There are a few things you should consider before choosing your storage unit and before packing and moving your belongings.

The first thing you will have to do is hire a unit. The more local the better! Do a geographical search on the internet e.g. self storage Harlow or self storage Epping to find your local supplier. Remember to work out how much storage space you think you will need and then order something a little larger. It may help if you list the items you need to store, grouping them according to how you will organise them in the storage unit (i.e. items that will need to be accessed frequently need to be at the front and heavy items need to be at the bottom). Fragile items should always be at the top! Make sure you research whether or not the company is reputable and that you do your homework on prices as these can vary quite widely. Having organised a unit, you will need to sort out packing materials and boxes. Boxes can be found for free at supermarkets but will be in lots of different sizes and conditions. If you are short of money this may be your only choice, but if you want to make life easier for yourself it will definitely be best to buy your boxes. This is because the boxes are in standard sizes, therefore easier to stack. The cleanliness and durability will also be guaranteed. A bonus of buying your boxes is that they can all be collected at once. Specialised boxes can be bought for awkward items such as mirrors. Remember that you will need to be able to lift your boxes so select the sizes and what you intend to put in them carefully. When you are finished with your boxes, they will easily pack flat and can be used again and again.

Packing materials are as important as the boxes. Foam is great as it is light and cushioning. Paper towels, foam sheets, plain paper and bubble wrap will all protect your items too. Newspaper is not a great choice as the ink can transfer and stain.

Ensure you have more tape than you think you will need and then fill your boxes. Make sure the box isn’t too packed or the contents will get crushed. Too little packing will mean that the contents get damaged as they slide around. Cut some cardboard dividers to stop items moving around too much. Reinforce the boxes with tape at either end.

Specially designed covers can be bought for items such as sofas and mattresses. These are OK for moving the items to and from the storage unit but shouldn’t be used long-term if they are plastic. Items sealed in plastic will get mould and mildew eventually growing on them because the plastic isn’t breathable and seals in moisture. Fabrics such as canvas are better for long-term storage.

Space-saving vacuum bags are useful for keeping moisture out. They are simple to pack and easily available. Once the items are in the bag, the air is removed by attaching a vacuum cleaner nozzle that sucks it all out. This reduces the size of the bag and keeps the contents fresh. Items of value will need to be insured and secured properly. Padlocks and combination locks can help keep your property secure but check that your storage unit has security cameras, keypad entry systems, perimeter fencing and good lighting. Make multiple backups of your stored documents and keep them in a different location. Store digital documentation on password-protected media. When storing photographs, ensure you use archival quality paper between each one. This will prevent the photographs sticking. Archival quality paper doesn’t contain acid (which will damage your prints). Store loose photos tightly together to prevent them warping. Climate control is important for the preservation of photos. Extremes of temperature can damage prints so check that your unit is adequately temperature controlled.

Label boxes clearly using waterproof markers and ensure that any boxes containing fragile items are marked as fragile on all sides. Boxes should be off the floor in the storage unit so you will need to get hold of pallets, plastic or cardboard. Don’t stack too high as you need to be able to access them easily and safely. Don’t forget that your self storage company will be able to help with any questions on packing or moving your items.

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