How to prepare your bulky valuables for storage

Packing is probably the hardest part of every relocation. It takes time, it’s not particularly entertaining, and it requires physical work due to all the lifting and carrying going around. It comes as no surprise that heavy items along with fragile things are the ones that require the most attention during the packing process. This especially goes for belongings that you are going to store rather than just transfer. Things stay in storage units for a while, so taking further precautions is a must. The good news is that with some tips from this article and the help from movers in NH, you will be able to successfully prepare your bulky valuables for storage.

Choosing the right unit is the first step toward preparing your bulky valuables for storage

Although you may think preparing heavy items is all about the items themselves, that’s far from being true. You also have to take care of them and keep in mind the environment they’re going to be placed in. Mistakes happen, and people sign for a space that’s either too big or too small for their needs. This is why you should pay a great deal of attention to the size of storage units North Hampton NH. Good companies will many different sizes available, so consult with them to make sure the unit will fit you.

two men putting a couch in a van
Before you transfer your bulky valuables, you need to pick an adequate storage unit.

Types of storage units depending on size

As we already said, there are many different sizes of storage units. They even vary from company to company, so you have to be careful. The most common sizes of self-storage space are:

  1. Locker
  2. Small unit (25-50 sq. ft.)
  3. Medium unit (75-150 sq. ft.)
  4. Large and Extra-large units (150+ sq. ft.)

You’re most likely going to need a large storage unit due to the nature of the belongings you’re storing. However, you should do your own math anyway, and of course, ask someone from the company you want to hire about their opinion.

Prepare your bulky valuables for storage by disassembling them

This is probably the most important advice we can give you. Huge items take up so much space, especially in storage units, so the best way to reduce that space is by disassembling them. And, not only does it saves space, but separating them into many pieces is good for their protection. Of course, this option doesn’t hold water with some items. For example, pianos are very difficult to handle. In most cases, disassembling them is not the way to go, but even when it is, it’s better not to risk it and let piano movers NH take care of it.

a woman disassembling furniture, which is the best way to prepare your bulky valuables for storage
The best way to prepare your bulky valuables for storage is by disassembling them.

How to disassemble things the right way?

Obviously, just by disassembling bulky items, you won’t finish all the work. First of all, it goes with saying, you should be extra careful when disassembling things in order to avoid inflicting damage and breaking your valuable belongings. After you do that, you need to protect each and every piece. Bubble wrap is the best layer of protection in this case, and as far as the quantity goes, the more wrap – the better. When everything is packed correctly, don’t forget to label each box. That will help you a lot during unpacking and reassembling. If you do all this, your belongings should be safe.

Necessary supplies to properly prepare bulky items for storage

We already mentioned the bubble wrap, so we can start there. Gather as much bubble wrap as you can, even if it’s more than you realistically need. Some extra protection surely won’t hurt. The next things on the list are proper boxes and/or plastic containers. Try to visualize how much space will every separate piece take, and buy boxes that match that size. If the pieces are sensitive, or not huge, plastic containers may be an even better option, especially if you intend to store things for more than a few months. Other than this, purchasing a lot of packing tape is also recommended for further protection. These are your necessities, and you still might need a thing or two like screwdrivers and scissors, but you probably have that in your home already.

a kid sitting in a carton box
Make sure you get enough boxes.

Don’t forget to clean your items thoroughly before storing them

Although it may be the last thing on your mind, cleaning is very important to ensure the safety of your items, especially during long-term storage. You need to check your furniture for stains, and thoroughly clean it before storing it. You’d be surprised how much damage can one stain inflict. Besides stains, leftover food can harm your belongings more than you expect. The cleaning part of the process shouldn’t be skipped. One more thing to keep in mind is that there are some things that should never be stored, so pay attention to that. You don’t want some hazardous materials to damage some of the most valuable things that you own.

Organize your storage space properly

Finally, when you find yourself inside a storage unit, you need to place everything properly. This part is done to each and every individual’s preferences. However, we can give you a couple of suggestions. Heavier items should always go at the bottom of the boxes, and heavier boxes at the bottom of the shelves. The reason behind this is simple, you don’t want anything to be squashed. Also, heavier things at the top can cause unbalance, so your stuff would be at risk of falling and breaking. Bring enough sheets to cover everything, especially the expensive items such as pool tables, although they require different levels of attention compared to furniture. So, if you’re storing a pool table, it’s better to ask pool table movers NH to help you with it.

Final thoughts

If you follow all the aforementioned tips, there is no doubt that you will successfully prepare your bulky items for storage, and that they will be safe and sound. Make sure you don’t forget anything from the list, each and every part is an important piece of the puzzle, especially when you’re storing things long-term. Good luck!