Packaging Tips

Tips To Make Your Gibraltar Move Hassle Free!

This page is a friendly guide to moving and self storage with helpful tips and reminders. Of course, this is just moving tips and you should use common sense while planning your move, loading your belongings and unpacking at our self storage facilities. Always know your surroundings and be on the alert. Items are stolen very easily during moving. Make sure you have somebody watching your belongings while you load your truck, etc.

Things to do before your move:

Make a list of all the packing supplies you will need. Such as boxes, tape, bubble wrap, marking pens, twine, and pallets. Gibraltar Self Storage offers many packaging supplies in our store.Visit us before your move. Take a list of what you are going to be storing so that tour manager can help you determine the correct size for your needs. Be sure to read your lease before signing it. Make sure you are aware of company policies on moving out, paying the rent and other important information.If you are using a moving company, find out what size truck they will be using. This is valuable in determining if your unit will be accessible to that truck. Most moving companies charge more the farther they have to carry your things.

Things to do while storing:

Use pallets, 2 x 4′s, or any thing that will keep your items off the floor of the unit. Utilize all the space in your unit. Make a plan as to how you are going to arrange your items. A good plan will save you the time of having to rearrange your unit. Leave an aisle in the center of your unit so that you have a walk way to the back of the unit.Label the boxes on all six sides and keep a list. This will save you time if you have to look for something in particular. When packing boxes fill them without making them too heavy to lift. Always put the heavier boxes on the bottom and the lighter ones on top of the heavier ones. This will prevent boxes from being crushed. Keep boxes off the floor.

Be sure to store frequently used items at the front of the unit to avoid having to search for them. To protect your items cover them with moving pads, sheets, or light blankets. Disassemble items such as tables, bed frames, etc to save storage space. Make sure that all appliances are clean and dry before storing them. Leave appliances slightly ajar to prevent mildew.

Stack chairs seat to seat. Use the inside of appliances and drawers to store smaller items. When stacking furniture use paper pads in between the items to avoid scratching. Store mirrors and paintings on end, not flat. Clothing and draperies should be stored in wardrobe boxes, on hangers, to retain their original shapes. Wardrobe boxes are available in our packaging store.

Purchase the insurance. If your belongings are worth storing, they are worth insuring. Check your insurance policy. It might cover items in storage. Rubbermaid containers are great to store your items. They have tight fitting lids and stack easily. Keep out of season clothes accessible, you may have your belongings in storage longer than anticipated.

Do Not:

• Do not use plastic to cover your belongings. It retains moisture.
• Do not store any food items. as food items will bring unwanted guests.
• Do not pack your boxes so that they are too heavy to carry them. Especially when you are packing books.
• Do not assume that your homeowners or renters insurance will cover your belongings while in storage. Purchase the insurance or make sure your policy covers items in storage.
• Do not forget to clean appliances before you store them.
• Do not store any toxins or flammables such as paint, oil, or gasoline. Please check with our manager if you think your items might be hazmat material before storing them.