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At Store All we realize that packing your personal items and furniture in order to move into a self storage unit can be very time consuming and frustrating. Therefore, in order to make it easier for you we have put together the following list:

BEFORE YOU START PACKING

Set up an appointment to visit us so that you can select the size unit that suits your needs.

As a rough guide, a 5’ X 8’ unit will store furniture from one bedroom or a small apartment; a 10’ X 8’ unit will store furniture from two bedrooms; and a 20’ X 8’ unit will store furniture from three bedrooms and so on. However, don’t overpack your unit, as a little extra space can give you room for a walkway through the middle of your unit for easy access to your items.

Do not forget to ask about our discounts for longer rentals or larger units. Get as many boxes that you think you will need, along with tape, markers and bubble wrap, foam chips/noodles etc. These are sold at Store All’s office and we will buy back any unused boxes. Try to use the same size of box, as they will be much easier to stack. Small or medium boxes are ideal for most of your items, and large boxes are good for items that aren’t very heavy, but they may not stand up well at the bottom of stack of boxes, and they may be difficult to remove if you need something out of them.

Before you start packing give each box a number and record it along with the contents of the box, and decide on a sequence for packing. Then decide on how you will get your items moved to our facility.

IT’S PACKING TIME

Label the boxes on as many sides as possible for easy identification.

Colour code and/or label all boxes e.g. by room or category.

Group items together that are normally associated with one another i.e. small kitchen appliances, pots and pans, cutlery and so on.

Pack fragile items carefully and fill the extra space in boxes with newspaper to prevent collapsing and to stop breakage.

Furniture with drawers can be utilized as storage places for pictures, knick-knacks, silverware, small items, etc. Wrap them in tablecloths, towels or blankets to prevent breakage. Use Partition/Protection Kits for china and glassware. These are sold at Store All.

Use shrink wrap to secure drawers and cabinet doors, so that they don’t slide out/open and hit you. This is sold at Store All.

Fill suitcases and bags with clothing, sheets, towels and so on.

Shovels, hoes, rakes and hoses can be stored together in empty garbage cans. Stack extra cans inside of each other.

Do not over-pack the boxes and seal them with packing tape.

Do not pack the boxes so that they are too heavy to carry them.

Do not place sharp or heavy items on top of upholstered furniture as this may lead to damage.

When you disassemble electronics with numerous cords place a small, coloured sticker on each cord and the same colour sticker where the cord goes.

Use the inside of appliances for extra storage and leave the fridge door wedged open to provide circulation. Do not forget to clean out appliances thoroughly before storing them.

Pack books in small boxes lined with plastic and fill the empty spaces with newspaper.

Tie bed frames together and package all the small pieces together and label them.

Wrap paper around chair and legs and cover the seats with plastic.

Consider purchasing covers for your mattresses and furniture (available at Store All).

Wrap paintings and carefully and do not store them flat. Mark “FRAGILE” on them.

To prevent rust run some machine oil on metal tools, bicycles and equipment.

Pack glassware and dishes with foam or wrap with bubble wrap. At the very least wrap them with newspaper. Store All sells bubble wrap, dish pack kits and protection kits.

Pack each lamp shade in its own box with padding.

Do a basic drawing showing the location of items that you will need to find easily, and stick it to the wall of the storage unit.

Record an inventory of your stored items and keep it in a safe place.

MAXIMIZE YOUR STORAGE SPACE AT STORE ALL

Stack boxes of equal size to shoulder height. Place heavy items at the bottom to form a stable base. Place fragile items on top.

Leave space down the centre of the unit so that all items can be accessed. Turn the boxes so that you can read the labels on them.

Please use pallets to raise your items off of the ground.

Leave a little space between the items stored and the walls of the storage unit to provide ventilation.

Place smaller, lighter items at the back of the storage unit and larger, heavier items to the front.

Place TV’s and electronics at the back of the unit on top of heavy pieces of furniture and cover them.

Place frequently used items to the front.

If possible, take apart tables and beds to save space. Tape all screws and small parts to the item.

Place couches and mattresses on end and stack chairs seat to seat to maximize space. Cover them with a dust cover.

Separate with the headboard and upright bed rails to maintain straightness. Cover mattresses with mattress covers, store them flat if possible, and elevate them off the floor.

STORE SAFELY AT STORE ALL

Use a high-quality lock on your unit door, preferable a cylindrical lock. These are available at Store All. Remember the location of the key.

Do not assume that your homeowner’s insurance will cover your items when in storage. If you confirm that it does not Store All can sell you insurance. If it’s worth storing, it’s worth insuring.

Do not give out your gate code to anyone that is not listed as having access.

Be sure to check your storage unit once a month.

If you see a potential security threat or anything suspicious please notify the office.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT PERMIT COMBUSTIBLE (LIKE PAINT, OIL OR GASOLINE) OR PERISHABLE ITEMS (LIKE FOOD) IN STORAGE!