Storage - Public Storage
California movers may need to place items in storage from time to time. You may have run out of room in your current home for your belongings, you may be merging households when getting married and your combined possessions may not fit in your living quarters, a child may go off to college and you decide to redecorate a room and place his or her things in a public storage unit, or there may be one of hundreds of other reasons that you might need temporary storage.
Basic storage options for California movers are storing items in a mover's warehouse, in a public storage facility, or you could even rent a private garage to store your things.
Storage Access Issues
The type of storage facility you use will in large part determine the amount of control you have over gaining access to your things when you need them. For example, a private garage rental should pretty much provide unlimited access to items in storage, while a public storage facility might restrict access to certain times of the day.
If you place your belongings in a mover's warehouse you may have even more restrictions on when you can get to your items. If your possessions are placed in a mover's crate or on a partially loaded moving van for later shipping, you may not be able to gain access to items in the crate or on the moving van at all.
Insurance for Items in Storage
If you rent a private garage to be used for storage, you'll be completely responsible for insuring items stored there. Most Homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for named perils - specific things insured against - for an amount up to ten percent of the Personal Property coverage limit on the Homeowner's policy. Of course, restrictions and exclusions apply, so read your policy carefully.
If you lease a storage unit from a public storage facility, chances are you will also be entirely responsible for insuring items in storage. Some public storage facilities have arrangements with insurance coverage to provide a limited policy for your items and this is most helpful to people who don't have a Homeowner's or Renter's insurance policy of their own.
Items kept in the mover's possession at a warehouse or in a moving van are usually subject to the same Movers Valuation or Moving Insurance you have agreed to for your move, but again, limitations may apply so it's best to check your moving contract for particulars.
Storage Terminology
Some of the terminology used when describing storage facilities includes:
- Type A Storage - This type of storage unit or facility could have
electrified gates and/or fences, security cameras or other types of surveillance systems and brick or concrete walls.
- Type B Storage - This type of storage usually includes some metal and some concrete walled storage units that are surrounded by a perimeter fence. Type B storage facilities may or may not have security cameras and surveillance systems.
- Type C Storage - This type of storage is the most primitive and inexpensive bare bones basic storage unit. Little to no security exists, so you're better off not storing anything that has significant value (always the best idea regardless of the type of public storage facility you select).
Some General Storage Tips
- Use tarps, plastic sheets or pallets on the floor of the storage unit if you need to keep the items off the floor to prevent moisture and potential water damage. Remember that damp wooden pallets can rot and may draw carpenter ants or termites, but certainly promote mold and mildew when wet. Still, some airflow is provided between the storage unit floor and your stored items.
- Try to leave enough room in the front of your unit and try to leave enough room to move around in the event you'll need to go retrieve something you need. Leaving some space also promotes ventilation, which is a good thing in moist environments.
- Maximize use of vertical space where possible by stacking. Make sure your stacked items are stable with the heaviest items at the bottom. You don't want a stack to come tumbling down when you are retrieving or storing additional items in your unit. If you're allowed to, consider installing shelving to add space and organize your things. If you're not allowed to add shelving, consider using standalone storage racks. Home centers have a pretty good selection of sturdy storage racks that will do the trick.
- If you need to store appliances, be sure to clean out any refrigerators or freezers and let them dry. Then, leave the doors ajar for better ventilation and to avoid foul smells. You can store items inside the refrigerator or freezer so they're not taking up a lot of wasted space.
- Cover mattresses and box springs, as well as upholstered furniture with cotton sheets for dust protection. The cotton provides better ventilation than plastic and will not promote condensation buildup. Stand mattresses and box springs on their edge.
- Always drain fuel like gasoline and oil from lawn mowers and other tools or items that have engines. Do not store highly flammable or combustible items in your storage unit.
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