Our team at Storewest are keen to share their insider knowledge. Drawing on years of experience in the self storage space, they will help you have the best possible storage experience. Here are a few practical tips to get you started.
In the interests of safety and compliance with legislation, please do not store food or perishable items, living plants or living creatures (including humans).
Also, no flammable liquids, combustible materials, weapons, explosives (including fireworks), radioactive materials, toxic waste, chemicals, asbestos, biological agents or other dangerous substances should be stored in your unit.
Additionally, no odorous items, compressed gases and illegal items are allowed in our units. If you’re at all unsure about whether or not you can store an item(s), please ask a member of our team.
If you plan on storing your vehicle for more than 30 days, follow these simple steps to protect the engine and ensure your vehicle stays in good shape.
1. Change the oil to protect the engine from contaminants.
2. Top off the tank and add fuel stabiliser to prevent moisture from accumulating inside the fuel tank and keep the seals from drying out. Fuel stabiliser works for up to 12 months, preventing ethanol buildup and protecting the engine from gum, varnish and rust.
3. Use a battery tender or trickle charger to keep the battery from losing its charge.
For more advice on vehicle storage talk to our friendly team or read this article on how to prepare your vehicle for long term storage.
Where possible, pack electronics and technology, (such as TVs, computers, gaming consoles, audio systems) in the original packaging. Include sachets of desiccant in each box to reduce humidity and protect sensitive components from oxidation. Photograph cable arrangements before dismantling to make things easier when reassembling.
Climate control is recommended in units where sensitive electronic equipment will be stored. The state-of-the-art units at our brand new Bunbury self storage facility are fully fitted with power supplies that make it easy to add air conditioning and climate control units to your storage space.
With the exception of fragile items, such as framed pictures and lamps, it’s best to avoid wrapping furniture in plastic as it traps moisture resulting in the formation of mildew on cushions and upholstery.
Instead use furniture blankets, quilts, drop cloths or sheets to loosely cover and protect furniture. If you’re at all unsure of how best to pack your furniture, ask our friendly team for advice.
Make a detailed inventory of the contents of each box as you pack, so you don’t have to open multiple boxes to find what you’re after. Label each box using a permanent marker (rather than stick-on labels which might fall off during transit or storage).
Keep the inventory list on a clipboard near the door of your storage unit so it’s easily accessible. Make an electronic backup of your list and save it to the cloud, so you can easily access it if anything happens to your hardcopy.
When storing fragile items such as crockery, glassware, ornaments and the like, be sure to wrap each item individually using packing paper and/or bubble wrap to protect it from damage before placing it in a high-quality moving box.
Clearly label the box as “fragile” and do not pack other items on top of boxes containing fragile items. The StoreWest team is always on hand to help with more tips on how to protect your fragile items.
While boxes from your local bottle store or supermarket may seem like a great money-saver, they might not hold up to the challenging conditions within a storage unit. Over time, inferior quality boxes might become damp, split, buckle and break. Likewise, shopping bags tend to disintegrate over time.
So, it’s well-worth investing in professional packaging to provide optimal protection for your stored items. Talk to our friendly team today for advice on sourcing the best quality packing materials and supplies.
Knowing where everything is stored will make it much easier to find and retrieve items from your storage unit. By mapping out your storage area before moving in, you’ll not only have a clear idea of what is stored where, you’ll also be able to work out the best way to pack your unit, so you can make optimal use of the space available.
The StoreWest team are always ready to help out with advice on the best arrangement to suit your storage needs.
Before booking your unit, make a list of all the things you’d like to pack into your storage unit then use our handy space calculator to select the unit size that will provide the right amount of space for your stored items.
If you’re still not sure about how much space you’ll need, talk to the friendly StoreWest team. We’ll help you find the best possible option for your needs, so you only pay for the space you need.
Make sure that your self storage unit is well-built and properly maintained to ensure that your stored items are protected against damage caused by heat, humidity, harsh weather conditions and pests. StoreWest’s brand new units can’t be beaten when it comes to keeping your stored items in good condition.
Security should be the top priority at any self storage facility. At StoreWest, we ensure that your stored items are fully protected by individually locked roller doors (automatic remote-controlled doors available) and state-of-the-art CCTV and keypad access systems.
Choose a self storage provider that will take care of your stored items as if they were their own. At StoreWest, you’ll find friendly personalised customer service from a dedicated team of self storage professionals you can rely on to keep your items safe and sound.
