Pack Up Your Goods

Before you start packing you may want to know that now is the time to get rid of all the extra clutter around the house that you don’t need or don’t often use. This will ensure that you don’t pay for packaging, transport and storage that you don’t need. It’s time to be honest with yourself and get rid of the clutter you are no longer going to use:

• Be ruthless; if there is an item that you had forgotten about or have not used in more than a year, chances are you are not going to need it again. It is time to sell it, throw it away or donate to charity. For those items you really do not want to part with, putting them in a self storage unit is a great solution

• Many charities need items for those less privileged and would be delighted to receive what you don't need. And think of the benefit of knowing you have helped someone else

• Be disciplined and begin a "one-in-one-out" policy. For each pair of shoes or item of clothing you add to your collection make sure you take one out

• Have a yard sale or sell your goods online. Not only will this generate extra cash but it will free up space in your home/office for packing the items you do want to keep

Now that you have removed some of the unwanted materials it is time to get packing. Packing all your possessions into boxes for storage can be a strenuous activity and getting them back out even more so. Here are a few tips to make sure your packing goes smoothly.

• Pack heavy items into smaller boxes. This will ensure that your boxes are not too heavy to move and your valuables don't fall out of the bottom. For example books should go into smaller boxes and you can pack your linen or seasonal clothes into larger boxes

• Stack boxes of the same size together with the heaviest boxes at the bottom. By putting heavy items on top your boxes will bend and damage your goods

• Mark each box by room, this will make it easier to identify what you want when you are unpacking your unit. You should label all four sides for easy identification. Another helpful tool is to create a basic map of how your self storage unit is packed so you can get to the box you want quickly

• Don't leave any space in the box. If you are packing crockery then fill the spaces with foam chips or bubblewrap. This prevents movement and thus avoids breakages

• Choose sturdy boxes of a uniform size. This will ensure your valuables are protected and allow you to stack them correctly. Click here to visit our packaging page for the boxes available to you

Visit our website for more helpful Tips & Hints.

If you are finding all of the packing too daunting don’t forget you have other options available to you. Most removals companies offer a full packing service for a fee. You can also contact the Professional Organiser Association Africa. This is a group of people dedicated to simplifying your space and life.

Michelle Williams from Sorted is a professional organiser for home and business and is well aware of the benefits of sorting out your clutter. "SORTED, Professional Organising, is here to assist you in the process of de-cluttering, introducing systems that are tailor made to suit your lifestyle and increase the flow and balance in your home or business. And if you have things that you really can't get rid of, then SORTED will find practical and efficient ways to store your goods."

The first conversion of it's type in the Johannesburg self storage industry is underway. The six storey building, with great visibility just off the M2, is being cleaned out and prepared for the 4S4 Steel Self Storage System. This high quality self storage system is easily installed and drastically reduces construction time. This will allow Stor-Age to service the greater community in the Johannesburg CBD as soon as possible. Take a look at a few of the pictures of how the Johannesburg self-storage store is being converted here.

View from the front of the building to be converted.

Cleaning out the internal floors.

To book your unit in our Johannesburg self-storage location now click here. You can also give us a call on 0861 18 18 18. Or for more information email us at info@stor-age.co.za

Read the press release here.

Welcome to part 1 of the 5 part series on the proces of moving and storing your goods. Over the next few weeks we will take a look at the entire process from finding a new home / office to transport and storage.

At some stage in your life, you'll probably need self storage space for some of your belongings. Whether you're moving home, redecorating or simply trying to maximise your current space, the decision means you will need to start looking for alternative accommodation, packaging, transport and of course storage. Here we will take you through the process and recommend a few people as well as provide some helpful tips to make your moving experience as simple and stress free as possible.

Agents

Are you selling / buying / renovating? First things first, let’s take a look at some of the letting agents as well as estate agents to get your search for property off the ground. A great way to look for property without getting off your chair is online. Most agents now provide pictures of their properties online and this is a great way to create a shortlist of what you would like to look at. Start by checking a few of the established agents like Seeff, Jawitz, Harcourts, Leapfrog, Pam Golding, Acutts and Just Letting. You can then create a shortlist of properties you would like to visit. This will save you a lot of time and the cost of fuel. Of course you can also provide your details to the agent and they will narrow the search for you.

Many of the websites listed will give you an option to search for property to purchase or to rent. You can also narrow your search by area and pricing bracket. If you are not comfortable going through agents then a great alternative is Gumtree. Just remember that many of the advertisements placed here are from agents as well. Fortunately Gumtree also gives you an option to filter your search to remove agents.

Remember when planning your move that you will most likely need to give notice to vacate your rented apartment or wait until you have sold your property before moving into your new home or office.  This interim period is where self storage provides a value added service. You can easily store all your valuables, rest assured they are safe and will be there when you find your ideal home / office. Often the period of moving seems like a mad rush but making use of a self storage unit allows you to relax and take your time to find exactly the right place that suits your needs.

Continued in part 2...