A cramped
workspace can make it difficult to find what you need, distracting you
from business at hand. Excess inventory, samples, supplies and paperwork
tend to pile up quickly in small spaces, requiring extra effort to keep
things organized. You may have considered renting additional commercial
space or trying to squeeze more room in your home-based office, but
were put off by the cost and loss of valuable time to planning and
construction. That’s why, for today’s businessperson, self-storage is a
cost effective and efficient solution.
At Extra Space, we find that most of our business owners make use of
self-storage not just for long-term, but also short-term solutions.
- During remodeling, redecorating, or downsizing your business
- When relocating your business
- Storing seasonal furnishings such as patio furniture,
grills, outdoor kiosks, etc.
- Storing excess inventory before the start of the holiday
season
Essentially, a storage unit can function much like an extra office.
Take advantage of these tips to get the most of our investment:
Tip #1: Make a list of all of the items you’ll be storing in your
unit, and keep an ongoing inventory.
Based on this list, you can then determine the amount of space you
will need. With proper packing and organization you can fit a lot more
in a self-storage unit than may appear. The self-storage site manager is
an expert at this, and will work with you to ensure that you’re
choosing the size you need.
It’s easy to forget over time what you’ve taken out or added to your
storage space, especially if several employees frequently access the
unit. Consider keeping a running inventory on a PDA, laptop or website
in order to keep tabs on stored items whether you’re at the unit or your
office.
This is valuable information not only for staying organized, but for
insuring the items you’re storing.
Tip #2: Consider climate control.
Climate control maintains a steady temperature of between 55–80°
using central air conditioning and heat. Maintaining a steady
environment prevents warping, rust, yellowing, mold, and infestation of
vermin.
If you’re going to store computers or computer parts, climate control
is a must. The same goes for sensitive equipment, important paperwork, pharmaceutical
samples, furniture, or anything else that may be damaged by
extreme heat or cold. It also provides a pleasant temperature while you
are retrieving or organizing your stored belongings. In most cases there
is an additional cost for climate control; however, it is ultimately an
excellent return on investment in loss protection.
Tip #3: Proper packing is key.
Although self-storage units are intended to protect your belongings
from the elements, additional steps should be taken to protect the items
you are storing, especially if they are of high value.
- Computers should ideally be put in a box and then packed
securely (link to section on ESS packing materials you can buy)
with packing peanuts or some other type of foam insulation.
- Archival documents, photos, or other paperwork should be
packed in boxes that are roughly the same size so they can be easily
stacked in the storage unit.
- Office furniture can be turned on end vertically. For more
information and advice on how to pack and organize a self-storage unit,
see Packing Efficiently (link to article).
When you’re planning how you will pack your items, consider how
frequently you plan to access them. Some packing methods are much easier
to change as necessary, and less messy to work with.
By following these tips, and working with your self-storage manager,
you will find this solution to be one that takes the least amount of
valuable time away from your primary tasks.
