the vehicle he’s on a leash.

Moving in warm weather can be a challenge, and in the crates water often gets spilled. Consider offering water at the rest stops and have ice cubes in the small bowl attached to the crate. This allows small amounts as it melts but isn’t enough to slosh and soak your pet. Also take proportionately sized empty soda bottles - 2 liter for large dogs, 20 oz for smaller dogs and cats - fill about ¾ with water and freeze them. Put these in the crate and your pet has something cold to lie against and help stay just a little cooler. When it thaws you have additional water for your pet.

NEVER travel with your pet in the back of a rental van. They get too hot and there is too little ventilation, even if the back is propped open and secured. An even 75-80 degree day can be a death sentence in one of these vehicles. They are handy for moving *stuff* - pets aren’t *stuff* and even if you stop every hour or so it can be too late to save your pet. Don’t take the chance…have a place he can travel with you. If there absolutely isn’t room for his crate double secure him with a collar and harness to a seat belt…but don’t take a short cut and put him in the back of a moving van or other enclosed place including

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson self storage facility with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. If you are looking to move and need if you need moving boxes in Plano, Garland, or Richardson area visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

• Ask friends for empty boxes. Check classifieds, free cycle, Craigslist and other sources in your area. Check grocery stores, liquor stores, and hardware and farm stores for boxes.

• Use what you have. When you know there’s an impending move start hoarding plastic bags. These can be used to wrap around collectibles and mugs for no cost packing materials. Use newspapers to cushion between plates and photo frames.

• Low on boxes? Pull dresser drawers out…use the drawers as ‘boxes’ for clothing that will go in the drawers. Once the dresser is in the truck put the drawers back in it and secure them. This saves space and allows the clothing to be protected in transit. Use furniture rugs and blankets to protect furniture in transit.

• This same principle can hold for book cases. Pack your books carefully, lying flat so as to prevent damage, in boxes. Once the bookcase is on board, flat on top of a table preferred, set the boxes inside the openings of the bookcase.

• Get volunteers to help load and clean. A couple pizzas and some drinks can be cheaper than hiring several people to work. With a half dozen organized volunteers a half hour cleaning each means three hours of cleaning time! Have your ‘to-do’ list organized so you know what has been done, needs to be done and is being done.

• Service all vehicles the week before. Having the oil changed, belts and hoses checked and other routine maintenance done reduces the chances of being stalled along the road and having an expensive tow bill as well as hotels, rental cars and other expenses.

• If you are using professional drivers ask if they have a “you pack we drive” option. This way you do the inside work, they load, haul and unload it. Or, if you’re doing a self-serve move, recruit those extra volunteers!

• Don’t forget to check on getting your deposits back - not only for rentals but increasingly utility companies have deposits.

• Check to see if your insurance covers rental trucks if you’re using them. Get it in writing - this can save you money on the daily rental. Don’t risk driving without insurance. Forgetting the height and damaging the corner, limbs scratching the side and various other damages can add up far more than you would imagine.

• Research your route and plan for the least expensive options for lodging. Do you want a kitchenette to save eating out or is it worth it just to sit and have a meal brought to you after driving all day? While having a budget is one thing, looking at the value is another!

• Consider the extra equipment rentals. The large appliance dolly can be a good choice in helping move refrigerators and stoves. Smaller dollies can often be purchased at hardware stores and allow for moving a stack of boxes at a time, which can save time and be a better value if your volunteers are short on available time. If you’re renting a truck consider if you can move during the week, often a better rate than on weekends.

• While there are some costs that are hard to get around - fuel for example - there are many ways you can save money on moving. As you unpack at your new home, pass those boxes along to someone else who’s in need of them. Make the best use of your moving dollar, not just the cheapest.

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson mini storage facility with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. For more moving, storage tips, other information, visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

The rush for loading and moving is the same whether you’re moving across town or across country. Once the vehicles are loaded the only difference is driving distance. Reducing the stress can help a lot.
Step one - sort and declutter. This can save you time and money in the long run. If you haven’t used it in a year out it goes. It doesn’t matter if it was a gift or was such a great deal when you got it - don’t keep what you don’t use and certainly don’t haul it with you! Have a section in the garage or deck to sort these items out. Give them to people who can use them, have a yard sale, donate to a thrift store or place it on free cycle - but clear it out. This includes clothing!

Go through the kids clothing - anything outgrown goes. Unfortunately almost any time of the year there are fires and people lose everything - they would appreciate these possessions that you or your kids really don’t need anymore. If you really don’t like the item out it goes. If you don’t foresee yourself using it out it goes. You’ll be surprised how much you can lighten the load!

Have plenty of boxes and packing material. While there are moving and shipping places that you can buy this at don’t overlook collecting them. Many people hit up grocery stores and liquor stores - but overlook places like farm supply stores, hardware stores and other sources of boxes. Ask what they do with them…many break them down and crush them, but would be happy to let you take all you want if you come on the day freight comes in. Often you can get not only small boxes for heavy items but large boxes for light items - bedding, pillows and such.

Pack smart. A general guide is the heavier the item the smaller the box. Books, cast iron pans and such go in smaller boxes that are easier to move (especially if you have many of them!). Start early and pack seldom used items a week ahead of time. Get a marker and on it write the room it came from. This allows a much easier time unpacking…you can look at a box and say “oh kitchen pans”. Be sure to clearly mark on all sides glass and other fragile contents. These should be loaded on top with nothing on them.

Call ahead to the new residence and have power, phone and water turned on the day before you get there. Make sure before the water is turned on there are no open faucets or broken pipes. You might have an overlap of service for a day but there is little more refreshing than getting to the new place, unloading for a couple hours and being able to go take a hot shower! Get keys to the new place at least several days in advance.

For boxes containing photo albums or framed photos consider using a garbage bag on the inside of the box - this allows a moisture barrier and even if the box should get wet the plastic barrier protects what’s inside.

Have plenty of help to load and have your piles separated (as you box them) to heavy/durable items (bottom), medium durable (middle) and light/fragile (top) when they’re loaded. If you have to color code them…get markers and use a red for heavy boxes, blue for medium and black only for fragile. The same principle works for rooms - red for kitchen, blue for living room. Don’t just label “bedroom” - indicate which bedroom! If you have to hire a few kids from church it can be money well spent to be loaded and on the road quickly with minimal stress.

Think ahead not only for getting stuff packed and loaded but saving you time unloading also!

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson self storage facility with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. If you are looking to move and need if you need moving boxes in Garland, Plano, or Richardson area visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

All too often we get in a hurry before taking off. We’re tired of loading and packing, we’re anxious to get to the new place, sometimes hot and tired and stressed. Here are ten important items on your moving checklist to address before leaving.

1. If you were renting, have the powers that be signed off and you have your deposit back? Take photos of the condition you left the place in, return keys, get your deposit and have all utilities out of your name effective the day you leave. While leaving lights on doesn’t significantly change the power bill, certain calls on a phone line can drastically change a phone bill!

It’s also good to know the utilities are off and if they aren’t follow up with the power companies. Don’t let it slip through the cracks and days later it’s still in your name! Lock the place before you leave, insuring no theft or vandalism happens. If you have a digital camera when you take photos of the rooms also take some of the meter readings. Recording what the meter was when you left can save frustration.

2. Have keys, maps and information for the new place all in order and accessible.

3. Fuel up all vehicles, check fluids (oil, transmission, brake, coolant). Double check lights and hitch security on the trailer if you’re pulling one and secure the doors of any trailer or vehicle you’re pulling. You should have checked tires before loading for wear and inflation level but check again now.

4. Before putting the vehicle in drive do a head count that all pets, children, spouses etc are in the vehicle. Don’t count on “he was just here” - one child running in to pee real quick before leaving can come out to find you gone and if you don’t notice for a half hour that’s a long back track (especially with fuel prices as they are) that could have been avoided as well as an hour delay in your trip.

5. Secure all pets and people in the vehicle. Don’t be tempted to unbuckle to sleep because it’s more comfortable. It won’t be comfortable in the event of an accident to be thrown through a window. Safety of living creatures is #1.

6. Make sure your important paper/travel kit is secured in the vehicle.

7. Have enough cash or travelers checks on hand for the trip. Include a roll of quarters and small change for vending machines or toll booths.

8. Have a basic tool kit available - screwdrivers, pliers etc. - in case needed on the road.

9. Give every room a final once over including basement, attic, yard and garage. Look in closets and drawers.

10. Note your mileage before leaving and have an envelope accessible for all receipts during the trip. Remember that moving costs, or a portion of them, may be tax deductible and if someone else is paying for the move they’ll need receipts. Fuel, food, motels (reasonable) and basic expenses add up on a move within a state and more so going to another state.

These quick checks can save headaches. Once these are in place you should be good to go - buckle up, start your vehicle and have a safe trip!

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson public storage facility with a 24/7 on site management team. Get your tape, dust covers, bubble wrap, moving boxes at http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

As the storage rental business has evolved there are more choices than ever for storing your goods. Needs will vary widely, and consider yours carefully before picking a unit.

Remember in renting a storage unit you’re paying for cubic feet. Consider how tall the unit is - you can fit more “stuff” in a unit 10′ high then one 8′ high - but if you have mostly heavy items and few light ones to be safely stacked that high, look at other options.

What are you storing? Household goods? Inside/outside items? A car? How much protection do you want? If you have an older car that broke down and you just want temporary storage until you can fix it, you might be fine with outside storage in a fenced and secure area at a lower rate. However, the classic car that you spent three years rebuilding with your son you probably are going to want a little more protection for!

If you’re storing boxes, books and paper goods remember to account for the unseen. Placing wood pallets down is a good idea - keeping your possessions up off the floor. This can give a few more inches in case of a flood, or if a leak happens in another unit or water drains in where it shouldn’t. Also account for if you need access to them, pack the unit so you can get in and find items when you need them. Arrange it so the stuff you’re likely to need the most - or the soonest - are further towards the front.

Generally speaking you can expect a 10X10 standard space to hold a one bedroom home. A 5X5 unit is more like a small closet, for boxes or files. On the other end is the larger 10X30′, which can generally hold furnishings of a larger home including furniture and appliances. Remember to include any outdoor gear you’re bringing when figuring room needed.

Consider in the what you have to store - are there items that can be damaged by heat or cold? If so you will want to strongly consider a climate controlled unit. For boxes of photographs, for example, extremes of temperatures aren’t advised. Electronic equipment and books or files can withstand temperature changes but takes less kindly to dust and dampness. Reserve a couple of sheets to drape over the entire stack of items to keep dust at bay. This is preferred to plastic, which can hold the heat in even more.

Remember that just as with rental housing what happens in another unit can affect yours. Plan for that. If you have a climate controlled room with books or electronics in it you might use that plastic cover - if there are sprinklers activated due to something in another unit this can greatly reduce the chances of damage to your goods. This is another reason for using pallets. The climate control helps stave off the odor often associated with items in storage.

If, however, you are storing non-sensitive possessions such as living room furniture, a kitchen table, normal kitchen goods and such, a non-climate controlled unit may serve you well. These can be more economical for many items that temperature fluctuations do not bother.

Don’t overlook storage options for campers, RV and other uses. Proper storage of these items protects them and insures a longer life. When you’re done camping for the year, consider cleaning out your trailer, restocking it fresh (except for food items) and checking it into a storage area. Next year you have a clean rig and you can stop at the grocery store, hook up and go.

There are many cases a storage unit may be the best solution for you. Check your insurance, look closely at the space needed as well as what you’re storing. Choose the solution that works the best for you.

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson self storage rental facility with a 24/7 onsite management team, the only Richardson public storage by Plano. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. For more storage tips and information, visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

This video goes over tips on how to keep your classic car in storage safe and running in top condition after leaving it stored in a unit for a few months or more.

A little effort can go a long ways towards protecting your items while they are in storage. Anything worth paying to store is worth protecting it while it’s stored. For the safety of your items, those in neighboring units and in consideration of the owner/management of the storage facility, it pays to pay attention to pest control. Here are 10 Storage Tips to Keep Bugs, Mice, & Ants Out of Your Unit.

1. Before moving furniture into storage clean it and vacuum thoroughly. Get all the crumbs, debris and stains off sofas and chairs including down in the cracks and crevices. Any “extras” left in here is a calling card for bugs and once started it affects not only your stuff but that in other units too.

2. Thoroughly clean appliances, large and small, for the same reason. Those crumbs in the toaster tray, the food stuck on small appliances or pans invites in problems you don’t want. Clean means nothing to attract bugs or mice and without food and shelter they will not stay.

3. Mothballs work well in boxes of clothing. Be careful though and use cause as they can stain clothes. Putting some in the unit, where they won’t stain the contents, is a good idea however. Cedar scented blocks and sachets can be made or purchased to be tucked into boxes of clothing or household goods like towels, blankets and sheets. A good sachet can last three to four months, enough for short term storage.

4. Don’t be afraid to use contained insecticides - roach and ant baits can be an inexpensive thing to put in the corners as you don’t know what others have stored in their storage sheds.

5. Use mouse and rat baits, or traps with peanut butter instead of cheese. Don’t use the traps if you don’t check it regularly - leaving one sit in the trap doesn’t catch others after the trap is sprung.

6. For additional natural deterrents look to herbs. Catnip is said to repel ants, lavender repels moths, sage repels slugs and mint can be effective against many kinds of pests. Mint and tansy are said to repel mice, although tansy can cause allergic reactions in some people.

7. Stick to canned goods and securely sealed (screw on lids) jars packed to prevent breakage if you absolutely must store food . Because it attracts pests, food is highly discouraged.

8. Buckets from bakeries can be used to store rice or grains. It’s strongly suggested this be for a minimal amount of time in a storage unit. There are so many factors that are beyond our control that it pays to use caution. Boxed foods and plastic bags simply offer no resistance to mice and bugs, resulting in an infestation of pests that no one wants.

9. Make sure up around the top there are not holes that birds can get into. Having a bird trapped in a storage unit can be very messy and unpleasant!

10. Avoid storing candles in warm climates and those with liquid like snow globes in cold ones. Some units are not protected from heat and freezing, and not only can the items become damaged but anything under it also. This, in turn, can attract pests due to the oils or dampness. If you must store items like this go for a climate controlled unit, which better protects all of your items.

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only self storage near Garland with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. For more storage tips and information, visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

If you have ever moved from one place to another, or had to use public self storage for one reason or another, you have probably found yourself asking yourself, how can I get as squeeze as much room in my storage unit as possible? Well, you’ve come to the right place to learn. I’m your guide. As someone who has used public storage facilities for over two years and has moved seven times in the last ten years, I’ll show you the ins and outs of getting the most room out of your storage rental, as well as packing tips, and little known ways to make sure your stuff doesn’t smell funky or get damaged by storing it for too long. First in today’s lesson I’d like to give you five tips that will give you more room in your rented space while using a public storage facility.  Get Five Space Saving Storage Tips inside.

1. If you’re storing tables and other furniture, remove legs

2. Whenever possible, place dressers and tables top-to-top to save space.

3. Store tabletops and sofas on end, to save space.

4. Use trash cans to store shovels, hoes and rakes or tape them together
-Keep from knocking them over
-Saves space
-Safety

5. Use valuable space inside dresser drawers and larger appliances, such as stoves and refrigerators, to store small items such as towels, linens and small, fragile items. Secure items in drawer by filling empty spaces with towels or packing paper. Well, these are my storage tips for May 27, 2008. We’ll catch you next time. Get 23 more moving and public self storage tips.