Archive for month: May 2019

Have you ever been standing in front of an empty storage unit and heard that little voice in your head that says “Well…it ain’t going to pack itself!”? If only it could pack itself! For many who have used self-storage units in the past and for those who are considering it, knowing how best to pack and store items in your allotted space can be a very difficult challenge.
 
At Cactus Self-Storage, we consider ourselves experts when it comes to self-storage organization. Not only have we had our own experience with loading or unloading units, but we’ve had the opportunity to see what the hundreds of our clients have done, both the good and bad.
 
Here are a few storage organization tips that we hope will help you get the most out of your experience with self-storage:
 

1. Use the Right Supplies

 
As you approach your storage strategy, remember that the more you put into it, the better off you will be. Use good quality boxes and tape that will hold. Don’t be afraid to invest into a few heavy duty totes for heavier or more valuable possessions. Avoid using large trash bags in the place of solid boxes. Also, do your best to avoid the temptation of using second-hand boxes that are old and worn-out. This may seem like the least expensive option, but you may end up paying for that decision down the road.
 

2. Have a Strategy

 
You don’t have to spend weeks and weeks planning your storage strategy, but do spend some time and effort mapping out the unit and coming up with an idea of how you will use the allotted space. This includes knowing where you will place your larger items as well as the stuff you will need to access on a regular basis. Don’t just show up and start throwing stuff into storage.
 

3. Boxes

 
Using boxes in an appropriate and efficient way can definitely keep you organized. Be sure to box up as much as you can. Keep in mind that everything outside of a box is more exposed and more likely to attract dust. You can and should fill boxes to their capacity. This will make a huge different should items shift or change while in storage and it also makes them easier to stack. Remember to try and distribute the weight evenly in a box as much as possible.
 

4. Be Creative

 
If you are paying attention as you begin to fill up your storage unit, you will notice that there are many more open spaces than you probably first realized. Don’t be afraid to use these empty spaces as needed. For example, if you are storing a bookshelf, be sure to actually use the shelves while it sits in storage. Fill hollow spots that might show up between stacked furniture with smaller boxes and items.
 
Cactus Self-Storage has helped many hundreds of people get started with their self-storage needs. Call us if you have questions – (623) 487-1667.
 

As you consider using a self-storage unit to keep your possessions safe and readily available, there are a few important things to think about. Besides location, cleanliness and safety, you should also definitely consider storage insurance. Just as you would insure other valuables in your life, such as cars, jewelry, and electronics, it is equally as important to insure items in storage.
 
The items you are choosing to store must be of some value to you or you would probably be getting rid of them, right? Storage insurance gives you that peace of mind you need to know that your items are protected at all times.
 
An ideal self-storage experience would start and finish with no troubles, no accidents, no dropped boxes and no shifting of items in boxes while in storage. However, accidents do happen and it’s better to have prepared for the worst instead of finding yourself with damaged items that cannot be replaced because you don’t have insurance. It is an extra step, but it could be one of the most important steps you take when using self-storage.
 
People are often surprised to learn just how simple and inexpensive self-storage insurance can be. The first step is to check with your existing homeowners or rental insurance policies and find out if there is already a provision in your coverage that addresses items in storage.  It’s important to remember that with renter’s insurance that covers off-site storage, the deductible is usually around $1,000, while the deductible for insurance at a self storage facility is as low as $100.
 
If you can’t find anything already in your policy, take a minute to call your insurance provider and find out what it would take to add storage coverage. These types of add-ons may only cost you a few extra bucks a month, but will allow you to store your valuables with confidence.
 
When it comes to cleanliness and safety, Cactus Self-Storage is second to none. Still, we cannot control accidents. As mentioned before, some items can shift and move while sitting in storage. You may think you have a box packed just right, but then open it later to discover that its contents were damaged. Or a box can give way over time allowing whatever might be on top of it to fall or spill. We recognize that many people while moving, are in between homes and do not have homeowner’s insurance which makes the tenant insurance that we offer a good way to keep your items safe for less than $8 a month.
 
If you are planning on keeping items in storage for the long run, having insurance is especially important. You might find that you need to access your items from time to time during the duration of your contract. Even the smallest changes or moving of stacked boxes, for example, can trigger a chain reaction that you won’t know about until it’s too late.
 
Be sure to protect your items in storage by always having them insured. If you’re not sure if you need insurance, contact Cactus Self-Storage today at 623-487-1667. We’re happy to offer our advice based on what it is you will be storing with us.
 

Moving day can be exciting or stressful. It all depends on the reason for your move. There’s a lot to get done, and the last thing you need is the extra stress of having something go wrong. Here are several tips that can help the adventure go smoother.



1. Make sure you’ve notified your local post office of your change of address. The last thing you want is for your personal mail to fall into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, identity thieves are always on the prowl. They can steal your identity long before you realize your credit has taken a dive. 



2. Get organized before you move. At the very best, most movers will pack clothing, furniture and other items as neatly as possible. However, 99 percent of the migrating class will fail to draw a floor plan to match the old furnishings with their new home’s space. It’s simple! Just tag your furnishings with numbers on your floor plan. Identifiable numbers can make it so much easier on your moving party. 



3. If you’ve hired a company for the move, make sure you’re present when your furnishings are packed and unpacked. Make sure everything is complete on the inventory list before signing off. Sooner, rather than later, is when you need to know if an item is damaged, lost or stolen. 



4. Make sure there’s adequate space for parking when the moving truck delivers. If you’re moving into a new home or apartment, chances are adequate parking space will be available. However, moving into a high-rise presents a different scenario. You may have to block off parking space well ahead of time. You may also have to reserve an elevator.

If your friends are helping you move, make sure you’ve taken the time to box everything. It’ll make the moving adventure a lot easier. It’s also a sign of respect for your friends.

Choosing the right size storage unit can be trickier than it might first seem. You might think you have a pretty good gauge of exactly what you are looking for, but often people find themselves with too much extra space or not enough. Even though Cactus Self Storage offers many different sizes, it really comes down to how much will be stored, how you will use the storage unit, and how often your belongings will need to be accessed.
 
What Will Be Stored?
 
A good place to start when choosing a storage unit with adequate space is to determine what exactly will be stored. Are you temporarily downsizing from a home to an apartment? Are you storing items you use for your business? Are you looking for a space to keep a car? Come up with a list of what exactly will be stored and then begin to assess how much room those items will take.
 
If you are going to be storing large pieces such as furniture, do some measuring so you have a basic idea of how much space you will need. It is also a good idea to consider if anything you will be storing will be sensitive to temperature so you know whether you need a climate controlled unit.
 
Business or Personal?
 
Some people use storage units to store personal items that they don’t have room for around the house. For them, the storage unit is almost an extension of their home. Others use storage for business reasons. They might store product or equipment for their business, which may require extra space inside the storage unit to easily access different items. How you use the storage unit will determine if you need to plan for extra space or a walkway to the back of the unit.
 
Will You Access Your Items Frequently?
 
There are certain situations when a storage unit is simply a holding tank. It is filled up, locked up, and never accessed again until it’s time to unload the unit. On the other hand, there are some people who will need to access their belongings on a regular basis. They might store seasonal items, such as clothing and décor, and will want to be able to easily find what they are looking for. Knowing how often you will be visiting the storage unit can also help you decide how much space you need.
 
Talk to the experts at Cactus Self Storage if you need help choosing the right space. We have years of experience helping people find the right fit. Usually, if you can give us a brief description of what it is you are hoping to store, we can give you a fairly accurate idea of what space will be best for you.
 
Be sure to visit our Size Guide on our website or give us a call at 480-386-6022.
 

There are so many different reasons why someone might need a storage unit these days for either personal or business reasons. When it comes to choosing which type of storage unit will best suit your needs, it can definitely help to have an idea of how long you will be storing your items.
 
Short Term
 
Some people are just looking for a very short-term solution as they make changes in either their personal life or business. For example, a business might be remodeling their office and simply need a place to hold their files and excess office equipment.
 
Or it could be that a person is moving from one side of town to the other. There is quite a bit of work that goes into moving, including getting kids into their new schools, learning the new neighborhood, or maybe even doing some small home improvements. In this case, a short-term storage unit would work to hold that person’s belongings until things are all set at their new home.
 
People using storage units on a short-term basis typically do not need to access their items very often and therefore are able to fit much more into a smaller space.
 
Long Term
 
There are definitely situations when a long-term option works better. Let’s say you have a hobby that requires the use of special equipment that just isn’t conducive to the space you have at home. You need a place to store your hobby materials and access them on a regular basis.
 
Others may find themselves downsizing from a larger home to a smaller one. Their new home may not have the space needed to house everything that was at the old place. However, the owner may not be ready to separate with things that won’t fit. This is a very common scenario for long-term self-storage solutions.
 
Flexibility
 
You might find yourself in a situation where you tell yourself you only need a storage unit for a very short period of time, only to find that situations change. Suddenly what you thought was going to be 3 months of storage turns into a year or even more. We see this happen often at Cactus Self Storage. When it does happen, you will be glad you chose a self storage facility that is flexible and ready to help you if need to make changes.
 
To learn more about both the short-term and long-term options available at Cactus Self Storage, give us a call today at 480-386-6022.
 

Most people would much rather keep their valuables with them rather than leaving them in storage. However, there are instances when there simply is no other choice. If you are planning on storing valuables such as antiques, paintings, tools, important documents, etc., there are a few important things to consider to make sure they stay safe.
 
Choose a Safe Location
 
You’ll want to make sure you find a self-storage facility that is safe and well protected. Find a facility that has adequate security, including fences, gates, surveillance, on-site, resident facility managers, and alarms for each unit. Ask questions about what kind of security is provided during the day and night and even take a drive through the surrounding neighborhood to get an idea of the safety of the area.
 
Store Valuables Correctly
 
One very important part of keeping your valuables safe while in storage is to make sure they are stored correctly. For example, if you are storing a painting, be sure it is wrapped carefully and has adequate padding around it. You may even consider a small safe for items such as jewelry or guns. It is worth spending a little extra time and money to store your valuables in the right way so that they come out of storage in the exact shape they went in.
 
Additional Coverage
 
Find out if the storage unit you will be using offers any type of protection plan for their tenants. You may consider adding additional insurance coverage to your renter or homeowner’s insurance policy to include the items you have in storage in case they are damaged in any way. Take the time to read through the additional coverage to make sure it will indeed cover the value of the items you have in storage.
 
Protection From Rodents and Insects
 
Mice and insects have a knack for finding their way into dark places such as a storage unit. It is imperative that your storage facility offers top-notch pest control. The last thing you want is to have your valuables ruined by pests. Ask the facility managers about their pest control policies and how often the facility is checked and treated for mice and bugs.
 
Locks
 
Talk to your storage facility managers about the best lock to use for your storage unit. Arizona Storage Centers offer top of the line locks at all of our locations for your protection. While the security we offer is enough to keep thieves out, the last thing you want to do is run the risk of losing your valuables by using a cheap and ineffective lock.
 
Feel free to contact Arizona Storage Centers if you have more questions about storing valuables. We have talked to many people over the years and have ideas to share regarding almost anything you might want to store. We’re happy to pass these ideas along to you. Call us at 480-386-6022.
 

Many people are finding that a self-storage unit is not just for individuals and families, but also for businesses of all sizes. A storage unit can make sense for any business that has items they need to store and don’t want to clutter up their business location. At Arizona Storage Centers, we offer a wide variety of business storage solutions to match what businesses are looking for, whether they are in the process of expanding or simply looking to cutback on warehousing in their office.
 
Here are a few ideas on how your business might benefit from using a self-storage unit:
 
Restaurants
 
Do you own or manage a restaurant and find that you are constantly looking for space to store items such as extra linens, tables, chairs, or maybe even non-perishable foods? Everyone knows that restaurants can be tight places. Every available square inch should be used to allow more customers in. Using a storage unit can help free up space in your restaurant and allow you to stay more organized. You’ll have easy access to your items in a safe and well-protected facility.
 
Seasonal Business
 
Some businesses are much more busy during specific times of the year. They may, for example, need access to twice as much product during the holiday season of October through January than they do in the summer months. But paying for a larger retail space because of inventory that only gets sold for 3 or 4 months out of the year may not make sense financially. This is when a self-storage unit makes perfect sense. Safely store your inventory and save money on a smaller space for your business.
 
Archives
 
Keeping track of important records is an essential part of any business. There are some businesses that need to house quite a bit of paperwork for long periods of time. This might include attorneys, physicians, and accountants. The number of these documents can sometimes grow so large that it is impossible to store them all at the place of business. A self-storage unit might be the perfect solution. Keep your documents and files safe and easily accessible in storage facility that is managed day and night by resident facility managers. At Arizona Storage Centers, we offer climate-controlled units to keep your documents in good order.
 
Property Management
 
We have seen property managers use a self-storage unit for many different reasons, including storing staging furniture and maintenance equipment such as lawnmowers. There have been times when their tenant needs a short-term solution as they are moving in or out of the house you are managing. It’s always nice to have a storage unit close by to store items needed to keep your property looking great.
 
These are just a few examples of how businesses can use self-storage units to stay organized. If you own a business and have questions about the options available to you, call us at 480-386-6022. We’re more than happy to answer your questions.
 

Nothing is more infuriating than having to dig through an unorganized storage unit trying to find one specific item. This is especially true when you are using a large unit for long-term storage. You can avoid this frustration by following some simple tips that we’ve provided below:
 
1. Keep your unit clean.
This starts when you first move in to your storage unit. Make sure the ground is swept and clear of debris. If you find yourself making frequent visits to your unit, make sure you aren’t littering it with trash or empty boxes. Think of your storage unit as a closet in your home – you wouldn’t want clutter or trash lying around your closet.
 
2. Take time to plan things out.
It’s always a good idea to spend some time listing the items you are planning on storing and coming up with some kind of order for where they will go in your storage unit. Strategize where you will place certain items based on how much need you will have for them and how often you will need to access them.
 
3. Your heavy items should be at the bottom.
We know this seems logical, but you would be surprised to see how many people try to place heavy items up high, which can lead to crushed belongings and avalanches. It can also make it very difficult to access certain items down the road. Always be thinking ahead as you load heavy items into storage so you have a plan in mind for getting around them to access other items.
 
4. Make sure you have a walkway.
This is very important if you are using a large unit and have stuff towards the back that you’ll need to access. Too often, people load their storage unit full without a way to access items in the back. This leads to having to unload part of the unit in order to get to what you’re looking for.
 
5. Keep items that you will need to access up front.
As you take stock of what items will go into your storage unit, make a plan to place the things you will need to access most frequently towards the front of the unit. This might include holiday decorations or boxes of seasonal clothing. You’ll be glad you did this down the road.
 
6. Use heavy-duty boxes or totes.
One common mistake we see often at AZ Storage is people using storage containers that aren’t up to snuff and easily breakdown. This can lead to disaster. Stay organized by using heavy-duty boxes that can stack well or plastic totes. This will ensure the items packed inside remain safe and ready to go when you need them. Be sure to distribute the weight when loading boxes. They can be tough to load and unload when they are too heavy.
 
7. When possible, use labels.
Labels will help you quickly find items you are looking for without having to rummage through half your storage unit. Be sure to use labels that will stand the test of time, i.e. permanent markers that won’t fade.
 
For more tips on keeping your storage unit organized and easy to use, give us a call at 480-386-6022.

As the weather continues to warm up here in Phoenix, Arizona, many residents find themselves ready to switch into their Spring mindset. Spring is such a great time to live in the Valley of the Sun with its many outdoor activities and amazing weather.
 
Along with getting out to do more, many people also find that it is time to do some spring cleaning around the house. This often includes getting rid of excess clutter that takes up too much space. More than often, we have items in our home that we don’t have space for, but aren’t ready to completely get rid of either. You might have plans for these items down the road or will need them again in the fall.
 
Using a self-storage unit is a great way to hang onto those items while clearing your home of clutter as you go about your spring-cleaning. You can store items that you need out of the house but will need to access again or maybe find a new way to organize your home. Many people treat their storage unit as an extension of their home knowing that they can easily get to items they need whenever they need them.
 
Clear Out the Garage
 
For many people, the garage of their home becomes a “catch-all” for anything and everything we can’t find a place for inside the home. Even with the best intentions, it can be very easy to overload your garage and find it looking extremely cluttered. A self-storage unit is a great solution for clearing out and organizing your garage.
 
Store things like holiday decorations and winter clothing in your storage unit until you need them again. Maybe you have a project in your garage like a motorcycle or piece of furniture you are refinishing that you won’t be able to get to for a while. Keep these things in your storage unit until the time is right.
 
De-Clutter Your Closet
 
Closets are precious real estate for most people. It’s sometimes amazing just how much we can fit into a tiny closet. Closets are also known for becoming cluttered too quickly. Consider using a small storage unit as an extension of your closet. Again, you can keep your bulky winter sweaters and coats in storage rather than having them take up space in the closet.
 
Winter apparel such as boots, gloves, and scarves can be packed up and stored in storage until you are ready for them. You might also consider keeping your documents and files in storage too. Most storage facilities have climate-controlled units to keep your paperwork in good working order.
 
The more you look around, the more you will realized that there are many items throughout your home and garage that could easily be stored in a storage unit keeping your house clear of clutter.
 

 
Come take a look at some of the units we offer at Arizona Storage Centers to get an idea of how you might use one. Or feel free to give us a call at 480-386-6022.
 

In many ways, loading your empty storage unit for the first time is much like moving into a new home. You have to take the time to strategically plan out how your belongings will fit best in the space while remembering to allow for easy access to the things you will need the most frequently. Part of this strategy should involve knowing how to store your stuff so that it will remain undamaged and in good shape while it’s in storage.
 
Keeping your items safe while in storage can be done by following a few simple guidelines.
 
1. Don’t skimp on boxes.
 
We might think it’s a good idea to try and save a few bucks by using cheap or old boxes to pack your belongings into before they go into storage. The problem with using boxes of low quality is that they tend to break down easy, which can lead to problems. It’s especially important to consider the type of boxes you are using if you plan on doing any type of stacking. For the most part, trying to stack flimsy boxes will lead to disaster in the long run. Spend a few extra dollars and buy boxes or totes that can withstand some pressure and keep your belongings safe.
 
2. Stack furniture the right way.
 
When you’re filling up a storage unit, it’s all about saving space, which leads many people to attempt to stand their furniture on end, like a sofa for example. It’s actually a much better idea to place furniture in the storage unit the same way you would when you are using it. Keep in mind that furniture is designed and built a specific way and by trying to rest it on end, you are forcing pressure on joints and pieces that weren’t designed to carry so much weight.
 
3. Use walls appropriately.
 
It’s easy to think that everything in your storage unit will stay exactly the same way you left it once you shut the door. However, sometimes there is some shifting that happens. Even a very slight shift can cause a chain reaction leading to falls and spills. Be sure to use the walls of your storage unit as a support to heavier items. It’s always a good idea to use walls when you are stacking boxes or totes. In some cases, it may even be appropriate to use rope or straps to keep items up against the wall and to ensure they do not tip or fall while you are away.
 
4. Clean before you pack and store.
 
Most items tend to store better when they are clean. This is true for everything from furniture to clothes. Clean fabrics and materials will help to prevent mold and mildew. Be sure you avoid packing any kind of food as it can attract bugs.
 
5. Wrap glass and breakables.
 
We tend to think of wrapping glass or valuables only when we are moving long distances or when items will be jostled around frequently. But it is also a good idea to keep breakable items wrapped up while they are in storage. Antiques, valuables, glassware, glass tables, mirrors – these are all things that should be individually wrapped before going into storage. Use masking tape and cardboard to prevent glass tabletops and mirrors from shattering should they get bumped or dropped along the way.
 
For more storage tips, be sure to call Cactus Self Storage at 480-386-6022.