You've found the storage facility you were looking for, and you're ready to move everything in. Before you do, a few things are worth knowing — they'll make the whole experience go smoother, and they'll keep your belongings in better shape while they sit.
Packing a unit well is mostly about thinking ahead. What are you storing? How long will it be there? Does anything need to be packed separately or given special attention? Answer those first, and the rest of this gets easy.
Have these on hand
Start with what you're storing and for how long. A box of holiday decorations that comes back out in three months needs nothing special. A dining set going into storage for two years does.
If you're storing wood furniture long-term, it's smart to treat it with a wood preserver oil before it goes in. A few minutes now saves the finish later.
Plan around the unit you rented. Climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled units call for different handling, and electronics are the items most sensitive to the difference.
Your things will shift twice — once on the way to the facility, and again on the way out. Pack for both trips, not just the first one.
Tape your boxes securely so they can't come apart under their own weight, and be generous with bubble wrap, packing paper, and blankets. Running out halfway through is how corners get chipped.
When you arrive, take a moment before you start carrying things in. Look at the space you have and the items you brought. Put the heavy, bulky pieces toward the bottom and the rear, then fit everything else as tightly together as you can to make the most of the square footage.
It's tempting to fill every inch, but leave a path down the length of the unit. The day you need one thing from the very back, you'll be glad it's there.
If you labeled your boxes, turn those labels toward the door or the aisle. A label you can't read isn't doing anything for you.
Worth the extra ten minutes
Load the things you're least likely to need first — all the way in the back. Anything you might come looking for goes near the door. Almost everyone learns this one the hard way.
Once everything is in, put a strong, secure lock on the door. We usually recommend a disc lock. Its shape leaves almost no exposed lock bar for bolt cutters to grip, which makes it a meaningfully harder target than a standard padlock.
Pack with a little intention and your unit stays organized, your belongings stay in good condition, and the day you come back for something, you can actually find it. If you're still choosing a unit, take a look at what's available on our rent page. And if you have a question about how to store something specific, get in touch — we've seen most of it.
Unique Self Storage · Sebring, FL
Climate-controlled and drive-up units at 5795 US 98, with 24-hour access and online rental. Rent in a few minutes, or call and we'll help you size it.
Rent a Unit Online Call (863) 991-1126